On February 27, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) took part in RightsCon25 in Taipei. At this prominent summit on human rights in the digital age, Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) director Benjamin Sabbah, Agence France Presse (AFP) Asia-Pacific regional director Michael Mainville and Radio Taiwan International (RTI) Vice President Isis M. Lee discussed how to shape policies that support a healthier information ecosystem for all. A panel moderated by Aleksandra Bielakowska, Asia-Pacific Bureau Advocacy Manager at RSF.
Benjamin Sabbah, Journalism Trust Initiative director, explained that “JTI is an ISO-type standard which aims to promote transparency and accountability in the news publishing. This mechanism is crucial since the media outlets have the responsibility towards their audiences and citizens at large. JTI is willing to help the media outlets to prove what they are doing is trustworthy, professional and transparent.”
Michael Mainville, Agence France Presse (AFP) Asia-Pacific regional director, added that “trust is the biggest challenge that we face today in the news industry. The flood of mis-information is the biggest reason for this outcome but also the political polarization and lack of transparency and representation of media outlets. The media today fail to show how transparent they are and need to adjust their policies to win back the trust of the public.”
The discussion took place just weeks after RTI became the first news organisation to obtain the JTI certification in a Chinese-speaking market. “RTI is very proud to be the first media outlet that has been certified among the Chinese-speaking media outlets around the world,” said Radio Taiwan International (RTI) Vice President, Isis M. Lee,. “Taiwan is suffering from the massive attack of misinformation and cyber attack, and as Taiwanese media, we want to send a strong signal to the world that our work is trustworthy and transparent and JTI is the solution for us.”
Audits towards JTI certifications are conducted by third-party organizations around the World, including by ABC Taiwan in Asian countries as of the beginning of 2025. Jason Chiang, board member of ABC Taiwan and President of the Asia Pacific executive team of IFABC (International Federation of Audit Bureaux of Certification), explained why his organization wanted to become a JTI auditor:
“With Taiwan ranking among the top in global misinformation circulation, JTI’s framework provides a clear benchmark for journalistic integrity, helping news organizations regain credibility. Additionally, advertisers seek trusted media partners, and integrating JTI into ABC Taiwan’s audits offers a third-party verification system, ensuring their investments support responsible journalism.” said Jason Chiang “JTI introduces content integrity standards, allowing ABC Taiwan to expand from media verification to media accountability, fostering a more transparent and ethical news ecosystem.”
Standing in the midst of the information war, Taiwan’s media ecosystem and democracy face significant challenges due to the flood of misinformation. The deployment of JTI in the country will be a crucial tool in helping media outlets establish professional and trustworthy standards, ultimately restoring public trust.
