From EastSouthWestNorth blog (link):
The following contains a translation of a conversation between the publisher of United Daily News Wang Shiao-lan and the founder of the Cloud Gate Dance Theater Lin Huai-min. Wang had invited Lin to come in and offer some advice for the newspaper. Cloud Gate Dance Theater is a cultural treasure in Taiwan and Lin is an esteemed independent intellectual. The transcript of the conversation was originally published in an internal publication of the United Daily News organization. From there, it appeared in a number of forums and blogs where it generated a tremendous amount of interest.
Why the interest? Because everybody realizes that this is not just about United Daily News. You can paint in any color flavor and look at any Taiwan newspaper, and the same set of problems apply.
(original Chinese-language articles at Letters From China and The 99th)
Lin: I have expectations about United Daily News. Obviously, I hope that United Daily makes money. But I also hope that United Daily is not so “blue.” United Daily News is now totally involved in the political struggles. In my impression, I have rarely read about United Daily News saying something from this government as being good. We know this position, but to turn this into a propaganda sheet for a political party …
Wang: United Daily does not admit to that.
Lin: … but, sorry, it is absolutely that kind of color. This is even more severe than Central Daily News. Is it necessary for a newspaper to be so detailed about national politics and entertainment figures? This has become the full function of the newspaper, overwhelming everything else. We do not need so much political news. We only need the important news.
