Blog 4

Question: Is our News media companies really not fair?

After the research, I got some useful information.In the article. In ‘Hong Kong’s news media five years after the handover: Prospects for press freedom’, I know that The HKJA & Article 19 noted just before the handover that, with pressures from China growing, “[i]t is self-censorship, rather than direct intervention, that will more likely undermine freedom of expression” (HKJA & Article 19, 1997: 4). In the annaul reports that self-censorship remains a problem, though a changing one. As noted, coverage of China is the main area where journalists hold back. Before the handover Chinese officials warned that “advocating” freedom for Tibet and Taiwan would not be tolerated, and journalists take great care when reporting on these subjects and probably drop stories that might be seen to be crossing the line.  

It remind that when the journalists want to report some sensitive topics, they need special care to handle.

Correspondents Association and the Hong Kong University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Programme at the end of each year to carry out the investigation so far, the former visited 537 journalists, who visited 1035 people.

Surveys show that up to 90% of the respondents believe journalists, press freedom over the past year as a whole slip, 7 adults agree that the Government is to suppress the freedom of the press sources, reflecting the shrinking of press freedom.

Journalists and generally believe that industry self-censorship in serious condition, have access to information generally difficult circumstances interview.

The results showed that, in order to calculate the score 0-100, respondents give the public in 2014, "Press Freedom Index" score of 48.8, compared with 2013 for the first time the index fell 0.6 release, more journalists ratings fell 3.1 to 38.9.

According to the announcement, journalists interviewed noted that, in the face of difficulties generally get coverage information, and "manipulating the situation to media reports news and information is also common." Government.

Journalists refer to last spate of attacks on reporters have been incidents of violence, including Liu Jin FIG attacked early event, and during the occupation have as many as 30 cases of reporters attacked suspected cases, the situation is unprecedented.

Hong Kong Journalists Association also criticized the Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying during the occupation movement has never held a press conference in response to a question, just look for the selective media organizations interviewed believe that government control of the media coverage of the case generally.

In "The Effect of self-censorship on news credibility: public' s perception of Hong Kong newspapers after the 1997 Handover" I know that if we need to understand self-censorship, it is important to comprehend the motives and reasons behind the acts. The self-censorship practice results form social (external) and psychological (internal) factors. The external factors maybe political, economic, social and extra-legal, while internal factors include journalists’ personalities and inclinations, as well as the media organization’s editorial stance.

So, I need to find out the motives and reason for these news media in Hong Kong and figure out the relationship between and political economh approach media ownership and media content.

References:

BBC NEWS

http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/03/150327_hk_media_freedom

HKU POP SITE - Whether the Local News Media have Practised Self-censorship

https://www.hkupop.hku.hk/chinese/popexpress/press/self/

Clarke, J., Hong Kong's news media five years after the handover: Prospects for press freedom, Asia Pacific Media Educator, 12, 2002, 44-61.

http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1081&context=apme

Sun, Yuwei, "The Effect of self-censorship on news credibility: public's perception of Hong Kong newspapers after the 1997 Handover" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 13839.

http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4846&context=etd

Research Progress

Finished the design of survey, will interview in next week (around 27/3-8/4)

Starting research

Hello, I am Audrey Pun, a student from UWE, I am studying in Media culture and practices. Now I would like to ask your opinions on some social issues, this will only take you a few minutes, and the information you provide will be kept stictly confidential.

1. Gender

• Male
• Female

2. Age

• 18-22
• 23-27
• 28-32
• 33-37
• 38-42
• 43-47
• 48-52
• 53-57
• 58-62
• 63-67
• 68-72
• 73 or above

3. Education Attainment

Primary or below

Secondary 1 to Secondary 3

Secondary 4 to Secondary 5

Secondary 6

Secondary 7

Tertiary, non-degree course

Tertiary, degree course

Master's degree

Doctoral degree 4. Which of the following channels are your main source of news?（Interviewer to read out the first 7 choices, multiple answered） 以下邊一種渠道是你主要既新聞來源？（讀出頭七個答案、可選多項） Television Radio Newspapers Magazines Friends Family members Internet Others 5. Are you satisfied with the existing freedom of press in Hong Kong? 你滿唔滿意而家香港新聞自由程度? Very satisfied Quite satisfied Half-half Quite dissatisfied Very dissatisfied 6. Do you think the news media in Hong Kong are responsible in their reporting? 你認為而家香港新聞傳媒既報導負唔負責任? Very responsible Quite responsible Half-half Quite irresponsible Very irresponsible 7.  Do you think the news media in Hong Kong have any scruple when criticizing the Central Government? 你覺得香港新聞傳媒係批評中央政府既時候有冇顧忌? Yes No 8.  Do you think the news media in Hong Kong have any scruple when criticizing the HKSAR Government? 你覺得香港新聞傳媒係批評特區政府既時候有冇顧忌? Yes No 9. Do you think the news media in Hong Kong have practised self-censorship? 你覺得香港新聞傳媒有冇自我審查? Yes No 10. Do you think the news media in Hong Kong have given full play to the freedom of speech? 你覺得香港新聞傳媒有冇充份發揮言論自由? Yes No 11. Do you think the news media in Hong Kong have misused or abused the freedom of press? 你覺得香港新聞傳媒有冇誤用或濫用新聞自由? Yes No 12. Please use a scale of 0-10 to rate the credibility of the news media in Hong Kong, with 10 representing absolutely credible, 5 half-half, and 0 being absolutely not credible. What rating would you give the media? 請你用0至10分評價香港新聞傳媒既公信力。10分代表非常可信,5分代表一半半,0分代表非常不可信,咁你會俾多分? Student name: Pun Shuk Kwan, Audrey (10644377)