[Karuna Shinsho, Cnn Anchor:] A new publication is making waves in Taiwan, and ruffling political feathers. Critics pan "Next Magazine" as tabloid fluff. But fans say its mix of gossip and scandal provide an entertaining alternative. Mike Chinoy visited Taipei and met the man behind the magazine.
[Mike Chinoy, Cnn Correspondent:] A new issue of "Next Magazine" rolls off the presses in Taipei, injecting a dose of scandal, crime and sex into Taiwan society. "Next" is the product of Jimmy Lai, a brash media tycoon from Hong Kong whose racy publication there offended the territory's establishment and angered the Chinese government. Now, fed up with Hong Kong, Lai has pulled up stakes and moved to Taiwan.
[Jimmy Lai, Publisher, "next Magazine":] Taiwan is definitely a very exciting place for us. It's a place for democracy here, and we think it is the future of China.
[Chinoy:] Even in a society with perhaps the freest press in Asia, with an estimated 6,000 magazines already on the market, Jimmy Lai and "Next" are testing the limits. [voice-over]: The first issue of the Taiwan version of "Next" in May featured a cover story on the love life of President Chen Shui-Bien's daughter, and sold out all 275,000 copies within hours. "It tells us what we not supposed to know, says this reader. I like it.?
[Pei Wei, Editor, "next" Magazine:] We were the only magazine to run the story. Others were afraid to cover some aspects of the first family, but we used this story to tell our readers no topic is off limits for us.
[Chinoy:] "Next" still features the coverage of fashion, entertainment and celebrities that dominate many other local magazines, but it stands almost alone in dishing out dirt on secretive tycoons, powerful gangsters and top politicians.
[Lai:] We still carry a maverick rogue, so to speak, thinking of picking up some dirt.
[Chinoy:] While sails remain brisk, there's some doubts about the public's continuing appetite for such fair. "Their articles are one-sided and sensational and stir things up," says this woman. "I don't like it." If enough powerful interest here don't like it, Lai says he is aware of his own safety could be at risk.
[Lai:] A lot of people caution me about this, I think definitely we have to be careful.
[Chinoy:] Jimmy Lai built his publishing umpire on taking risks, gambling there's room in Taiwan for a muck-raking magazine like "Next." Mike Chinoy, CNN, Taipei.