Date: September 27, 2017
MAC Press Release No. 070
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) held the opening ceremony for the Cross-Strait Young Student Citizen Journalism Camp on September 27, 2017, at Chientan Youth Activity Center in Taipei City. MAC Minister Chang Hsiao-yueh stated in a speech at the ceremony that the creativity and the ability to act of young students provide momentum for social progress. The younger generation should closely heed and engage in cross-Strait relations. Minister Chang expressed the hope that the young students participating from both sides could together learn about citizen journalism and foster a spirit of concern for the disadvantaged, care for the land, and participate socially.
Minister Chang said that, with the rapid development of internet technology, young people today are lucky in that everyone can share their viewpoints and ideas with the world through the medium of the internet. Taiwan is a democratic and pluralistic society. Everyone should respect and learn to appreciate and embrace the existence and differences of diverse cultures. Minister Chang encouraged young students on both sides to broaden exchanges and learn more about each other. She also urged them to develop and act on their creativity, turn the tempering experiences of life into driving force to thrive in the future, and apply their learning to give back to the community.
The MAC stated that this year's Cross-Strait Young Student Citizen Journalism Camp is organized by the Central News Agency. Three sessions will be held in September, October, and November, respectively, with each session involving 60 young students from both sides. Scholars, experts, and citizen journalists have been invited to teach at the camp. Students will also conduct field interviews at cultural and creative parks and environmental protection and social welfare organizations. They will then split into groups to write citizen journalism reports. It is hoped that the rich course of study can enhance mutual understanding among young students from both sides and raise awareness of Taiwan's distinctive multicultural society.