【Article by Office of the Wei Fund for Educational and Journalistic Excellence】

The 2026 Wei Distinguished Lecture Series in Journalism, organized by the Wei Fund for Educational and Journalistic Excellence, was held on June 3 at the Center for Public and Business Administration Education of National Chengchi University (NCCU). The event featured David Barstow, the first journalist in American history to win four Pulitzer Prizes, who shared reflections drawn from decades of investigative reporting. In his lecture, Barstow examined the mounting challenges facing journalism in the Trump era, the changing landscape of media ownership around the world, and the indispensable role of investigative reporting in protecting democratic societies.

Confronting Power: Facts and Evidence as Journalism’s Strongest Defense

A longtime investigative reporter for The New York Times, Barstow is known for exposing government information operations, corporate corruption, workplace safety failures, and the finances of the Trump family.

Reflecting on his encounters with U.S. President Donald Trump, Barstow recalled that Trump repeatedly attacked him publicly, calling him a “disgrace to journalism” and even suggesting that his reporting was “treasonous.” Trump also filed a lawsuit seeking $100 million in damages related to Barstow’s reporting. The court ultimately rejected Trump’s claims and ordered him to pay approximately $500,000 in legal fees.

Barstow argued that the outcome reaffirmed a fundamental principle: when journalism is grounded in rigorous reporting and verifiable evidence, the institutions designed to protect press freedom can still function.

He also highlighted a major New York Times investigation that took eighteen months to complete and resulted in a 14,000-word exposé showing that Trump was far from a self-made billionaire and had received substantial financial support from his family from an early age. The investigation ultimately won the Pulitzer Prize, and, as Barstow noted, none of its core findings has ever been successfully disproven.

The Criminalization of Journalism and the Growing Influence of Media Ownership

Barstow warned that contemporary threats to journalism extend beyond verbal attacks from political leaders.

One of the most troubling developments, he argued, is the growing tendency to criminalize journalistic work itself. Activities that have long been regarded as legitimate journalistic practices—such as cultivating sources, gathering evidence, and conducting investigations—are increasingly portrayed by some political actors as suspicious or even unlawful. Such efforts, he warned, undermine the legitimacy of journalism and pose a serious threat to press freedom.

Beyond political pressure, Barstow also expressed concern about changes in media ownership. Using Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as an example, he described how Orbán acquired struggling media organizations and gradually reshaped their management and editorial direction. Rather than shutting down news outlets outright, this approach transforms the media environment through ownership and organizational control.

Barstow noted that Trump and members of his political circle have publicly praised Orbán’s approach, leading many American journalists to wonder whether similar patterns could emerge in the United States.

Against this backdrop, Barstow pointed to recent developments involving Paramount, the parent company of CBS. Particular attention has been focused on the involvement of the Larry Ellison family, longtime supporters of Trump. Whenever media organizations come under the control of owners with strong political affiliations or extensive business interests, Barstow argued, concerns about editorial independence naturally follow.

He also discussed recent upheavals at CBS that have generated widespread concern within the journalism community. These include the announced conclusion of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which had dominated late-night television ratings for more than a decade, as well as major personnel changes involving key producers and veteran journalists at 60 Minutes. While Barstow stopped short of drawing direct conclusions, he noted that many journalists worry about what such developments may mean for the future independence of news organizations.

“The owners of some of the big media companies have been less strong,” Barstow observed.

Reporters, he explained, dedicate themselves to uncovering facts, while media executives must navigate competing pressures from shareholders, markets, and political actors. The future of press freedom therefore depends not only on protecting journalists from interference but also on preserving the independence and public mission of media institutions themselves.

Journalism’s Enduring Impact and Reasons for Hope

Despite the challenges, Barstow remained optimistic about the future of journalism.

He shared a story from earlier in his career, when he investigated workplace safety failures that had resulted in worker injuries and deaths. Years later, a high school teacher contacted him to say that the reporting had become part of classroom instruction. The experience reminded him that the impact of great journalism often extends far beyond the moment of publication, continuing to shape public understanding and civic awareness years later.

Barstow also pointed to encouraging developments within the profession. While traditional news organizations continue to face economic pressures, independent journalists are increasingly finding audiences through platforms such as Substack, YouTube, and nonprofit newsrooms. At the same time, applications to investigative journalism programs continue to rise, suggesting that many young people remain deeply committed to the profession.

He further noted that, despite unprecedented political pressure and legal threats, journalists around the world continue to expose corruption, document abuses of power, and scrutinize the weaponization of institutions. Such resilience, he argued, remains one of journalism’s greatest strengths.

The Essential Qualities of Great Investigative Reporters

During the Q&A session, audience members asked about fact-checking and information verification.

Barstow acknowledged that artificial intelligence and digital tools can help reporters organize information and process large volumes of data. However, he emphasized that tools themselves are not what define great investigative reporting.

Every outstanding investigative journalist, he argued, needs an internal “alarm bell”—the ability to recognize when something does not add up in a document, a statement, or a dataset, and the determination to keep asking questions until the truth becomes clear.

When asked what qualities future journalists need most, Barstow emphasized that the answer lies less in technical skills than in character. The best investigative reporters, he said, are “abnormally curious” and possess “relentless persistence.” Those qualities, more than any particular technique, drive meaningful investigative work.

Although financial sustainability remains a major challenge for independent media, Barstow suggested that local journalism may be poised for a renaissance. As large media organizations become increasingly disconnected from local communities, newsrooms that remain deeply rooted in local concerns may become even more valuable.

A Global Struggle for Truth

Barstow concluded by framing investigative journalism as part of a broader global struggle over the meaning of truth itself.

The task of journalists, he argued, is to push back—to fight for the core principles of truthful, careful, and humble investigative reporting. That struggle is worth every sacrifice because it is ultimately a struggle over whether facts themselves still matter.

He urged the audience to recognize that this challenge extends far beyond the United States. Around the world, societies are confronting competing visions of truth: one grounded in evidence, verification, and honest inquiry; the other shaped by those who seek to define reality through power and authority.

As Barstow put it, this is ultimately a worldwide struggle between those who believe that “1 + 1 will always equal 2” and those who would rather let powerful leaders decide what the answer should be.

Taiwanese Journalists Showcase the Depth and Vitality of Investigative Reporting

In addition to Barstow’s keynote address, the event also featured short presentations by three accomplished Taiwanese journalists, highlighting the vitality and diversity of investigative reporting in Taiwan.

Independent journalist Alicia Chen shared her reporting experiences following Chinese migrants along the increasingly well-known irregular migration route through Latin America to the United States.

She explained that many migrants begin their journey in Ecuador, which previously offered visa-free entry to Chinese nationals, before traveling north through Colombia and crossing the treacherous Darién Gap, one of the most dangerous jungle regions in the world. From there, they continue through seven Central American countries on their way to the United States.

Through firsthand reporting, Chen documented the extraordinary hardships endured by migrants along the route. She recalled witnessing three bodies during the journey, underscoring the immense risks faced by those seeking a new life abroad. Yet she also reflected on the complex realities that await migrants after arrival. While some successfully build new lives in the United States, others discover that America is not the promised land they had imagined and ultimately choose to leave.

Hung-Chin Chen, senior writer at Mirror Media, discussed her extensive coverage of Taiwan’s MeToo movement. Her reporting ranged from documenting the long-term trauma experienced by survivors—including victims who had been unable to sleep on their backs for years—to uncovering the stories of women who survived sexual violence and abuse of power.

Displaying a criminal summons she had personally received, Chen spoke candidly about the legal challenges journalists frequently encounter when reporting on sexual assault and gender-based violence. She noted that defamation lawsuits and malicious accusations are often used against both journalists and survivors. In her view, such legal tactics are designed “to silence journalists and survivors,” subjecting them to lengthy and emotionally draining legal battles in an attempt to pressure them into giving up.

Independent journalist Yung-Ta Chien shared insights from his long-term reporting on migrant workers in Taiwan. He admitted that during years of investigation he often questioned whether reporting on issues outside the public spotlight truly mattered and whether Taiwanese society cared about such stories. His doubts were ultimately dispelled after interviewing the father of a deceased migrant worker, who thanked him for caring about the life of an ordinary person from a distant country. That moment, Chien said, reaffirmed for him the deeper purpose of investigative journalism: giving voice to those who are often overlooked and ensuring that marginalized communities are not forgotten.

Panel Discussion: The Challenges and Responsibilities of Investigative Journalism

The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Kwangyin Liu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of CommonWealth Magazine.

The speakers discussed the realities of investigative journalism in today’s media environment, including how reporters balance the demands of daily news coverage with time-consuming investigative projects, and how they persuade editors and news organizations to commit resources to long-term reporting.

The conversation also addressed the personal and legal risks journalists face in pursuing difficult stories. Barstow recounted an investigation in Florida during which concerns about retaliation became so serious that his family temporarily sought refuge at Walt Disney World. Chen Hung-Chin reflected on the lawsuits and threats she encountered while reporting on Taiwan’s MeToo movement.

Drawing on their experiences, the panelists discussed strategies for coping with legal, psychological, and professional pressures, while also reflecting on the convictions that continue to motivate them to pursue the truth despite the risks involved.