At the Golden Tripod Awards presentation ceremony held today in Taipei, Premier Lin Chuan encouraged the publishing industry to use innovation to meet the challenges brought on by online bookstores and digital content providers.
"These challenges to the world of traditional publishing present an opportunity for change, and so the industry must turn to innovation and creativity and forge a new path favorable for its growth," Lin said.
The Golden Tripod is the highest honor in Taiwan's publishing industry. Since its launch in 1976, the award has influenced different periods of development and reflected society's changing landscape, the premier added.
"The ancient Greek scientist Archimedes said, 'Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it and I will move the Earth.' Here, the fulcrum represents knowledge, and knowledge is power. Since knowledge is disseminated through publications, the industry holds the key to empowering all of society," Lin said.
This year's special contributions award went to the founder of the Taiwan Association for Independent Bookshop Culture, Howard Chen, who also helped establish the Wenloding Independent Bookstores Alliance. Chen helped distinguish independent bookstores from traditional and modern online publishing through unique marketing and business models that gave a new look to independent bookshops.
Currently there are around 400 independent bookstores islandwide, creating centers of knowledge in their communities and making books more appealing to young people.
According to the Ministry of Culture, this year saw 1,189 magazines, books and digital publications competing for 21 awards. After three rounds of screening, 28 works were selected as winners and 31 others received excellent publication recommendation awards.