The mass media is responsible for seeking out truth and reporting it in an accurate and responsible manner; and guiding readers and audience towards the benevolent way. Thus, the mass media is able to perform an important function that should be characterized by truth, goodness and aesthetic values.

The mass media is indispensable in the present era as it brings about an increase in knowledge, a better quality of life and a wider perspective on life. However, if media reporting merely focuses on violence, it becomes a negative social influence. Society is greatly dependent on the mass media for information. Many believe the mass media totally. Thus, the public's way of thinking is shaped by the media.

The mass media plays an important role in enabling the creation of happy homes and a harmonious social environment. If only media reporting could place more importance on the positive side of happenings in the society at large, and point the way to the good, then there is still great hope for the future.

In fact, there are many good people in the society. It is not an exaggeration to say that there are kind hearts in all strata of society. Therefore, it is the social responsibility, as well as professional etiquette of the mass media; to focus more on the good deeds of such people in their reporting.

News reporting must report the facts because truth will not mislead and poison people's minds.

The media has very often declared its neutral stand on reporting. But how can one be truly neutral? To me, to be honest is to be neutral, ignoring the truth is to be non-neutral. The only way towards the transformation and purification of the mind is to be sincerely engaged in the work of reporting the truth, the good and the beautiful that are innate in human nature.

In today's turbulent society, our documentary volunteers, as well as staff, should ensure that trustworthiness, truth, sincerity, and righteousness are the bases for reporting.

Media reporting has a key role in developing a culture of peace and non-violence. When the purpose to create positive influence is missing in media reporting, problems arise. Hence, the media's focus on uncovering and exaggerating social ills, infringing on privacy of the celebrities, etc., will bring confusion and loss of judgment on the rights and wrongs, resulting in loss of direction of society.

As an element of media reporting, creating positive influence is the way that guides reporting to ensure that it does not deviate or be detached, so that the bright path in life is reflected for readers to follow with confidence.

I am grateful towards all documentary volunteers and staff, for they have kept an archive of the most classic cases of human life, through efforts in publishing monthly journals and books, broadcasting, telecasting and other forms of electronic communication. It is my sincere wish that they continue keeping such records so that this classic archive of the living Bodhisattvas among us will go down the line, generation after generation, and into the far future.

Understand the Four Noble Truths and assume the function of purifying the mind.

Culture is the image. Humanism is the spirit being practiced.

Pure and untainted love is the spirit of Tzu Chi's humanism. Tzu Chi's Cultural Mission is based on the principle of "for the truth, the good and the beautiful," and is treated as historical testimony to Tzu Chi's form of humanism. Therefore, when dealing with information on people, deeds, time, geographical areas and things, accuracy is the rule.

Life involves sufferings, causes of sufferings, elimination of sufferings, and the way to enlightenment (Four Noble Truths). As Tzu Chi is an organization that practices the Bodhisattva Path, it goes into the masses to carry out its missionary tasks of caring and relieving sufferings, thus witnessing all forms of sufferings. It has been discovered that accumulated biased thinking and wrong-doings result in sufferings; and to eradicate the tainted human nature, and transform what is ugly into a life beautiful for each and every individual, requires one to control his mind through the Way, following the law of nature and the normal practice in human relationship. Only then can peace, purity and harmony be achieved.

Take news reporting as an example. A news report may go along the line of Four Noble Truths. But to simply and superficially present the sufferings resulting from love and hatred is not the right way. A deep search into the cause and effect of such human relationship, and an inner thought on human relations is required, so as to present answers and solutions to certain situations. It is only through doing this can the news be enlightening. This is the way in which the media could play the educational role of mind purification.

The responsibility of mass media is to lead the masses to be kind and wise.

The function and meaning of culture lies in it being a bridge. This refers to the various cultural and educational media reporting on touching and inspiring stories of people, with simplicity, perseverance and sincerity, to achieve the aim of mind purification.

The masses of the present era seem complex in thought. Yet people are so gullible that they believe everything they read or heard in the media, and are never analytical. It is, therefore, important that we transform the media into a clear stream that is mind-purifying so that afflictions can be avoided.

There is no visible mark to the kind or the evil. To be kind or to be evil is simply conjured by the mind. The Dharma is the innate human nature, and all human minds are equally equipped with wisdom. Bringing the kindness of human nature into full play unveils the pure wisdom within. This power of kindness is limitless. On the other hand, if the mind is lured towards evil in a clever way, it becomes a power that threatens the stability of a society. Hence it can be seen that in the transformation towards kindness and wisdom lies the mission of the media.