Hong Kong Journalists Association
Encyclopedia
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (Chinese:
香港記者協會) was established in 1968 for practising journalist
s in Hong Kong
"to enhance press freedom and the integrity of news coverage" (Who we are --- HKJA). The association acts as a trade union
for journalists by seeking to improve working conditions for them and further works to aid journalists by striving to remove barriers journalists face when gathering news. HKJA also serves as a channel for individuals to file complaints when unethical reporting in local media is observed.
.
Prior to 2006, the report was annually produced in partnership with ARTICLE 19
, a London-based rights group.
HKJA is an affiliated member of the International Federation of Journalists
, the world's largest journalists' organisation.
HKJA is also a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange
, a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors censorship
worldwide and defends journalists, writers, Internet users and others who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Hong Kong's press consists of 23 Chinese dailies, 13 English dailies (one in Braille and one an Internet edition), 8 bilingual dailies and 5 Japanese publications. Of the 23 Chinese dailies, 17 mainly cover local and overseas news, while 4 specialise in finance. 3 Chinese dailies and 4 bilingual dailies are published on the Internet.
, HKJA is funded by membership fees and other fund-raising activities, such as annual dinners, seminars (for non-members), training courses etc.
The Chairperson for 2009 to 2010 is MAK Yin-ting (Chinese: 麥燕庭).
The Vice-chairperson is Jackie SAM (Chinese: 岑亞志).
The other Executive Committee Members are:
Ethics Committee:
Every year, the Executive Committee appoints three members to the Ethics Committee after the Annual General Meeting
. The committee's responsibility is to investigate alleged breaches of HKJA's Code of Ethics and to make recommendations to the Executive Committee.
Subcommittees :
There are five subcommittees which members can join. They are:
Certificate Courses:
HKJA has organized training courses for junior journalists that will take place in November 2006. These courses cover topics such as how to conduct effective interviews in political, court or hospital settings. Guest lecturers are invited to the courses, most of which are well-known in the journalism field. A certificate will be given to candidates who complete the courses.
(Chinese: 壹本便利)" who took photos of a local female artist, Gillian Chung
(Chinese: 鍾欣恫), in a dressing room using a hidden camera.
There were three main parts of the judgment:
HKJA held a press conference and also called for Ching Cheong's release.
of the Basic Law created much concern and debate over Hong Kong's right to freedom of speech. On the one hand, the government wanted to pass the bill to help the country and protect it from any threats, while on the other, individuals wanted to be able to express themselves freely. In a response to the issue, HKJA opposed the bill as it felt that Article 23 posed a threat to freedom of expression and was also unnecessary. Due to the dissatisfaction of the people, on July 1, 2003 approximately 500,000 people protested against Article 23. On September 5 later that year, the government announced that it had decided to withdraw the bill.
It showed that the press received a relatively steady approval rating from the general public.
However, another survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong, showed that public support for the press in Hong Kong has been decreasing and has reached its lowest point in three years.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
香港記者協會) was established in 1968 for practising journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
"to enhance press freedom and the integrity of news coverage" (Who we are --- HKJA). The association acts as a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
for journalists by seeking to improve working conditions for them and further works to aid journalists by striving to remove barriers journalists face when gathering news. HKJA also serves as a channel for individuals to file complaints when unethical reporting in local media is observed.
Background
Every year, HKJA produces a report on the press freedom status in Hong Kong. It is widely circulated to foreign consulates and non-governmental organisations and is often quoted in foreign media reports about Hong Kong. The 2006 report describes the challenges facing the media in Hong Kong, including the government's attempts to influence the editorial direction of the public broadcaster Radio Television Hong KongRadio Television Hong Kong
Radio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
.
Prior to 2006, the report was annually produced in partnership with ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is a London-based human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide...
, a London-based rights group.
HKJA is an affiliated member of the International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists...
, the world's largest journalists' organisation.
HKJA is also a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange
International Freedom of Expression Exchange
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
, a global network of non-governmental organisations that monitors censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
worldwide and defends journalists, writers, Internet users and others who are persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Hong Kong's press consists of 23 Chinese dailies, 13 English dailies (one in Braille and one an Internet edition), 8 bilingual dailies and 5 Japanese publications. Of the 23 Chinese dailies, 17 mainly cover local and overseas news, while 4 specialise in finance. 3 Chinese dailies and 4 bilingual dailies are published on the Internet.
Funding
In order to maintain its neutralityObjectivity (journalism)
Parent article: Journalism ethics and standardsObjectivity is a significant principle of journalistic professionalism. Journalistic objectivity can refer to fairness, disinterestedness, factuality, and nonpartisanship, but most often encompasses all of these qualities.- Definitions :In the context...
, HKJA is funded by membership fees and other fund-raising activities, such as annual dinners, seminars (for non-members), training courses etc.
Membership classifications
One may choose to join HKJA as a Full Member, Associate Member, Public Relations Member or Student Member.Board
Executive Committee:The Chairperson for 2009 to 2010 is MAK Yin-ting (Chinese: 麥燕庭).
The Vice-chairperson is Jackie SAM (Chinese: 岑亞志).
The other Executive Committee Members are:
- Stanley LEUNG Kam-hung (Chinese: 梁錦雄) (Metro Daily)
- TSE Chi-fung (Chinese: 謝志峰) (Radio Television Hong KongRadio Television Hong KongRadio Television Hong Kong is a public broadcasting organisation in Hong Kong that is operated as an independent department in the government under the Broadcasting Authority. RTHK operates seven radio channels, and produces television programmes that are then broadcast through local television...
) - Ben KWOK (Chinese: 郭家傑) (South China Morning PostSouth China Morning PostThe South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
) - Ambrose LEUNG (Chinese: 梁頌恩) (South China Morning PostSouth China Morning PostThe South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
) - Phyllis TSANG (Chinese: 曾錦雯) (South China Morning PostSouth China Morning PostThe South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
) - Albert WONG (Chinese: 黃雅斌) (South China Morning PostSouth China Morning PostThe South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
) - Zoe HUNG (Chinese: 孔雪怡) (Hong Kong Economic JournalHong Kong Economic JournalThe Hong Kong Economic Journal is a Chinese language daily newspaper published in Hong Kong by the Shun Po Co., Ltd. Available in both Hong Kong and Macau, the newspaper mainly focuses on economic news and other related issues...
) - Steve CHAN (Chinese: 陳羲文) (Hong Kong Economic JournalHong Kong Economic JournalThe Hong Kong Economic Journal is a Chinese language daily newspaper published in Hong Kong by the Shun Po Co., Ltd. Available in both Hong Kong and Macau, the newspaper mainly focuses on economic news and other related issues...
) - CHAN Kin-kai (Chinese: 陳健佳) (Ming PaoMing PaoMing Pao is a Chinese language newspaper published by Ming Pao Group in Hong Kong. In the 1990s, Ming Pao established four overseas branches in North America, each provides independent reporting on local news and collect local advertisements. Currently, only the two Canadian editions remain: Ming...
) - TAI Wai-land (Chinese: 戴偉倫) (freelancer)
Ethics Committee:
Every year, the Executive Committee appoints three members to the Ethics Committee after the Annual General Meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
. The committee's responsibility is to investigate alleged breaches of HKJA's Code of Ethics and to make recommendations to the Executive Committee.
Subcommittees :
There are five subcommittees which members can join. They are:
- Press Freedom
- Membership, Training and Welfare
- China Concern
- International Relations
- Publication
Activities
The Association organizes various activities to inform their members of the latest news/developments in the field. These include seminars, workshops and overseas tours.Certificate Courses:
HKJA has organized training courses for junior journalists that will take place in November 2006. These courses cover topics such as how to conduct effective interviews in political, court or hospital settings. Guest lecturers are invited to the courses, most of which are well-known in the journalism field. A certificate will be given to candidates who complete the courses.
Latest judgment made by the Ethics Committee
The judgment was made on October 16, 2006. The complaint was about several journalists from a Hong Kong magazine "Easy FinderEasy Finder
Easy Finder was a weekly Chinese tabloid magazine which was first published on September 13, 1991 in Hong Kong. Published by Next Media Limited which is owned by Jimmy Lai. It stopped publishing on May 23, 2007. Easy Finder was commonly known to participate in Yellow journalism Easy Finder...
(Chinese: 壹本便利)" who took photos of a local female artist, Gillian Chung
Gillian Chung
Gillian Chung is a Hong Kong based singer and actress. She is a member of Cantopop group Twins, along with Charlene Choi.-Early life:...
(Chinese: 鍾欣恫), in a dressing room using a hidden camera.
There were three main parts of the judgment:
- HKJA received more than 20 complaints about the 761st issue of "Easy Finder" magazine, which was published on August 23, 2006. In the issue, the magazine published photos of Gillian Chung in a dressing room located in Malaysia.
- According to the fifth article of the HKJA Code of Ethics, "A journalist shall obtain information, photographs and illustrations only by straightforward means. The use of other means can be justified only by over-riding considerations of the public interest. The journalist is entitled to exercise a personal conscientious objection to the use of such means."
- HKJA concluded that publishing a photo of an artist who was undressing could not be justified as being in the public interest. Using a hidden camera in order to get the photos was a violation of individual privacy as well as HKJA Code of Ethics.
Latest news
Mary Lau, the wife of detained journalist Ching Cheong, issued her latest statement on her husband's case on November 2, 2006. She called for his immediate release.HKJA held a press conference and also called for Ching Cheong's release.
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)
Questions over Hong Kong's press freedom were raised when the government announced plans to set up a committee to review public broadcasting in January 2005. The greatest concern that arose from the establishment of the committee seemed to be the controversy over the editorial independence/freedom of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). The broadcaster is known for airing views and opinions that challenge the government's policies. Consequently, there were fears over whether RTHK's editorial freedom would remain. On the one hand, the government wanted to use RTHK as an outlet to disseminate its views. On the other, Hong Kong people want to be able to voice their concerns freely. The Hong Kong Journalists Association responded to the issue by saying that RTHK should maintain its freedom and remain independent from the government (for more on HKJA's response, see the HKJA Annual Report (2006)).Article 23
Introduced as a law to protect national security, Article 23Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23
Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 is the basis of a security law proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. It states:On 24 September 2002 the government released its proposals for the anti-subversion law. It is the cause of considerable controversy and division in Hong Kong, which operates as a...
of the Basic Law created much concern and debate over Hong Kong's right to freedom of speech. On the one hand, the government wanted to pass the bill to help the country and protect it from any threats, while on the other, individuals wanted to be able to express themselves freely. In a response to the issue, HKJA opposed the bill as it felt that Article 23 posed a threat to freedom of expression and was also unnecessary. Due to the dissatisfaction of the people, on July 1, 2003 approximately 500,000 people protested against Article 23. On September 5 later that year, the government announced that it had decided to withdraw the bill.
Hong Kong Press Ratings
On October 26, 2006, Ming Pao reported the findings of a survey in which Hong Kong people were asked to rate the local press.It showed that the press received a relatively steady approval rating from the general public.
However, another survey conducted by the University of Hong Kong, showed that public support for the press in Hong Kong has been decreasing and has reached its lowest point in three years.
See also
- International Federation of JournalistsInternational Federation of JournalistsInternational Federation of Journalists, IFJ, is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists...
- International Freedom of Expression ExchangeInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
- Media in Hong Kong