For the past six years, the Republic of China's Government Information Office has sponsored an annual Golden Tripod Awards Ceremony to honor those individuals whose performances in the publishing and recording industries have been the most outstanding. The Golden Tripod Awards Ceremony is intended to give writers, lyricists, editors, and art directors the public recognition so often neglected by those who read and listen to their creations. This year for the first time the ceremony was broadcast island-wide on television, immeasurably increasing the audience beyond the thousand dignitaries and well-wishers who crowded into Taipei's Armed Forces Cultural Center to watch the proceedings. Dr. James Soong, Director General of the Government Information Office, in welcoming the participants and in inaugurating the television coverage, urged those watching the show to give books and records as Chinese New Year presents -- "to enrich the spirit of our lives and to nourish our publishing and recording industries."

The tension which pervades Hollywood movie award presentations was nowhere in evidence during the Golden Tripods awards presentation. Rather, in accordance with Chinese custom, lists of winners were announced prior to the ceremony, while films and multimedia slide displays of winning efforts provided the background as the winners appeared for their awards. Every effort was made to provide the audience a clear sense of why each particular award was won. To that end, the emceeing was done by experts in each field. For example, in the books category, noted poet Yu Kuang-chung and writer and radio hostess Lo Lan did the honors. Publisher Liu Shau-tang of Biography Magazine and editor Chien Ching-hui of the Literary Criticism Magazine announced the magazine awards. Radio program hostess Tao Hsiao-ching and singer-comedian Chang Ti co-hosted the recording category. China Daily News Deputy Director Huang Chao-yen and Chang Hsu-hua, Chairman of the Journalism Department of the Chinese Culture University, emceed the journalism category.

All in all, fourteen awards were made in books, the categories related to books, authors and cover designs. Editors, art designers and the magazines themselves were honored in magazines. In recording, the awards were for lyrics, melody, singing performance, and quality of recording. In journalism, the awards were in reporting, commentary on the news, columns, and news photography.

The books category awards went to Three Hundred Years of Taiwan (editor Huang Tien-ching), The Music Students' Encyclopaedia (editor Hsu Chang-hui) and A Treasury of Chinese Classics (editor Kao Shang-ching). In his acceptance remarks Editor Kao of the Classics said that he had determined to compile the massive series because of his love and respect for ancient China's sages and writers.

Among magazine editors Sun Hsiao-ying of Young Lion, Kuo Ming-yen and Wu Hwei-kuo of Popular Science, and Liu Hsu-hwa of Crown shared the editing award. In commenting on the work that brought him the award, Editor Wu of Popular Science noted that many foreign technical terms are in common use in Taiwan. He said science writing here would not be fully satisfactory until "Science comes to speak fluent Chinese, too."

Singers Shi Shiao-rong, Tang Hsiao-shi and Tsai Ching didn't have to explain how they came to win singing awards. They simply sang their winning songs.

A reminder of struggling world outside of Taiwan came with the award to reporter Lee Li-kuo of the China Times of a Golden Tripod for his poignant series of stories on refugees living in the Thai-Cambo-dian border camps. Domestically, reporter Cheng Rong-nin of the Great China Evening News won an award for her features on rural construction in Taiwan.

Three commentators shared awards--Wang Tsuo-rong of the China Times, Lu Long-lin of Young Warrior Daily, and Yang Nai-fang, also of the China Times. In responding to his award, Economist Wang noted the extension of audience provided by television coverage and urged his fellow specialists, as they go about their traditional tasks, not to forget that mass communications have opened up new opportunities for service in building a just and prosperous society.

These were some of the highlights of a day on which for the first time the general public, through the medium of television, was able to see and hear the writers, artists and technicians who give so much and who so often have so little recognition. Huang Nan-hui, the editor of Tomorrow's World Magazine, and the winner of the magazine design award, in his remarks called for renewed effort from the participants. "As long as we work hard," he said, "tomorrow is bound to be a better day than today."

[Picture Caption]

1. Premier Sun Yun-suan encourages the public to read more and to listen more to help the development of our publishing and recording industries. 2. Television personalities Mr. Kao Hsin-tang and Ms. Lee Yen-chiu emceed the general ceremony. 3. Poet Yu Kuang-chung and writer Lo-lan co-host the Book Category award presentation. 4. Mr. Liang Shi-chiu and Mr. Chen Chi-lu presented the author and editor awards. 5. Editor Kao Shang-ching of The China Times Publishing Co., was among the editor award winners. 6. Novelist Kuo Liang-hui presents the book cover award to winner Lee Ta-pung. 7. The flourishing publishing industry attracts many young people. 8. Director General James Soong welcomes all distinguished guests.

1. Mr. Liu Shau-tang and Ms. Chien Chin-hui co-hosted the Magazine Category award presentation. 2. Publisher Chen Yen-cheng of Outdoor Living was a second time winner. 3. Publisher Ho Cheng-kuang of Artist was also a second time winner. The award presenter was editor-in-chief Lin Tai-yi of the Chinese edition of Readers' Digest. 4. Editor Sun Hsiao-yin of Young Lion was among the winners of the magazine editor award. 5.6.11. The record industry in Taiwan has shown great progress in recent years. 7. Tang Hsiao-shi gives her award winning performance. 8. Tsai-ching, also a winner of a singing performance award, received her award from sopranoist Liu Sai-yun. 9. Tao Hsiao-chin and Chang Ti, who co-hosted the Record Category award presention, are seen here talking to award presenter Chang Chi-kao. 10. Musician Ma Shui-long expresses his hope that an award be created for music arrangement.

1. Shi Hsiao-rong performs the award winning work. For the Love of China with friends. 2. Shi Mu-rong was among the winners of the lyrics award. 3. The use of multimedia slide displays to present the award winning works characterized this year's ceremony. 4. Huang Chao-yin and Chang Hsu-hua co-host the Newspaper Category award presentation. 5. Shang Ming-je was a winner of a news photography award. 6. Award winning columnist Ho Fan. 7. Lee Ming was also an award-winning columnist. 8. Hong Kong newspaper publisher Hu Hsien presented the awards for news commentary.

Television personalities Mr. Kao Hsin-tang and Ms. Lee Yen-chiu emceed the general ceremony.

Poet Yu Kuang-chung and writer Lo-lan co-host the Book Category award presentation.

7. The flourishing publishing industry attracts many young people.

Mr. Liang Shi-chiu and Mr. Chen Chi-lu presented the author and editor awards.

Editor Kao Shang-ching of The China Times Publishing Co., was among the editor award winners.

Novelist Kuo Liang-hui presents the book cover award to winner Lee Ta-pung.

Director General James Soong welcomes all distinguished guests.

Mr. Liu Shau-tang and Ms. Chien Chin-hui co-hosted the Magazine Category award presentation.

Publisher Chen Yen-cheng of Outdoor Living was a second time winner.

Publisher Ho Cheng-kuang of Artist was also a second time winner. The award presenter was editor-in-chief Lin Tai-yi of the Chinese edition of Readers' Digest.

The record industry in Taiwan has shown great progress in recent years.

The record industry in Taiwan has shown great progress in recent years.

Tang Hsiao-shi gives her award winning performance.

Editor Sun Hsiao-yin of Young Lion was among the winners of the magazine editor award.

The record industry in Taiwan has shown great progress in recent years.

Tang Hsiao-shi gives her award winning performance.

Tsai-ching, also a winner of a singing performance award, received her award from sopranoist Liu Sai-yun.

Tao Hsiao-chin and Chang Ti, who co-hosted the Record Category award presention, are seen here talking to award presenter Chang Chi-kao.

Shi Hsiao-rong performs the award winning work. For the Love of China with friends.

Shi Mu-rong was among the winners of the lyrics award.

The use of multimedia slide displays to present the award winning works characterized this year's ceremony.

4. Huang Chao-yin and Chang Hsu-hua co-host the Newspaper Category award presentation.

Huang Chao-yin and Chang Hsu-hua co-host the Newspaper Category award presentation.

Shang Ming-je was a winner of a news photography award.

7. Lee Ming was also an award-winning columnist.

8. Hong Kong newspaper publisher Hu Hsien presented the awards for news commentary.