ABSTRACT
Taiwan has had a free press system since 1987 but its journalists have yet to fully realize democratic ideals afforded to media in other democracies. In-depth interviews with 20 Taiwanese journalists reveal they are constrained by internal and external market demands. These journalists are acutely aware that their professional identity is at risk in the current media market. They have reframed their understanding of professional journalism to adapt to the media ecosystem. The profit-oriented model under which most media operate necessitates catering stories to corporate advertisers and sponsors that could easily take funds elsewhere. Several news sources cover a predetermined set of issues. Refusal to cooperate on the grounds of limited press freedom can lead to summary dismissal. The adaptive techniques journalists deploy reveal their attitudes toward professional standards and insights for other countries.
