The Executive Yuan news website, which was launched in August, includes news about the Executive Yuan, a free electronic newspaper, a public opinion forum, net TV, the electronic mailbox of Premier Vincent Siew and links to Taiwan's major print and broadcast media. It is a one-stop location through which users can learn all about developments in Taiwan. Unlike other news websites, it provides full texts for all Executive Yuan news releases as they are issued, and it also includes audio-visual content-"net TV" as it is called. On August 9 the site ran its first live transmission of a press conference, one which took place at CKS Airport on the return from Macedonia of a mission led by the premier, enabling net users in every corner of the globe to learn first hand about the outcome of the mission.
At the presentation to announce the establishment of the website, the premier emphasized that the government is the largest service industry in the land, and pointed out that with over 4 million net users in Taiwan-the seventh largest net population in the world-the new website has an important role to play. Besides helping government agencies to restructure, it also provides them with a channel for interaction with the public at all times. He encouraged people to e-mail him so as to help the government become more efficient and in tune with the wishes of the public.
At the launch, GIO head Chen Chien-jen said that the new site forms part of the GIO website, and that the GIO "will run it like a news website."
On September 8 the GIO ran a trial issue of its free new English-language electronic newspaper Taiwan Headlines, which is designed to provide readers overseas with real-time access to news about Taiwan. Featuring translations, excerpts and syndicated reports from the domestic media, it provides a rapid way for people in other countries to follow the news in Taiwan.
The Executive Yuan news website can be found at:
http://publish.gio.gov.tw/newsc/