Jan 5, 2013 Vol.

151

Next Media Deal Controversy

by Theodore Pigott, special correspondent

In late November, a group of leading Taiwanese business figures met in Macau to negotiate with
Hong Kong-based Next Media Group over the sale of Next Medias four media outlets in Taiwan,
including print and television operations. The deal was worth an estimated US$600 million.
According to the Apple Daily, the involved prominent Taiwanese business leaders included the
Chinatrust Charity Foundation chairman Jeffrey Koo, Jr., the Formosa Plastic Group
chairman William Wong, and the Want Want China Times Group chairman Tsai Eng-meng.
Almost immediately, the deal caused controversy in Taiwan. Those who opposed the sale cited
the involvement of the Want Want China Times Group and its leader Tsai as cause for alarm. Tsai, in
particular, has numerous business interests in China, and the Want Want China Times Groups media
outlets are known for reporting mostly positive stories about China. The sale would also give the
Want Want China Times Group control of a reported 46 percent of the print media market, making it a
virtual monopoly.
Many editors and journalists in Taiwan, without a doubt, strongly opposed the deal. However,
Taiwans students have been the most vocaland most dedicatedprotestors. Hundreds have
begun an Anti-Want Want campaign, and many more have joined a group known as the Youth
Alliance against the Media Monster. On November 26, students began to gather outside Taiwans
Executive Yuan, calling for new anti-monopoly laws and editorial freedom while protesting the
Next Media deal.
Despite the cold, rainy weather and a few clashes with the police, the students continued to
protest over the days that followed. However, after learning that students from more than 35
universities across Taiwan were at the protest, Taiwans Ministry of Education sent out an email to
officials at these schools, claiming to be concerned about the students health and requesting that they
turn in the names of the students taking part in the protest. Then, after this document was leaked, one
of the student leaders, Chen Wei-ting, called the education minister a hypocrite and a liar, and
demanded an apology from him for sending out this email. The minister eventually did apologize.
It remains to be seen how the Next Media deal will affect the media in Taiwanor even Taiwan
itself. However, one thing is clear. Students in Taiwan will not back down from speaking up for
what they believe in.

Reading Comprehension
(

) 1. People protested against the Next Media deal mainly because ________.
(A) the Executive Yuan was involved in the deal
(B) the buyers were mostly not professional media
(C) one of its buyers was seen as pro-China
(D) many people might lose their jobs if the deal was reached

) 2. From the passage, we could infer that ________.

(A) William Wong has an attempt to monopolize the print media market in Taiwan
(B) the Youth Alliance is a group mainly composed of journalists and editors
(C) the Education Bureau will figure out some ways to punish the protesting students
(D) Chen Wei-ting is a brave man who dares to challenge power and authority

) 3. The four media outlets sold by Next Media probably do not include ________.
(A) radio stations (B) newspapers (C) magazines
(D) TV channels

) 4. The education minister was called a hypocrite and a liar because ________.
(A) hed promised to meet the leaders of protesting students but didnt show up
(B) hed requested the names of those protesting students but he denied
(C) he didnt actually care about students health though he had claimed so
(D) he claimed that he didnt send out the email but no one believed him

) 5. What might NOT happen if the Next Media deal was reached?
(A) Some editorial freedom will be lost.
(B) A media monster will be shaped
(C) The Youth Alliance will be dissolved. (D) None of the above will happen.

Vocabulary and Phrases

1.

2.

controversy [] n.[C][U]
There has been a huge controversy surrounding the idea of whether sex education should be
provided in schools.
The politician has caused controversy because of his inappropriate remarks on the brutal
rape case.
media outlet n.[C]
The campaign commercial is broadcast frequently on several digital media outlets.
outlet [] n.[C] ()
The computer manufacturer has thousands of outlets all over the world.
Angela found jogging a marvelous outlet for the pressure from work.

3.
4.

5.

6.
7.
8.

9.

10.

11.
12.

13.

14.

15.

estimate [] vt.
There are an estimated 1,500 species of fish in this area.
involve [] vt.
The actor declared that he was not involved in the scandal, but no one believed him.
involvement [] n.[U]
The writers political involvement has brought him much trouble in his writing career.
prominent [] adj.
Economic development plays a prominent role in the current state of the country.
The new president is expected to be a prominent political leader of that country.
numerous [] adj.
Joe is popular for numerous reasons, one of which is that he is always kind to others.
virtual [] adj.
Your plan is a virtual impossibility; I think you had better give it up.
monopoly [] n.[C]
The monopoly on electricity or oil supply could lead to the imbalance of economy.
anti-monopoly [] n.[C]
editor [] n.[C]
The editor-in-chief of the magazine has the power to decide the subject of the cover story.
editorial [] adj. ()
A good newspaper should insist on its editorial freedom, independence, and responsibility.
journalist [] n.[C]
Some people dont trust journalists, because they sometimes make up stories to attract
readers.
dedicated [] adj.
Confucius was a great teacher dedicated to education in Chinese history.
protestor [] n.[C] (= protester)
The protestors refused to leave unless the government promised not to build the nuclear
power plant.
protest [] vi. [] n.[U]
There was a large crowd in the street protesting against the recent tax increases.
The couple decided to move despite their childrens strong protest.
campaign [] n.[C] ()
Most people on this island support the campaign for the educational reform.
Public appearances and handshakes are both part of an election campaign.
call for sth phr.
Environmental Protection Administration has been calling for the widespread use of recycle
bags so as to reduce the use of plastic bags.
clash [] n.[C]
As these two teams are great rivals, there are often clashes between their respective fans in
and outside the stadium.

16. document [] n.[C]

The documents were sorted into four categoriesfaxes, emails, shipping orders, and
memos.
17. minister [] n.[C]
The meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers is held every six months with two days duration.
18. hypocrite [] n.[C]
Peter was called a hypocrite because he claimed to be an animal lover but didnt even treat
his pet dog well.
19. apology [] n.[C]
Due to the bribery scandal, the administrator made a public apology and decided to resign.
apologize [] vi.
The little boy apologized to the teacher for his misbehavior.
20. back down phr.
The argument continued because neither side was willing to back down on their decisions.
21. speak up (for) phr.
Martin Luther King was a brave man who dared to speak up for the rights of African
Americans in his time.
Words for Recognition
1. Hong Kong-based Next Media Group n.

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.

7.

1990 2002

2012
Apple Daily n.
2012

Chinatrust Charity Foundation n.

2004

chairman [] n.[C]
Jeffrey Koo, Jr. n.

Formosa Plastic Group n.

William Wong n.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

2006 6

Want Want China Times Group n.

Tsai Eng-meng n.
2012

Youth Alliance against the Media Monster n.

2012 7

Media Monster n.

Executive Yuan n.

Taiwans Ministry of Education n.

Chen Wei-ting n.

Translation

11
6

46%

11 26

35

C, D, A, C, C