Harassment of Hong Kong journalists was an exception in the past, but both physical and verbal harassment have become a lot more commonplace since the anti-government movement broke out in June 2019. Journalists rely on the support and protection of their employers, the HKJA, and labour unions.
All of the respondents mentioned that their own media companies had invested more in safety gear to protect journalists, with one company even procuring bulletproof jackets. Editorial departments of some media outlets condemned the police for brutality against their reporters. Some respondents mentioned that their management teams promised to discuss police harassment with the police at the managerial level, and many had even boycotted police press conferences. Many interviewees believed there was nothing more their organisations could do for them, although some urged their senior colleagues to speak out for them.
At the same time, the HKJA and other news worker groups have issued numerous statements and written an open letter to the HKSAR Chief Executive urging the police to stop their harassment of reporters. Reporters also protested against police brutality at a police press conference, despite which, it has not abated throughout the continuing protests.
Some respondents mentioned that their companies had reminded their staff about the need to regulate and ensure the privacy of their social media accounts to avoid doxing. Some outlets had also avoided the use of bylines on articles over sensitive issues or chosen not to show reporters’ faces on camera to prevent their identities being disclosed. Apple Daily successfully applied for a court order to protect their journalists from doxing activities.
