Defending freedom of the press – night vigil to save Apple Daily

On November 26, the evening before the contract-singing date of Want Want ChinaTimes Group’s (旺旺中時集團) intended merger with Next Media Group (壹傳媒集團), employees from Next Media Group's four unions dressed in black andgathered in front of the headquarters of Apple Daily to express their worriesthat the new employers will adversely influence the independence of newsediting; those present included employees from Apple Daily (蘋果日報), NextMagazine (壹週刊), Sharp Daily (爽報) and Next TV (壹電視). Wrapped in sleepingbags, staff spent the night outside to express doubts over their new employers, who they are demanding sign a declaration stipulating the new employers will upholdeditorial independence and guarantee the protection of employees’ rights and benefits.Simultaneously, a huge group of students sat outside the Legislative Yuan in protestof this merger, together fighting for the independence of Taiwan’s news.

In the afternoon of the 27th, employees representing Next Media Group's four majorlimbs, Apple Daily, Next Magazine, Sharp Daily and the union of Next TV issueda joint statement calling for the three influential businesspeople intent on buyingthe media outlets from the Hong Kong-based Next Media - Chinatrust CharityFoundation (中信慈善基金會) chairman Jeffrey Koo Jr. (辜仲諒), FormosaPlastics Group (FPG, 台塑集團) chairman William Wong (王文淵) and WantWant China Times Group chairman Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明), to immediatelysign a collective agreement with trade unions. Organizations and unions wanta written promise stipulating that the new employers will neither lay off anyemployees after taking control, nor cut pay, welfare or make changes to staffpositions. In addition, Lai Chee-Ying’s (黎智英) - better known by his westernname Jimmy Lai – met with harsh condemnation for his opaque behaviorin the overall transaction. Those present at the event stated that he shouldapologize to Next Media Group's employees and the Taiwanese community atlarge.

by 公民行動影音紀錄資料庫

by 公民行動影音紀錄資料庫

Defending freedom of the press – (Next Media Group press meeting) (by CJ Civil Media)
URL: http://www.peopo.org/news/103658

Defending freedom of the press – night vigil to save Apple Daily(by CJ Civil Media)
URL: http://www.peopo.org/news/103667

 (以下是中文對照)

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捍衛新聞自由-【壹傳媒四工會聯合記者會】

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【捍衛新聞自由，夜宿守護蘋果】

11月27日將是壹傳媒交易案簽約日，26日晚間壹傳媒集團旗下四個工會員工，全體穿著黑衣，聚集在蘋果日報總社前；捍衛新聞自主，擔憂新資方入主將影響新聞編輯自主的權益，包括《蘋果日報》、《壹週刊》、《爽報》及壹電視工會；員工包著睡袋夜宿行動來表達對新資方入主的疑慮，並要求入主的資方簽署編輯室公約在內的團體協約，保障會內所有員工權益；並為同時間在行政院前聲援壹傳媒共同守夜的學生團體加油，一同為捍衛台灣新聞自主。

27日下午，壹傳媒集團旗下四大媒體《蘋果日報》、《壹週刊》、《爽報》及壹電視工會；發表聯合聲明，呼籲即將簽約入主壹傳媒的蔡衍明、王文淵、辜仲諒三位大老闆，即刻與工會簽署編輯室公約在內的團體協約；並要求白紙黑字請新資方不得在入主後對旗下四個媒體的所有員工做出任何裁員、減薪或是福利與職務上的改變，而工會對於黎智英在整體交易事件上的不透明行為發表嚴厲譴責；並要求其應該向全體壹傳媒員工與社會大眾道歉。

為擴大服務範圍，PeoPo每周精選三則公民報導及相關活動與發展，翻譯成英文摘要，讓更多關心台灣公民新聞的朋友，瞭解台灣在地大小事。