What's happened
The Hong Kong Journalists Association reported a systematic harassment campaign against journalists, their families, and associates, involving threats and doxxing. This follows a crackdown on press freedom in the city, raising concerns about the safety of media workers amid increasing government pressure.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The South China Morning Post reported on the global ban of a user involved in harassment, emphasizing the severity of the situation. The Independent highlighted the systematic nature of the attacks, with HKJA chair Selina Cheng stating, "This is the largest scale harassment against reporters in Hong Kong that we have thus far known of." The Guardian noted that the harassment included death threats and defamatory letters, indicating a coordinated effort to intimidate journalists. These reports collectively underscore the urgent need for protective measures for media professionals in Hong Kong.
How we got here
Since the introduction of the national security law in 2020, Hong Kong's media landscape has deteriorated significantly. Major independent outlets have been shut down, and journalists face increasing intimidation, leading to a climate of fear and self-censorship.
More on these topics
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Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is a metropolitan area and special administrative region of the People's Republic of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta of the South China Sea.
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The Hong Kong Journalists Association was established in 1968 for practising journalists in Hong Kong "to enhance press freedom and the integrity of news coverage".
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Apple Daily is a Hong Kong tabloid-style newspaper founded in 1995 by Jimmy Lai. Along with entertainment magazine Next Magazine, Apple Daily is part of Next Digital.
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Lai Chee-Ying, known professionally as Jimmy Lai, is a Hong Kong entrepreneur. He founded Giordano, an Asian clothing retailer, Next Digital, a Hong Kong-listed media company, and popular newspaper Apple Daily.
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Reporters Without Borders is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization that safeguards the right to freedom of information.