#Hope
Daring Chief Editor in #CitizenNews Welcomes Journalists who Left #CableNews on #MassResignation: “We Have Nothing to Lose”
On December 1, 2020, Cable News in Hong Kong announced a major layoff plan after a series of personnel change in the management. The move has triggered a resignation en masse in the station’s newsroom, including 11 journalists and editors of the #ChinaNews team, as a sign of protest.
On January 18, 2021, the 11 of them announced joining of an online news platform, #CitizenNews, and continue their work on China News.
Former Assignment Editor of Cable News, Wong Lai-ping, expressed that it was a spontaneous action in last December when they resigned together in response to the station’s arbitrary layoff plan.
“We have never thought about coming together again. We even doubted whether we should continue working in the media industry.” However, many encouraged them to carry on their journalistic profession and continue to work as a team.
“So we talked among ourselves and agreed to work together with a focus on China News as we always do.”
The Chief Editor of Citizen News, Li Yue-wah said that the collaboration is “unplanned” and the consensus was reached after discussions following the mass resignation in last December.
She stressed that “This is worth trying as we have nothing to lose.” She called it an act “to smash the cooking pots and sink the boats.”
Li also revealed that since its launch 4 years ago, Citizen News has yet to balance its book. They initially set a target at 4,000 subscribers, for each paying a monthly fee of HK$100. “We are still falling short of this target,” Li sighed.
Adding 11 members of the former China News team from Cable News will double the current workforce of Citizen News. In addition, the news platform is planning to move to a bigger office with live-broadcast facilities. “This is going to double our expenses.” Li added.
She further explained that the platform is not going to pend on crowdfunding, which impact is believed to be short-lived. Instead, it is keen on expanding its subscription base to facilitate long-term development.
Source: Stand News #Jan18
#Pheonixism #Journalism #Professionalism
Daring Chief Editor in #CitizenNews Welcomes Journalists who Left #CableNews on #MassResignation: “We Have Nothing to Lose”
On December 1, 2020, Cable News in Hong Kong announced a major layoff plan after a series of personnel change in the management. The move has triggered a resignation en masse in the station’s newsroom, including 11 journalists and editors of the #ChinaNews team, as a sign of protest.
On January 18, 2021, the 11 of them announced joining of an online news platform, #CitizenNews, and continue their work on China News.
Former Assignment Editor of Cable News, Wong Lai-ping, expressed that it was a spontaneous action in last December when they resigned together in response to the station’s arbitrary layoff plan.
“We have never thought about coming together again. We even doubted whether we should continue working in the media industry.” However, many encouraged them to carry on their journalistic profession and continue to work as a team.
“So we talked among ourselves and agreed to work together with a focus on China News as we always do.”
The Chief Editor of Citizen News, Li Yue-wah said that the collaboration is “unplanned” and the consensus was reached after discussions following the mass resignation in last December.
She stressed that “This is worth trying as we have nothing to lose.” She called it an act “to smash the cooking pots and sink the boats.”
Li also revealed that since its launch 4 years ago, Citizen News has yet to balance its book. They initially set a target at 4,000 subscribers, for each paying a monthly fee of HK$100. “We are still falling short of this target,” Li sighed.
Adding 11 members of the former China News team from Cable News will double the current workforce of Citizen News. In addition, the news platform is planning to move to a bigger office with live-broadcast facilities. “This is going to double our expenses.” Li added.
She further explained that the platform is not going to pend on crowdfunding, which impact is believed to be short-lived. Instead, it is keen on expanding its subscription base to facilitate long-term development.
Source: Stand News #Jan18
#Pheonixism #Journalism #Professionalism
#Solidarity
Prosecution of #StandNews by HK Authorities Causes #CitizenNews to Close; Chief Editors: Do Not Give Up
On January 2, 2022, Hong Kong Citizen News annouced the closure of the indepedent news outlet starting from January 4, 2022.
On the morning of January 3, chief editor Daisy LEE Yuet Wah and chief writer Chris YEUNG Kin Hing explained their decision. Yeung in a broken voice mentioned the authorities' prosecution of Stand News management was one of the causes. Yeung said their priority is the safety of their journalists; however, Yeung himself will not stop writing.
Lee added that Citizen News has always been professional since its establishment in 2017, "we haven't changed." Lee asked young journalists not to give up and not to be affected by their decision.
Photo: #FirstHand
Source: HKCNews; InMedia #Jan3
https://bit.ly/3qB5nrO
https://bit.ly/3zkrWor
#PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #Media #PoliticalProsecution #WhiteTerror
Prosecution of #StandNews by HK Authorities Causes #CitizenNews to Close; Chief Editors: Do Not Give Up
On January 2, 2022, Hong Kong Citizen News annouced the closure of the indepedent news outlet starting from January 4, 2022.
On the morning of January 3, chief editor Daisy LEE Yuet Wah and chief writer Chris YEUNG Kin Hing explained their decision. Yeung in a broken voice mentioned the authorities' prosecution of Stand News management was one of the causes. Yeung said their priority is the safety of their journalists; however, Yeung himself will not stop writing.
Lee added that Citizen News has always been professional since its establishment in 2017, "we haven't changed." Lee asked young journalists not to give up and not to be affected by their decision.
Photo: #FirstHand
Source: HKCNews; InMedia #Jan3
https://bit.ly/3qB5nrO
https://bit.ly/3zkrWor
#PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #Media #PoliticalProsecution #WhiteTerror
#WhiteTerror #Crackdown
At least 6 more pro-democracy online media closed down in Hong Kong
Ten days after Hong Kong authorities' crackdown on pro-democracy media outlet, Stand News, on December 29, 2021, at least six online media have announced closesure in the new year.
As of January 6, 2022, news outlets that announced closure or ceased news reporting include:
- Independent Media News (香港獨媒新聞);
- IBHK Internet media (IBHK網絡媒體);
- Citizen News (衆新聞);
- Mad Dog News (癲狗日報);
- Dare Media Hong Kong (够薑媒體); and
- Polymer (聚言時報)
#FreedomOfPublication #PoliticalProsecution #PressFreedom #Media #PoliceState #Regime #Censorship
Source: Inmediahk; #Jan6
https://bit.ly/3f0tE4Y
====
Related News
Prosecution of #StandNews by HK Authorities Causes #CitizenNews to Close; Chief Editors: Do Not Give Up
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31819
Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751
At least 6 more pro-democracy online media closed down in Hong Kong
Ten days after Hong Kong authorities' crackdown on pro-democracy media outlet, Stand News, on December 29, 2021, at least six online media have announced closesure in the new year.
As of January 6, 2022, news outlets that announced closure or ceased news reporting include:
- Independent Media News (香港獨媒新聞);
- IBHK Internet media (IBHK網絡媒體);
- Citizen News (衆新聞);
- Mad Dog News (癲狗日報);
- Dare Media Hong Kong (够薑媒體); and
- Polymer (聚言時報)
#FreedomOfPublication #PoliticalProsecution #PressFreedom #Media #PoliceState #Regime #Censorship
Source: Inmediahk; #Jan6
https://bit.ly/3f0tE4Y
====
Related News
Prosecution of #StandNews by HK Authorities Causes #CitizenNews to Close; Chief Editors: Do Not Give Up
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31819
Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751
#Solidarity
Hundreds of Hongkongers in UK protest against clampdown of press freedom in Hong Kong
On January 8 and January 9, 2022 Hongkongers in the United Kingdom assembled in 7 cities to protest against Hong Kong authorities' crackdown on press freedom.
Clad in black, many Hongkongers were seen holding homemade handbills and banners calling for international community's attention over the deterioration of freedom in Hong Kong.
Holding hands and singing the protest song, "Glory to Hong Kong", long human chains were seen in Newcastle, Birmingham, Kingston, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to show solidarity and support for journalists arrested by national security police in Hong Kong.
Sources: Apple Daily HK, Whats News Media; Harbour of freedom, and Free HK; #Jan9
#PressFreedom #StandNews #CitizenNews #AppleDaily #UK
#HumanChain
Hundreds of Hongkongers in UK protest against clampdown of press freedom in Hong Kong
On January 8 and January 9, 2022 Hongkongers in the United Kingdom assembled in 7 cities to protest against Hong Kong authorities' crackdown on press freedom.
Clad in black, many Hongkongers were seen holding homemade handbills and banners calling for international community's attention over the deterioration of freedom in Hong Kong.
Holding hands and singing the protest song, "Glory to Hong Kong", long human chains were seen in Newcastle, Birmingham, Kingston, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen to show solidarity and support for journalists arrested by national security police in Hong Kong.
Sources: Apple Daily HK, Whats News Media; Harbour of freedom, and Free HK; #Jan9
#PressFreedom #StandNews #CitizenNews #AppleDaily #UK
#HumanChain
#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Newspaper in Hong Kong States in Editorial: "No Intention to Incite Hatred"
In late December 2021, six former and current senior staff members of Stand News were arrested for "conspiracy to publish a seditious material". The authorities said that it contravened sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The former chief-editor Chung Pui-Kuen and the former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam Shiu-Tung were both detained and denied bail. Stand News immediately announced to cease operation.
On January 6, 2022, #MingPao, a Chinese-language newspaper in Hong Kong, stated in its editorial that the newspaper has no intention to "incite hatred, dissatisfaction, and hostility" and they are only "pointing out the wrongdoings and suggesting a legal improvement to the society".
Following #StandNews, #CitizenNews and other 5 media have been recently closed down.
The chief-writer in Citizen News Chris Yeung Kin-Hing worried about the unpredictable redline. He was not comfortable to be a journalist as any article, report and interview can be classified as incitement.
Chief Executive #CarrieLam, however, claimed that the number of media registered on the information service department has increased in the past year, when she was asked whether press freedom has declined.
"The shut down of the media is their personal choice that we should not directly connect it with #FreedomofPress. The government and the police force only act in accordance with the law."
The editorial posted by Ming Pao reads:
"Criticism in the journal was to point out the mistakes or weaknesses of the related systems, policies or regulations and aim to correct or to eliminate them with legal improvement. There are no hatred, dissatisfaction, or hostility incitement to the government or other social groups."
Source: InMedia #Jan6
https://bit.ly/3JLmArq
#CarrieLam #YeungKinHing #ChungPuiKuen #LamShiuTung #NSL #CrimesOrdinance #PressFreedom #MediaLandscape
Newspaper in Hong Kong States in Editorial: "No Intention to Incite Hatred"
In late December 2021, six former and current senior staff members of Stand News were arrested for "conspiracy to publish a seditious material". The authorities said that it contravened sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes Ordinance.
The former chief-editor Chung Pui-Kuen and the former acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam Shiu-Tung were both detained and denied bail. Stand News immediately announced to cease operation.
On January 6, 2022, #MingPao, a Chinese-language newspaper in Hong Kong, stated in its editorial that the newspaper has no intention to "incite hatred, dissatisfaction, and hostility" and they are only "pointing out the wrongdoings and suggesting a legal improvement to the society".
Following #StandNews, #CitizenNews and other 5 media have been recently closed down.
The chief-writer in Citizen News Chris Yeung Kin-Hing worried about the unpredictable redline. He was not comfortable to be a journalist as any article, report and interview can be classified as incitement.
Chief Executive #CarrieLam, however, claimed that the number of media registered on the information service department has increased in the past year, when she was asked whether press freedom has declined.
"The shut down of the media is their personal choice that we should not directly connect it with #FreedomofPress. The government and the police force only act in accordance with the law."
The editorial posted by Ming Pao reads:
"Criticism in the journal was to point out the mistakes or weaknesses of the related systems, policies or regulations and aim to correct or to eliminate them with legal improvement. There are no hatred, dissatisfaction, or hostility incitement to the government or other social groups."
Source: InMedia #Jan6
https://bit.ly/3JLmArq
#CarrieLam #YeungKinHing #ChungPuiKuen #LamShiuTung #NSL #CrimesOrdinance #PressFreedom #MediaLandscape
#PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw
21 nations condemn Hong Kong press freedom crackdown and closure of news outlets
The #MediaFreedomCoalition, 21 countries including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, Canada and Japan said in a statement released by the U.S. State Department on February 8 that they “express their deep concern at the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities’ attacks on freedom of the press and their suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong.”
The statement said authorities have pursued independent media outlets such as the recently closed #StandNews and #CitizenNews since China’s imposition of a national security law, adding these “actions further undermine confidence in Hong Kong’s international reputation.”
Read full Statement
https://www.state.gov/media-freedom-coalition-statement-on-closure-of-media-outlets-in-hong-kong/
Source: Bloomberg; #Feb9
https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/u-s-led-coalition-slams-attacks-on-hong-kong-press-freedom
21 nations condemn Hong Kong press freedom crackdown and closure of news outlets
The #MediaFreedomCoalition, 21 countries including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, Canada and Japan said in a statement released by the U.S. State Department on February 8 that they “express their deep concern at the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities’ attacks on freedom of the press and their suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong.”
The statement said authorities have pursued independent media outlets such as the recently closed #StandNews and #CitizenNews since China’s imposition of a national security law, adding these “actions further undermine confidence in Hong Kong’s international reputation.”
Read full Statement
https://www.state.gov/media-freedom-coalition-statement-on-closure-of-media-outlets-in-hong-kong/
Source: Bloomberg; #Feb9
https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/u-s-led-coalition-slams-attacks-on-hong-kong-press-freedom
#PressFreedom
Pro-democeacy news anchor stumbles in career development in Hong Kong
Young news anchor, Ingrid #TseHingYee worked for three media outlets in three years. Her disrupted career, is a sad reflection of Hong Kong's stifled media and banished press freedom.
Most recently, Tse was seen hosting a press briefing for the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institution.
She thanked her supporters after the briefing, saying that she is pondering possible developments in her career.
Tse joined #AppleDaily in 2021 after resigning from i-Cable in 2019 due to arguments about editorial decisions.
The 25-year-old journalist moved to work in online media Hong Kong #CitizenNews after Apple Daily was folded in June 2021.
In January 2022, Citizen News announced plans to close after some 200 police raided #StandNews, another independent media outlet in Hong Kong, citing concerns about the safety of its staff.
Source: inmediahk; #Feb12
https://bit.ly/3gVtGwl
Pro-democeacy news anchor stumbles in career development in Hong Kong
Young news anchor, Ingrid #TseHingYee worked for three media outlets in three years. Her disrupted career, is a sad reflection of Hong Kong's stifled media and banished press freedom.
Most recently, Tse was seen hosting a press briefing for the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institution.
She thanked her supporters after the briefing, saying that she is pondering possible developments in her career.
Tse joined #AppleDaily in 2021 after resigning from i-Cable in 2019 due to arguments about editorial decisions.
The 25-year-old journalist moved to work in online media Hong Kong #CitizenNews after Apple Daily was folded in June 2021.
In January 2022, Citizen News announced plans to close after some 200 police raided #StandNews, another independent media outlet in Hong Kong, citing concerns about the safety of its staff.
Source: inmediahk; #Feb12
https://bit.ly/3gVtGwl
‘We fought the good fight’: journalists in Hong Kong reel from assault on media
As the last news programme came to a close and anchors bade farewell to their online audience on 3 January, Chris Yeung, the founder and chief writer of Citizen News, gathered together his staff and tried to strike an optimistic tone.
“Remember our very best memories,” he said, dressed in a blue shirt with sleeves rolled up and a crimson jumper draped on his shoulders. “No one knows what will happen next. Don’t worry. Just remember the happy things.”
It was the day 90 largely pro-establishment legislators were sworn in. The previous evening, the independent Chinese-language news outlet of five years said it was closing. It justified the decision citing a deteriorating media environment and concerns for the safety of its staff.
Source: The Guardian #Jan11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/11/we-fought-the-good-fight-journalists-in-hong-kong-reel-from-assault-on-media
#Journalist #HongKong #ChrisYeung #CitizenNews
As the last news programme came to a close and anchors bade farewell to their online audience on 3 January, Chris Yeung, the founder and chief writer of Citizen News, gathered together his staff and tried to strike an optimistic tone.
“Remember our very best memories,” he said, dressed in a blue shirt with sleeves rolled up and a crimson jumper draped on his shoulders. “No one knows what will happen next. Don’t worry. Just remember the happy things.”
It was the day 90 largely pro-establishment legislators were sworn in. The previous evening, the independent Chinese-language news outlet of five years said it was closing. It justified the decision citing a deteriorating media environment and concerns for the safety of its staff.
Source: The Guardian #Jan11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/11/we-fought-the-good-fight-journalists-in-hong-kong-reel-from-assault-on-media
#Journalist #HongKong #ChrisYeung #CitizenNews
#HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong’s Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (#FCC) has cancelled this year’s Human Rights Press Awards, citing “significant areas of uncertainty” under the law.
In a statement emailed to members on Monday, club president Keith Richburg said the FCC board met on Saturday and “after a lengthy discussion, regretfully decided to suspend the Human Rights Press Awards pending further review.”
The winners of the Human Rights Press Awards were expected to be announced on May 3, which is also World Press Freedom Day.
“Over the last two years, journalists in Hong Kong have been operating under new ‘red lines’ on what is and is not permissible, but there remain significant areas of uncertainty and we do not wish unintentionally to violate the law,” Richburg wrote. “This is the context in which we decided to suspend the Awards.”
“I know this is an unusual step to take so late in the process, just weeks before we were set to announce the winners,” he added.
According to FCC's website, “The Human Rights Press Awards recognise top rights-related reporting from around Asia, with the goal of increasing respect for people’s basic rights and focusing attention on threats to those freedoms.”
Since the onset of Hong Kong’s national security law in 2020, two of the city’s newsrooms have been raided and their top editors arrested, as press freedom NGOs have sounded the alarm. #AppleDaily, #StandNews and #CitizenNews are among the outlets that have shuttered.
Full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/25/breaking-hong-kongs-human-rights-press-awards-cancelled/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press
#PressFreedom #HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong’s Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (#FCC) has cancelled this year’s Human Rights Press Awards, citing “significant areas of uncertainty” under the law.
In a statement emailed to members on Monday, club president Keith Richburg said the FCC board met on Saturday and “after a lengthy discussion, regretfully decided to suspend the Human Rights Press Awards pending further review.”
The winners of the Human Rights Press Awards were expected to be announced on May 3, which is also World Press Freedom Day.
“Over the last two years, journalists in Hong Kong have been operating under new ‘red lines’ on what is and is not permissible, but there remain significant areas of uncertainty and we do not wish unintentionally to violate the law,” Richburg wrote. “This is the context in which we decided to suspend the Awards.”
“I know this is an unusual step to take so late in the process, just weeks before we were set to announce the winners,” he added.
According to FCC's website, “The Human Rights Press Awards recognise top rights-related reporting from around Asia, with the goal of increasing respect for people’s basic rights and focusing attention on threats to those freedoms.”
Since the onset of Hong Kong’s national security law in 2020, two of the city’s newsrooms have been raided and their top editors arrested, as press freedom NGOs have sounded the alarm. #AppleDaily, #StandNews and #CitizenNews are among the outlets that have shuttered.
Full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/25/breaking-hong-kongs-human-rights-press-awards-cancelled/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press
#PressFreedom #HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Hong Kong’s Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) has cancelled this year’s Human Rights Press Awards, citing “significant areas of uncertainty” under the law. Human Righ…
One More News Outlet Closes Down in Hong Kong
#FactWire is an independent investigative news agency founded in Hong Kong in 2015, with the support of 3,300 Hong Kongers through crowd-funding.
For the past six years, FactWire has published a number of in-depth news reports, covering a wide range of topics from the safety issues at Taishan Nuclear Plant in China, the 2019 Anti Extradition protests, to the latest Chief Executive election in Hong Kong.
However, under the current political environment of Hong Kong, FactWire announced its closure on June 10, 2022. Despite the support of the public and their subscribers, the independent news agency made the decision to cease operation and dismiss all its employees.
In a statement published on their website, they wrote:
"In recent years, the media has contended with great change. Despite having wrestled many times with the difficult decision as to whether to continue our journalistic work, we had always come to the same affirmative conclusion: to stand fast to our core values and beliefs, and to always report the facts."
The news agency reiterated that "It is our honour to have been witnesses to, and scribes of Hong Kong’s history with you", and asked Hongkongers to "take care".
Read the statement:
https://www.factwire.org/en/termination-of-operation/
Source: Factwire; InMedia #June10
https://bit.ly/3ts2cF5
#FreedomOfSpeech #PressFreedom #AppleDaily #StandNews #CitizenNews
#FactWire is an independent investigative news agency founded in Hong Kong in 2015, with the support of 3,300 Hong Kongers through crowd-funding.
For the past six years, FactWire has published a number of in-depth news reports, covering a wide range of topics from the safety issues at Taishan Nuclear Plant in China, the 2019 Anti Extradition protests, to the latest Chief Executive election in Hong Kong.
However, under the current political environment of Hong Kong, FactWire announced its closure on June 10, 2022. Despite the support of the public and their subscribers, the independent news agency made the decision to cease operation and dismiss all its employees.
In a statement published on their website, they wrote:
"In recent years, the media has contended with great change. Despite having wrestled many times with the difficult decision as to whether to continue our journalistic work, we had always come to the same affirmative conclusion: to stand fast to our core values and beliefs, and to always report the facts."
The news agency reiterated that "It is our honour to have been witnesses to, and scribes of Hong Kong’s history with you", and asked Hongkongers to "take care".
Read the statement:
https://www.factwire.org/en/termination-of-operation/
Source: Factwire; InMedia #June10
https://bit.ly/3ts2cF5
#FreedomOfSpeech #PressFreedom #AppleDaily #StandNews #CitizenNews
FactWire News Agency 傳真社
Termination of Operation - FactWire News Agency 傳真社
It is time for us to bid you farewell. Founded in 2015 with the support of a history-making 3,300 Hong Kongers, the establishment of the FactWire News Agency was a remarkable feat, and a dream come true. For the past six years, we have done our best to keep…