Using the ‘power of information’ to
change the world
Yi-Shan Chen, ICIJ’s member from Taiwan, witnessed the power of information
through martial law and the Tiananmen Square protests. Now, as a journalist,
she aims to harness that power for the people.
By Sean McGoey
March 15, 2021
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists collaborates with
hundreds of members across the world. Each of these journalists is among
the best in his or her country and many have won national and global
awards. Our monthly series, Meet the Investigators, highlights the work of
these tireless journalists.
Yi-Shan Chen is the deputy managing editor at Commonwealth Magazine in
Taiwan, where she started her career in 1996 before joining the China Times.
Chen, whose background is in economics, has partnered with the
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on several investigations
over the years, including Offshore Leaks and The Panama Papers.
What made you want to become a journalist?
I grew up in Taiwan, and before 1989, Taiwan still had martial law, so [the
government] still controlled the media. So when I was a child, I read the
news, but the news was screened by the government, so we got just one
side.
I wanted to become a journalist since the time of the Tiananmen Square
crisis. I was in Taiwan, so I witnessed [the protests]. I think this was a very
important thing for me; I could see the power of information.
When I was in university, after martial law, it was my first time to see the
other side of the story. I think that was a very important thing for me.
I think that if people can get more information, we can understand the truth
and make judgments for ourselves. I think that’s the best protection for the
public. Otherwise, you’ll always have bias.
So I was thinking if I can do this kind of job, I would like to share information
to the public. I think information can change a lot of things.
What is an investigation that you’ve worked on that you’re really
proud of?
One project is about real estate prices, because my background is in
economics, so at the time, I believed that markets could solve a lot of
problems.
When real estate prices became very high, a lot of builders said the
government should release more land to build up more houses so that house
prices could go down. But another side told me that actually the prices would
not go down if the government released land in the city — this kind of land
was still being built up with luxury houses for the rich people, not for the
ordinary people. So I tried to find out the truth.
We traced 50 [parcels of land] when the government sold the land to see
what kind of property they built up. After we checked, 85% of the land
became luxury houses. So we actually changed the policy — because of the
statistics, the government said, “Maybe we will not sell the land, we will rent
the land.” I think that’s very meaningful.
What are the benefits that you see to working on global
collaborations?
It’s an eye-opening experience for me. It’s very impressive. I started working
with ICIJ staff on the Offshore Leaks project in 2013. At the time, we started
from three countries — Hong Kong, China and Taiwan — so we had our first
training in Hong Kong and met our colleagues from different countries. I will
never forget that training, because of how sensitive the news was and how
powerful the cooperation was.
I think the most meaningful thing for me is that we published the stories
together, although it was different countries’ stories. But through these kinds
of cooperation, we can protect each other. We can protect people in Hong
Kong; we can protect people in China; we can protect journalists in Russia as
well. I think that’s the power of cooperation among journalists.
Sometimes our stories cannot change anything in the short term,
but you still need to do them. I think it’s a spiritual thing for me.
How do you relieve your stress?
Walking. If I feel a lot of stress, I will walk for an hour a day, which is a long
walk in Taiwan!
What’s a piece of journalism that you’re really enjoying right now?
I’m reading a book about the Malaysia scandal — 1MDB, the national
megafund. I think the book is quite interesting for me. My long-term dream is
that I want to write a book like that one.
And what’s a story or investigation that you wish you had worked
on?
The internet and social media. The way that the government and the rich
people try to manipulate information through social media, and how the
money influences what people read or see — I think that’s very important
news that we should be investigating.
McGoey, S. (2021, March 15). Using the 'power of information' to change the
world. International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. https://
[Link]/investigations/global-environmental-reporting-
collective/using-the-power-of-information-to-change-the-world/
Summary
The article talks about how investigative journalists use the power of informa
tion to create change. It tells the story of Yi-Shan Chen, a journalist from Taiw
an. She saw the impact of information during the Tiananmen Square protests
and later used her skills to expose corruption and promote transparency with
the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
Reaction
I find it inspiring to see how journalists can use information to hold powerful
entities accountable and promote social justice. The dedication and bravery
of journalists like Yi-Shan Chen are crucial in ensuring that the public has acc
ess to accurate and truthful information. This article shows how important it i
s to have media and information literacy to understand the value of investiga
tive journalism.
Guide Questions
1. What media is important or instrumental in the course of this eve
nt? Investigative journalism and the platforms used by organizations like the
ICIJ are crucial in this event.
2. Why do you think the identified media was instrumental or very i
mportant in this event? Investigative journalism is essential because it un
covers hidden truths and exposes corruption, which can lead to significant so
cial and political changes. The platforms used by organizations like the ICIJ a
mplify these findings, reaching a global audience and prompting action.
3. Was the outcome a positive or a negative change? Explain your a
nswer. The outcome is a positive change. By exposing corruption and promo
ting transparency, investigative journalism helps to hold those in power acco
untable and fosters a more informed and just society.