The political economy of Hong Kong News is changing, but many media owners are still deeply embedded in state-business relations. While media owners do not necessarily intrude into the newsroom, the balancing act between journalistic freedom and political pressure continues to be a constant struggle. In this article, we will examine the current situation and discuss how the future of Hong Kong news can be secured.
In the past few years, the Chinese government has cracked down on independent media in Hong Kong, with varying degrees of success. While there are a number of pro-democracy media outlets in the city, some have been forced to close, appointing the police to investigate and arrest staff on charges of national security. A recent example of such a situation has led to the arrest of a 25-year-old TVB post-production staffer, who was accused of inciting the public to cause damage to MTR facilities and TVB equipment.
While ownership does not mean that the owners can intervene directly, it does allow for the possibility of such intervention. One example of a media outlet being manipulated by its owners is Ming Pao, which changed its chief editorship in early 2014. A Malaysian journalist, Chong Tien Siong, was parachuted into the role, despite having no prior experience working in Hong Kong. As a result, many Ming Pao journalists expressed concern over Tiong Hiew King’s control.
Meanwhile, a number of pro-democracy activists have been arrested. The latest scandal involves pro-democracy activist Tommy Yuen. He was arrested on suspicion of’seditious intent’ and’money laundering’. This was after a song he sang with the slogan “Liberate Hong Kong: Revolution of Our Times!” and “It’s All About Liberty,” which referred to the recent riots in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, six other employees of Stand News, a pro-democracy online news outlet, were arrested for ‘conspiration’ and ‘publishing seditious publications’.
As the media industry in Hong Kong becomes increasingly competitive, the incentive structure is changing. As a result, media ownership is becoming less attractive. Chinese media moguls such as Alibaba are entering the market and investing in local media. However, despite the financial pressures, some Hong Kong news outlets continue to attract investment and make money, despite losses.
The first wave of alternative media emerged after the July 1 protest in 2003. These media outlets emphasized news stories of controversial issues and sought to counter the dominance of the mainstream media. However, many failed due to financial reasons, and the second wave of news websites was launched in 2012. These news sites are critical of the government, and are more critical than the mainstream media.
The latest protests in Hong Kong have resulted in the government withdrawing a controversial bill. The authorities also banned a vigil in Victoria Park. On June 4, the area was heavily policed. A group of activists raised over $5 million to pay for ads in major international newspapers. These ads were published during the G20 summit in Osaka.