A local newspaper known for its sensational coverage apologized on Monday for printing a front-page picture showing a popular politician's wife covered in blood after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a traffic accident.
The photograph in Sunday's edition of the Apple Daily depicted former actress Shao Hsiao-ling, 57, lying prone on a stretcher, her jeans and blouse awash in red, and her face hemorrhaging from the accident, which occurred Saturday night.
Shao is married to former Foreign Minister Jason Hu, mayor of Taichung, Taiwan's third largest city. Hu was slightly injured in the accident.
Since starting publication in the spring of 2003, Apple has parlayed a daily formula of celebrity gossip, gory crimes and bloody accidents to become Taiwan's largest selling newspaper. More than 90 percent of its sales are registered at newsstands -- as opposed to home delivery -- putting a premium on splashy graphics and eye catching illustrations and photos.
Apple acknowledged that its photograph of Shao may have exceeded the bounds of good taste.
"With the picture, we hoped to present the actuality of a news scene," the paper said in a statement. "We apologize if readers disapprove or feel uncomfortable about it."
Apple's statement followed a firestorm of criticism by readers and government officials, including Government Information Office head Cheng Wen-tsan, who said the picture of Shao constituted a "severe invasion of privacy," and could lead to the paper being punished.
Other Taiwanese newspapers also ran photographs of the accident, though without the graphic details shown by Apple.
Following Shao's accident doctors amputated her badly smashed left forearm and removed her damaged spleen. She was placed on life support systems and was still listed in critical condition on Monday.
The accident occurred when Hu and Shao were returning to home to Taichung after stumping for the opposition candidate in next month's mayoral election in the southern city of Kaohsiung.
