The HKJA conducted a survey of 400 reporters in 2016 and found that more than 30 per cent of respondents had a monthly income of less than HKD 15,000. They generally had long working hours and strong educational backgrounds (see Indicator C4 – Journalism professionalism). The median monthly income in Hong Kong in 2016 was HKD 15,500. Low pay was the main reason for journalists remaining in the industry for only a short time. The reporters explained that journalists work under great pressure because of the short news cycle and political stress. More than 50 per cent of respondents predicted they would stay in the industry less than five years, and 40 per cent of management-level journalists had considered leaving the news industry (HKJA, 2016). The chairperson of the HKJA admitted that low wages present a significant obstacle to retaining good, experienced journalists, an issue that deteriorates the quality of news. The interviewees generally found reporters’ wages to be very unsatisfactory: “our staff worked very hard to report on the anti-government protests over the past year, yet they only received half of a monthly income as bonus”, one stated.
There are no professional rules to protect journalists from dismissal or the termination of their contracts due to changes in ownership or political pressure. The chairperson of the HKJA rarely heard that journalists were fired because of their political stances; however, the rise of freelance journalism in the news field may signal otherwise. Apple Daily laid off many staff members in 2017 and rehired them as freelance reporters. This move affected a wide range of sections, including entertainment, sports, and features.
Once experienced news reporters leave the newsroom, junior staff members usually replace their positions. The obvious reason for this replacement is the considerably higher cost of experienced journalists in comparison with beginners.
