Hong Kong Free Press Explained

Hong Kong Free Press
Commercial:No
Type:News
Registration:None
Language:English
Current Status:Active
Location City:Kennedy Town, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) is a free, non-profit[1] news website based in Hong Kong. It was co-founded in 2015 by Tom Grundy, who believed that the territory's press freedom was in decline, to provide an independent alternative to the dominant English-language newspaper of record in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post.

History

The Hong Kong Free Press was co-founded by Tom Grundy in 2015.[2] [3] Grundy was previously a social activist and a blogger who had lived in Hong Kong since around 2005. He wrote the blog Hong Wrong and held annual International Pillow Fight Day commotions in Central. He was also known for attempting a citizen's arrest on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.[4] He established HKFP in response to concerns about eroding press freedom and media self-censorship in Hong Kong, with the aim of covering breaking news and topics such as the pro-democracy movement.[5] [6]

HKFP aimed to provide quick news reports with context, which Grundy said Hong Kong's largest English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post, does not do.[7] The owners of the SCMP have business interests in mainland China which has led to claims of biased coverage. Reporters Without Borders placed Hong Kong at thirty-four in their World Press Freedom Index in 2010, at seventieth in 2015. By 2022, it had plunged well down the bottom quarter of the list in 148th of 180 countries surveyed.[8]

Crowdfunding for HKFP took place on Fringebacker and raised HK$150,000 (US$19,342) within two days.[9] The four weeks of fundraising in June 2015 generated around HK$600,000.[10]

Beginning in late 2015, Chinese authorities blocked access to the site in mainland China.[11]

In its first year of operation, HKFP published 4,400 news articles and commentaries and had over 3.5 million unique visitors.[12]

HKFP relocated from Cyberport to a co-working space in Kennedy Town in late 2017.[13]

In 2019, HKFP won support from Google News Initiative to build NewsStream.[14] Newstream is an open source fundraising and donation management system, designed for news organisations and NGOs.[15]

In March 2020, HKFP met all nine of the Newsguard Initiative's credibility and transparency criteria[16] . It was reassessed and maintained the status in 2022.[17]

In early 2020, HKFP suspended its coverage for a website relaunch. In the relaunch, HKFP introduced its code of ethics and fact-checking policy and recruited two reporters.[18] The national security law, which came into force in the summer of 2020, means the HKFP may be under threat from the authorities in due course. In The Guardian, Grundy wrote that he and his colleagues have made contingency plans for the newspaper to continue if they are legally threatened by the authorities or forced to leave the territory.

HKFP writer Stephen Vines left the city for the United Kingdom in August 2021 due to what he described as "white terror" under the national security law.[19] Vines would continue to write for HKFP, the newspaper announced.[20]

Veteran China scholar Suzanne Pepper wrote a regular column for HKFP from 2015 until her death in 2022.[21] HKFP also maintains Pepper's blog, Hong Kong Focus.[22]

In a 2022 public opinion survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKFP received a credibility rating of 5.50 out of 10 which was higher than the ratings for Headline Daily (5.33), Oriental Daily News (5.25), HK01 (5.06) and TVB (5.01) but lower than the ratings for The Standard (5.97), South China Morning Post (5.95) and Ming Pao (5.72).[23] In the same CUHK survey conducted in 2019, HKFP had received a credibility rating of 5.56 out of 10.[24]

In 2022, HKFP won HK$105K in backing from Google’s News Equity Fund.[25]

In December 2023, HKFP gained the Trust Project hallmark. [26]

In July 2024, HKFP was rated by Ad Fontes Media as providing reliable, factual reporting from a politically neutral perspective.[27]

Content

In the long term, HKFP plans to achieve financial sustainability through "continued crowdfunding efforts, advertising and sponsorship events" and by operating with minimal overhead costs. Tom Grundy, a freelance journalist, stated that the site would "start with simple local news, and investigative pieces about Hong Kong" and that "we have no political agenda. We simply aim to be credible".

Awards and recognition

Hong Kong Free Press was nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian Liberal Party politicians Ola Elvestuen, Terje Breivik and Jon Gunnes.[28] [29]

Tom Grundy was recognised by the East-West Center with its Journalists of Courage & Impact award in 2024 for his work at HKFP.[30]

SOPA Awards

YearAwards/ NominationCategoryTitle of EntryResult
2020Excellence in Explanatory Reporting (Chinese: 卓越解釋性報道獎)RegionalHong Kong's new methodology of protest, explainedHonourable Mention
Excellence in Photography (Chinese: 卓越攝影獎)RegionalShots of the 2019 Hong Kong protest movementsFinalist
2021Excellence in Opinion Writing (Chinese: 卓越評論獎)RegionalHong Kong's protest movement in perspectiveHonourable Mention[31]
2023Excellence in Opinion Writing (Chinese: 卓越評論獎)RegionalPress Freedom Day: As long as there are journalists in Hong Kong, there will be journalismHonourable Mention[32]

Hong Kong Press Photographers Association

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Grundy. Tom. Hong Kong's national security laws are designed to make the media self-censor. The Guardian. 14 July 2020. 18 August 2020. 4 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804115237/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/14/hong-kongs-national-security-laws-are-designed-to-make-the-media-self-censor. live.
  2. News: Steinfeld. Jemimah. Chinese threats sent to UK homes. Index on Censorship. London. 18 October 2020. 18 August 2020. 6 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221206194117/https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2018/10/chinese-threats-to-uk-homes/. live.
  3. News: Van Der Horst. Linda. The new journalism outfit that is shaking up Hong Kong's establishment media. openDemocracy. 28 September 2015. 18 August 2020. 3 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230603170326/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/new-journalism-outfit-that-is-shaking-up-hong-kong-establishment-media/. live.
  4. News: Rickman. Dina. Briton Tom Grundy Attempts Citizen's Arrest On Tony Blair In Hong Kong (PICTURES). The Huffington Post UK. 14 July 2012. 17 May 2023. 18 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230518012544/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/06/14/briton-tom-grundy-attempt_n_1596399.html. live.
  5. News: Hong Kong Free Press launches crowdfunding campaign. Time Out Hong Kong. 10 May 2015. Time Out (magazine). 17 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714103704/http://www.timeout.com.hk/big-smog/features/72095/hong-kong-free-press-launches-crowdfunding-campaign.html. 14 July 2015. dead. dmy-all. The aim is to cover topics such as the ongoing battle for democracy as well as reporting on breaking news, all with insight and independence..
  6. News: Baiocchi. Francisco. Activist turned editor who tried to arrest Tony Blair launches crowdfunded Hong Kong news website. Press Gazette. London. 30 June 2015. 18 August 2020. He decided to launch a more serious site in December last year while covering Occupy demonstrations in the area.. 12 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191112112050/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/activist-who-tried-arrest-tony-blair-launches-crowdfunded-news-website-hong-kong-free-press/. live.
  7. News: Laplana . Laura . How independent media is navigating Hong Kong's closing press freedom environment . . 8 January 2024 . en . 27 June 2024 . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225095957/https://ijnet.org/en/story/how-independent-media-navigating-hong-kong%E2%80%99s-closing-press-freedom-environment . live .
  8. Web site: Index RSF . 2022-11-19 . rsf.org . en . 2022-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220427230843/https://rsf.org/en/ranking . live .
  9. News: Sala. Ilaria Maria. Hong Kong to get new crowdfunded independent newspaper. The Guardian. 20 May 2015. 18 August 2020.
  10. Web site: Thank you readers: HKFP exceeds funding drive target - HK$581k raised for 2017 . Hong Kong Free Press . 24 December 2016 . 13 May 2024 . 28 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628023239/https://hongkongfp.com/2016/12/24/thank-you-readers-hkfp-exceeds-funding-drive-target-hk581k-raised-for-2017/ . live .
  11. News: Hong Kong Free Press falls foul of Great Firewall, blocked in China. Hong Kong Free Press. 6 November 2015. 6 November 2015. 17 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191217125931/https://www.hongkongfp.com/2015/11/06/hong-kong-free-press-falls-foul-of-great-firewall-blocked-in-china/. live.
  12. News: A year of Hong Kong Free Press: On our first anniversary, a look back at our best coverage. Hong Kong Free Press. 29 June 2016.
  13. News: Hong Kong Free Press moves to The Hive co-working space in Kennedy Town. Hong Kong Free Press. 19 October 2017.
  14. https://hongkongfp.com/2019/03/27/hkfp-wins-google-news-initiative-grant-create-funding-solution-small-newsrooms-worldwide/
  15. Web site: Diffractive/Newstream . .
  16. Web site: Press . Hong Kong Free . 2020-03-19 . Announcement: HKFP gets full marks from NewsGuard initiative for meeting all 9 of its credibility and transparency criteria . 2024-08-13 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Press . Hong Kong Free . 2022-06-29 . HKFP marks 7 year anniversary: 2022 Transparency update . 2024-08-13 . Hong Kong Free Press HKFP . en-GB.
  18. Web site: Grundy . Tom . Editorial: Pause in coverage - HKFP's month-long timeline for relaunch . Hong Kong Free Press . 2 May 2020 . 23 January 2020 . 28 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240628023202/https://hongkongfp.com/2020/01/23/editorial-pause-coverage-hkfps-month-long-timeline-relaunch/ . live .
  19. Web site: Journalist Steve Vines flees 'white terror in HK' - RTHK. 3 August 2021. RTHK. 3 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803040438/https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1603959-20210803.htm. live.
  20. Web site: Ex-RTHK broadcaster and HKFP columnist Steve Vines leaves Hong Kong for UK citing 'white terror'. Tom. Grundy. Hong Kong Free Press. 3 August 2021. 6 August 2021. 28 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240628023200/https://hongkongfp.com/2021/08/03/ex-rthk-broadcaster-and-hkfp-columnist-steve-vines-leaves-hong-kong-for-uk-citing-white-terror/. live.
  21. News: Grundy . Tom . Obituary: Remembering political scientist, author and HKFP columnist Suzanne Pepper – 1939-2022 . Hong Kong Free Press . 6 July 2022.
  22. News: Burns . John . Suzanne Pepper: an appreciation . Hong Kong Free Press . 6 July 2022.
  23. Web site: Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey . Public Evaluation on Media Credibility (2022). Chinese University of Hong Kong. August 2022. 10 August 2024.
  24. Web site: Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey . Tracking Research: Public Evaluation on Media Credibility - Survey Results . The Chinese University of Hong Kong . 14 March 2020 . 2019 . 1 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200501112037/http://www.com.cuhk.edu.hk/ccpos/en/research/Credibility_Survey%20Results_2019_ENG.pdf . live .
  25. Web site: Announcement: HKFP wins HK$105K backing from Google's News Equity Fund . 16 November 2022 .
  26. Web site: HKFP gains globally-recognised Trust Project credibility hallmark, endorsing commitment to accuracy, fairness . 11 December 2023 .
  27. Web site: Press . Hong Kong Free . Media watchdog rates HKFP highly for reliability, political neutrality . 2024-08-13 . hongkongfp.com . 4 July 2024 . en-GB.
  28. News: Flere fredsprisforslag før fristen gikk ut . . . 31 January 2021 . 1 February 2021 . 1 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201090048/https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/jBL23A/flere-fredsprisforslag-foer-fristen-gikk-ut . live . Også Elvestuen har foreslått aktivister fra Hongkong. Sammen med Terje Breivik og Jon Gunnes har han nominert det uavhengige nettstedet Hongkong Free Press..
  29. News: Hektisk nomineringsaktivitet før fredsprisfrist . . 31 January 2021 . 1 February 2021 . 31 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210131191917/https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/verden/hektisk-nomineringsaktivitet-for-fredsprisfrist-1.1827991 . live .
  30. https://www.eastwestcenter.org/news/news-release/seven-journalists-courage-and-impact-honored-ewc-media-conference-manila
  31. Web site: Awards Finalists . 6 August 2021 . The SOPA Awards . en . 29 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200829100605/https://sopawards.com/awards/awards-finalists/ . live .
  32. Web site: Grundy . Tom . 2023-06-16 . HKFP wins prestigious SOPA award for opinion piece on Hong Kong press freedom . 2023-06-16 . HKFP . en-GB.
  33. https://hongkongfp.com/2024/06/03/hkfps-trash-point-art-shot-wins-hong-kong-press-photographers-association-prize/

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