Shieh Chung-liang

{{Infobox person

| name = Shieh Chung-liang

| nationality = Taiwanese

| alma_mater =University of Minnesota

| other_names =

| known_for = 1997 libel trial

| occupation = journalist

| awards =International Press Freedom Award (1997)

| organization = Yazhou Zhoukan

}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{family name hatnote|Shieh|lang=Chinese}}

Shieh Chung-liang ({{zh|t=謝忠良|p=Xiè Zhōngliáng|w=Hsieh⁴ Chung¹-liang²}}) is a Taiwanese journalist known for his role in a high-profile libel suit.

Shieh received a master's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.

In 1996, he was Taiwan bureau chief of the Hong Kong–based magazine Yazhou Zhoukan. Teaming with reporter Ying Chan, he co-wrote an article on 25 October reporting that Liu Tai-ying, the business manager of Taiwan's Kuomintang political party, had offered $15 million to US President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign.{{cite web |url=http://cpj.org/awards/1997/chan.php |title=Ying Chan and Shieh Chung-liang |year=1996 |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |accessdate=27 January 2012}} The article also printed a denial from Liu that he had offered the money.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/06/opinion/writing-a-crime.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=Writing a Crime |author=Anthony Lewis |date=6 December 1996 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=27 January 2012}} Liu went on to file a criminal libel suit against the pair on 7 November.{{cite web |url=http://www.ifex.org/taiwan/1996/12/06/criminal_libel_suit_filed_against/ |title=Criminal libel suit filed against two journalists |date=5 December 1996 |publisher=International Freedom of Expression Exchange |accessdate=27 January 2012}} Chen Chao-ping, a political consultant named as the source of the story, was added as a co-defendant.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/taiwan-sues-over-clinton-slushfund-claim-1315335.html |title=Taiwan sues over Clinton slush-fund claim |author=Stephen Vines |date=20 December 1996 |work=The Independent |location=UK |accessdate=27 January 2012}} Liu also filed a civil suit for $15 million in damages. Yazhou Zhoukan defended its reporters and refused to settle the suit outside of court.

Calling the trial "a test case for press freedom in Asia", The Committee to Protect Journalists filed an amicus brief on the pair's behalf, as did ten major US media companies. The Kuomintang called a special meeting to endorse the libel suit and condemn Shieh and Chan. However, a Taiwanese district court ruled in the pair's favor on 22 April 1997. The ruling was "hailed as a landmark decision" for press freedom by media watchdog groups, in part because Judge Lee Wei-shen's decision acknowledged the constitutional right to a free press for the first time in Taiwanese judicial history.{{cite web |url=http://ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=101195 |title=Landmark Libel Case Up For Appeal |author=Cheung Chui Yung |date=16 June 1997 |publisher=Inter Press Service |accessdate=27 January 2012 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In November 1997, The Committee to Protect Journalists gave Shieh and Chan its International Press Freedom Award, "an annual recognition of courageous journalism".{{cite web |url=http://cpj.org/awards/ |title=CPJ International Press Freedom Awards 2011 |year=2011 |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |accessdate=17 January 2012}} The award citation stated that "[Shieh and Chan's] courage sets an example in a region noted for both widespread self-censorship and government intervention in the functioning of the press."