- M+ ?; c2 p: \* b公仔箱論壇發電郵的兼職編輯AlexPrice昨晚回覆本報時表示,一直沒有機會與王向偉見面,現階段不便回應事件,並指希望當面與王對話,了解後始決定如何處理。tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb7 Z, E& {% D0 {" [9 C4 ]# ~
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本月6日,李旺陽被揭發在醫院窗口離奇吊頸死亡,翌日本港主要媒體均以顯著篇幅報道,同日《南華早報》的印刷第一版,包括向學校、酒店等派發的訂戶版,以相當於中文報章600字的篇幅,在A8頁中國版約佔六分之一頁大小報道,並有兩名記者的署名。但其後印製的第二版即零售版,則將新聞濃縮成100字的簡訊,置於A6版左上方,網上版更失去此則新聞的蹤影,直至中午過後始重新上載原裝版本。5.39.217.76- W; }9 E5 u' ~
tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb1 s' m+ J+ `2 ^ 原600字篇幅 變100字簡訊 7 `" [% f% @1 L9 O+ ~2 htvb now,tvbnow,bttvb 公仔箱論壇, o3 H- O h; W! [1 |. g
Alex Price於報道見報日、即本月7日晚發電郵給王向偉,表示不少人奇怪為何有關報道簡單處理,希望王解釋。王向偉3分鐘後回覆稱,「決定是我下的」( I made that decision) 。Alex再發電郵,關注事件是否有「自我審查之嫌」,王反駁「沒必要向你解釋」,更表明「若你不喜歡,你應該知道怎樣做」( If youdon't like it, you know what to do)。 8 m6 U* g/ v( {; I; e T: |% N1 C公仔箱論壇& {4 y! t/ T4 J8 U9 f
Alex認為回覆具恐嚇性,「擔心任何人對編輯決定提出質疑,均會被要求閉嘴或離開」,重申當其他媒體以大篇幅報道事件,向總編輯提出如此質疑亦屬合理,惟王向偉否認出言恐嚇,拒再說明(見圖)。 ( X5 w" d2 f) OTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。3 d6 Z7 R- I U3 V% | 編輯:南早公信力危在旦夕公仔箱論壇, E: n3 ]) f2 a/ _0 x( Z# v; O
TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。9 R4 Z- u# _) U8 X, \' K6 D" z
即使Alex前日再發電郵,提出南華早報其後曾以專題、社論等顯著篇幅報道李旺陽事件,反映有其重要,然而首日確是做細了這則新聞,又稱新聞道德和該報的公信力危在旦夕,促王向偉向員工及公眾交代,惟一直未獲回覆。 `( A0 d( s# g' C3 _: H4 p% `% \7 p: u
據了解,相關人士不滿王向偉未有交代,遂向全體員工發出有關電郵,有員工再廣發傳媒,令事件曝光。3 F1 t' }! D; K- {. a
3 C6 O* ~! T0 H% a3 _# m, @: X公仔箱論壇Alex Price: Hi Xiangwei ... A lot of people are wondering why we nibbed the Li Wangyang story last night. It does seem rather odd. Any chance you can shed some light on the matter? ) S3 N" q# y2 d9 _2 B公仔箱論壇 " |, Q- F* k- X/ W8 m S0 e王向偉: I made that decision. 6 m; P! D& _- f8 T2 |: v) k. VTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 & W5 l @+ Q9 [7 ` E$ ?( FTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Alex Price: Any chance you say why? It's just that to the outside world it looks an awful lot like self-censorship ... * J1 E: \% m0 q7 r# I0 e0 O/ j+ ftvb now,tvbnow,bttvb) I* H# Z; G$ r7 ?0 s" W: e4 A
王向偉: I don't have to explain to you anything. I made the decision and I stand by it. If you don't like it, you know what to do. 6 d7 [* \( J& A; E+ i. M! t公仔箱論壇Alex Price: I am concerned by the intimidatory nature of your reply. A very strange editorial decision was made and everyone is wondering why. Many other news organisations splashed with the Li Wangyang story yet we reduced it to a brief. In such circumstances it is quite reasonable to ask the editor why the decision was made. Of course he may decline to say why; there could be any number of reasons, and he may well want to keep them to himself. But if the question was polite and reasonable than [then] I see no reason why the response should not be equally polite and reasonable. As it stands, I am concerned. I am now worried that anyone who wishes to raise issue with an editorial decision - no matter how much that decision appears to go against good journalism - will be told to shut up or leave. I am further concerned that my justifiable concern on this matter as a journalist may lead to the termination of my employment. 4 g; k/ Q1 R7 N5.39.217.76 , D/ E# H" L- I; ~3 LI look forward to a chat where you can put my mind at rest. t+ t% Q( `+ `: l; x F
2 O9 W/ i/ e7 [% q6 o' P公仔箱論壇王向偉: I don't think my answer is anyway intimidatory and I don't know why you have formed your opinion. 5 ~) R& a& S) y ) O: g8 q1 j O7 O) `Alex Price: Xiang Wei; A good man died for his cause and we turned it from a story into a brief. The rest of Hong Kong splashed on it. Your staff are understandably concerned by this. News is printing what someone else does not want printed.Everything else is public relations. Please explain the decision to reduce the suspicious death of Li Wangyang to a brief. I need to be able to explain it to my friends who are asking why we did it. I'm sorry but your reply of"it is my decision, if you don't like it you know what to do" is not enough in such a situation. Frankly it seems to be saying "shut up or go". The SCMP has subsequently splashed on Li Wangyang, had a focus page devoted to the matter, plus editorials, two columns by yourself and other stories. Yet on the day it counted we reduced the story to a nib.( b! K3 W0 B! I! M: L
$ i6 v% t: O6 O" h/ FJournalistic ethics are at stake. The credibility of the South China Morning Post is at stake. Your staff- and readers - deserve an answer.公仔箱論壇7 G* o7 m% @+ i/ X% K, U* ~3 _
I look forward to hearing it.公仔箱論壇. }6 |9 j# R9 m F0 M: s
/ Y# A, D; Y$ I$ a7 P公仔箱論壇「已成社會事件」記協議員促交代TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。/ I! ~+ C4 w- _/ V. N, {- E1 Q# w
9 d }2 c4 U7 O$ X% Ctvb now,tvbnow,bttvb【明報專訊】兩個傳媒組織及3間大學新聞系學者,表示關注事件,要求澄清是否判斷失誤或自我審查。多名立法會議員敦促管理層交代,建議有關記者可向資訊科技及廣播事務委員會正式投訴,以交立法會討論。 ( J. B, l$ t6 Y+ X; T3 Q5.39.217.76$ O- F3 Y7 v5 H# [5 r2 C8 I& E
記 者協會主席麥燕庭表示,《南華早報》的處理手法有別一般傳媒,令人關注有關安排是否屬自我審查還是評估失誤。另外,她無法理解為何王向偉對下屬的合理要求一直未有清晰回應,她又指事件已引起公眾關注,成社會事件,有必要清楚交代,記協已正式向王向偉提出質疑,至今未獲回覆。 1 K+ [+ n$ a' H6 K/ X9 ~" S - j: Z$ J. {! j H D8 U7 Ktvb now,tvbnow,bttvb新聞行政人員協會主席趙應春稱,雖然近日傳媒鋪天蓋地報道李旺陽事件,但主編確有權決定報道如何處理,但他認為,作為開明的傳媒管理層,面對員工以至公眾質疑,應作具體說明。 & i' T6 g& m9 H7 A1 G, _) Rtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb) {8 M* m/ N8 ^+ `! X
浸 大新聞系助理教授杜耀明認為,《南早》有關做法反映有高層自我審查,或是對新聞無知,兩者皆有必要清晰交代,「若認為有充分理據,更應交代」。他說,王向偉身為地方政協,有「淡紅」色彩,「很難不令人聯想(決定)與此有關」。杜耀明稱,若傳媒機構視報章為公器,應向社會交代,又指單是今次已影響其公信力, 更莫論該報早前連串懷疑自我審查事件。 $ X5 @ ]9 F' ~) m8 k! Vtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb . Z% H) f6 H: ftvb now,tvbnow,bttvb中大新聞與傳播學院教授蘇鑰機說,李旺陽之死毫無疑問是大事件,令人懷疑管理層自我審查,《南華早報》近來對連串重大事件的處理手法,已影響公信力,管理層應向公眾和內部員工詳細說明事件,以釋疑慮。2 a3 k8 Z; r% g( E+ |
TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。% Y1 K" H4 A% i9 ?/ a* m
樹仁大學新傳系系主任梁天偉表示,王向偉出任《南早》總編輯後,該報對牽涉內地新聞的取態明顯有變,李旺陽事件遭簡單處理,意味有關人士太接近中央,相信其說法而採取同樣口徑,某程度屬自我審查。 8 Q) R' v4 k# p5 C" d5.39.217.76公仔箱論壇* Z. K0 |: a$ k+ f2 u r9 V# T 李永達建議正式投訴 # \) k$ k4 B7 B# m. R公仔箱論壇TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。0 V d3 F$ }, P) X, S& G4 m% a
立法會資訊科技及廣播事務委員會兩名委員劉慧卿和李永達均指事件屬政治審查,促《南早》管理層解畫,但目前立法會有大量工作須處理,今屆難在會內跟進。李永達建議有關記者向委員會正式投訴,以便跟進。 9 S" y# H4 `0 z0 b公仔箱論壇5.39.217.769 p: \% y& G9 |8 S: g 總編為吉林省政協 3 t0 m* Z; E! a+ `- g! Q5.39.217.76 - K+ @' w; H/ m4 m. a% z8 tTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。【明報專訊】今年初正式接掌《南華早報》,成為該報近11年來第十名總編輯的王向偉,於內地出生和受教育,曾是英文《中國日報》記者,現為吉林省政協委員。 8 N7 N+ f& [ q' O' ]% p6 ltvb now,tvbnow,bttvb 7 X1 q% I- ~" j7 s- s5 i5.39.217.76現 年47歲的王向偉,1982年入讀北京外語大學,於1989年六四事件後受聘《中國日報》,其後到倫敦深造,1996年加入《南華早報》任中國經濟評論 員。他於今年初上任總編輯時,曾向全體編採部人員發信,自言雖在內地長大,但深明同事關注《南早》未來編採方向,強調自己一直視香港為家,又說會忠於香港人,捍衛核心價值。作者: felicity2010 時間: 2012-7-3 07:35 AM
本帖最後由 felicity2010 於 2012-7-3 07:43 AM 編輯 ; T/ _; _$ i9 h3 l8 Z" D6 U* Rtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb5.39.217.767 ^( {1 C, L$ j' s) Y
SCMP獲獎記者Paul Mooney不獲續約TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。9 D7 {! i/ ~9 G B* V/ R % z- c6 u: B) F4 x
《南早》獲獎記者不獲續約 0 M3 d2 h: \. n0 S公仔箱論壇2012年6月27日 & H5 }+ X6 Q, B/ o) `7 x$ f# ]tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb . {* u4 K) @4 |公仔箱論壇 1 M( D7 E: S8 h* }5.39.217.76 - T& ?$ f5 d* {9 r. } {1 M _【明報專訊】有23年內地採訪經驗、屢獲人權新聞獎的《南華早報》駐北京記者Paul Mooney(慕亦仁),上月不獲續約,南早解釋為節省經費。他昨向本報表示,大半年來建議逾20項採訪,多涉內地維權議題,僅兩篇獲刊登。他認為出於政治因素被炒,矛頭直指年初上任總編輯的吉林省政協王向偉。8 z6 J: P; n" b/ t h4 L
1 q1 W8 n( W% A 認為因政治因素被炒 * @- A4 S5 S9 L. W$ Ztvb now,tvbnow,bttvb " }, @0 v2 Y* S) ]7 S& F |本報昨多番致電王向偉,未獲回覆,而《亞洲華爾街日報》昨亦報道慕不獲續約一事。與南早合作17年的慕,兩年前成為合約僱員。今年4月他由北京回港領取人權新聞獎,獲王通知合約5月21日到期後,將不獲續約。慕的內地採訪證今年9月到期,他曾建議以自由撰稿形式與南早合作,但一直不獲回覆。 " M9 ?7 j6 d+ V; p 3 ?1 ], h, \) q8 }! x- m, l3 h公仔箱論壇慕憶述,自從王升任副總編輯,他寫的內地新聞報道曾受阻撓,例如去年王還是副總編輯,慕一篇有關內地維權人士被打壓的報道〈異見人士的沉默〉拖了3個月才見報。該篇報道在今年4月獲頒香港人權新聞獎的特寫大獎。 0 j& ]" D. G2 r! C4 ^, z9 f0 M7 p 4 y+ v7 R% X: }" o* X) S6 u5 G慕指出,以往提供稿件平均約每周一篇見報,但去年9月起至今,該報只採用慕的兩篇作品,一是成都大熊貓學習野外生活,另一是國際組織呼籲中國政府向賣血染愛滋病人賠償。慕認為,兩篇報道是這段期間他曾向報館建議逾20項的採訪項目中題材最溫和的。胎死腹中的題材包括在囚維權律師高智晟身在美國的妻子專訪,交稿後終未見報。慕認為,南早有嚴重自我審查。慕亦仁現時正與美國《新聞周刊》洽談合作。0 V6 t$ f5 P e7 [- p3 P. `, U" [5 L
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Paul Mooney談SCMP的自我審查 被解約記者自述:我為什麼被踢出《南華早報》? 5 o' M# s/ @/ P" T H6 f+ X. v% x5.39.217.76 8 a1 D0 q5 K% i. S8 `1 l' g% X- D2012年6月28日 陽光時務 & g3 r, k# x0 rTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 5 B4 P; R+ `; R) X+ J: b1 k( P" R7 @+ c9 a9 i4 Q* d) R" X# o
文/Paul Mooney(慕亦仁) 4 c, Z; b0 |; G4 X5.39.217.76譯/月近人tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb. @* n4 n$ P* w1 I" q
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4月22日,《南華早報》的新任總編輯王向偉通知我,《南華早報》與我的工作合約在今年5月21日期滿後將不再續約。說實話,對此我一點也不吃驚。1 k3 g0 B; \' n! v1 s
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那是在4月的某天,天氣炎熱,王向偉與我在香港一間酒店的餐廳裏談話。他開口時眼睛望著桌子,看起來根本不想與我有眼神接觸。隨便聊了幾分鐘後,我單刀直入地問他我的合約問題。 $ X' E. `7 V6 q* J* C+ ^/ o$ ZTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 2 \. C: c- N5 h/ m; A+ jtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb他有些坐立難安,說,因為財務上的問題,他沒法給我續約了。) k W' |0 a; r+ t( n9 W
' D7 E9 U* d& Z3 m& @6 N" dTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。在很多事件裏,王向偉已經顯露出他的新聞判斷不準確,但更重要的是,他一直有「審查新聞」的名聲——也許《南華早報》的大老闆、馬來西亞富豪郭鶴年和他輪流經營此報的兒女就是看上了他這點。5.39.217.76' X: z% F7 h. T1 X0 b
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隨便跟《南華早報》中國報道組的任何一個人聊聊,他都會告訴你王向偉是怎麼斃掉他的報道,或者怎麼要求他寫中國喜歡看到的無聊文章的。 * g; V+ i5 q+ `tvb now,tvbnow,bttvbtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb) _* u: @' n& Y# f \" U& K" v
去年11月,我利用假期去了趟美國,坐火車去看望了中國人權律師高智晟的妻子耿和。此前,她帶著年幼的兒女溜出了被中國國保人員嚴密看守的北京的家,一路逃到了泰國,最終到達美國獲得政治庇護。 $ r) @5 k# |' [* y jtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb# {1 T, \ n' U0 a
我在高速公路旁的Burger King餐 廳裏採訪耿女士,訪談持續了三個小時。她告訴了我很多她和兒女在東南亞雨林中連夜逃亡的細節,其中許多事實從未被報道過。說到國保人員如何折磨她丈夫的時候她哭了,但當她歷數她丈夫是如何以律師的身份為社會做出貢獻的時候,她又微笑起來。講到她帶著孩子在美國所遇到的困難時,她還是忍不住流淚。她丈夫仍然 在北京被殘酷折磨和長期「被失蹤」,她的兩個孩子為此承受了巨大的衝擊。公仔箱論壇) A' [! s" j2 t+ e
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一位編輯表示對這篇報道頗感興趣。但一天還沒過他就告訴我,說王向偉(編者注:時任南華早報主管中國報道的副總編輯)駁回了這篇文章。王向偉沒有給出任何解釋。tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb9 ?, g! T, x1 ^3 ^0 |1 u+ r. Y
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K) e" Y2 K; E5 A vTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。在高短暫脫離「被失蹤」狀態期間,我是第二個見到他的外國記者。當時,總編輯Reg Chua和副總編David Lague為了這個選題跟王向偉激烈地爭論了一番——王向偉對這個故事表現冷淡。總編和副總編希望這篇報道能上頭版,王向偉卻認為它該被夾在內頁裏。他們最後相互妥協了:在被輕微刪改之後,這篇報道被放入了內頁。高智晟顯然是王向偉不希望報道的對象之一。TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 r# @9 w5 M7 Y# e: b
$ y7 O; n' D4 a1 f公仔箱論壇自去年中國政府出手迫害人權律師和其他異見人士開始,許多人都被套上黑頭套、塞進車 裏然後被押到某個不為人知的地方遭受酷刑。我親眼看到了前所未有的恐嚇和由此帶來的痛楚,我覺得這標識了一種新的使人恐懼的社會趨勢,於是向中國新聞編輯組的編輯進言,建議做一篇專門的報道。當時副總編David Lague在度假。這個想法立刻被中國新聞編輯組的編輯駁回了,理由是《南華早報》已經做過受迫害的人權律師的相關選題了。我寫了便條,解釋說這次是一種全新的完全不同的社會趨勢,但我知道我是得不到回覆的。5 |# {& L) X) R( g8 R
1 Z& l) p7 x8 d7 p5 ttvb now,tvbnow,bttvbDavid Lague幾周後回來了。我馬上把報道提交給他,他迅速回覆說:去做啊!於是我完成了整篇報道。但是稿子在中國新聞組壓了三個月沒有發出——後來我發現這是王向偉想令一篇報道的時效性縮水時常用的手法。我寫郵件向David Lague詢問,他無奈辯解道,他已經沒有以前那麼大的職權了。《異見人士的沉默》(Silence of the Dissidents)三個月後發表了。我憑藉這篇中國新聞編輯組想斃掉的稿子拿了兩個獎。TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。! ?5 L( Q, q% ~& K9 [
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在前總編輯和前副總編還在報社任職的時候,這兩位資深記者總是為了新聞跟王向偉先生和來自馬來西亞的報社老闆郭鶴年的女兒爭執。而老闆總是站在王向偉的那邊。有內部人士說,郭一直以來「寵愛」王向偉,因為相信他在大陸有影響力。6 X6 {+ H0 Z. z* D8 U0 V$ _, e
: \ P& A5 Q. }5.39.217.76我不是第一個被踢出報社的外國記者。在我之前,一長串經驗豐富的外國記者被王向偉不予續聘。他就用這個辦法來扮無辜:你可不是被炒了哦,只是不被續約而已。現在已經沒有外國記者在《南華早報》中國新聞版供職了——很長時間不曾有這樣的狀況了。+ q/ T/ j! Z- @! P' v ^+ U
2 Z1 V% X2 H& r3 M( G ^5 @! P駐廣州站的記者,馬來西亞人Leu Siew Ying就是個其中的絕佳一例。2006年,她因報道年前的太石村罷免事件得過歐盟委員會的洛倫佐納塔利大獎。2007年她與王先生就是否跟進報道太石村事件發生激烈爭執,又受到來自廣州政府的壓力,最終離開了報社。TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。& g5 U m& `. c; k x9 P
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王向偉在《南華早報》供職期間,好幾位外國編輯都曾被任命為總編輯,但他們都在與這位前《中國日報》記者兼吉林省政協委員鬥爭失敗後離職了。郭鶴年家族總是清楚地表明他們支持誰。5.39.217.760 q3 u z" y0 a' k! O; A
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不過,不僅僅是外國記者受到了打擊。跟隨便哪個負責中國方面新聞的優秀的中國或者香港記者聊聊,要他們還願意說,他們都會悄悄告訴你王向偉是怎麼斃掉優秀的新聞稿件,卻告訴他們多寫些「正面」報道。tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb* `' T0 M) U1 T* P6 u" j
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有趣的是,竟是一篇好不容易才獲刊載的披露李旺陽之死的報道,最終把王向偉暴露在公眾審視之下。 1 x2 h7 V8 t" @& l \- Vtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb( Z8 B; o( m4 ~+ v& r( L' v7 O
當一位編輯詢問《南華早報》對此事的報道篇幅相對於其他港媒是不是太短,王向偉直接叫他閉嘴。「我不需要向你解釋任何事情。我做了這個決定而且我堅持。如果你不喜歡,你知道該怎麼做。」TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。4 b' K# d/ `" E
% h) Z* E/ X p4 I公仔箱論壇Self-censorship in SCMP / m) s$ z: j7 B& B+ K* lTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Paul Mooney ' W, m& f. I0 o. T公仔箱論壇 2 M9 q& h6 x3 k! L; v9 Y' h0 XTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。On April 22, Wang Xiangwei, the new editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post, informed me that my contract with the newspaper would not be renewed when it expired on May 21. I can't say I was surprised.5.39.217.76$ M3 S' ]7 j1 f) {
. z5 G1 A4 M2 A. w$ S8 ctvb now,tvbnow,bttvbSitting in a hotel restaurant in Hong Kong on a hot April day, Wang stared down at the table as the conversation began,seemingly unwilling to make eye contact. After a few minutes of chit chat, I asked him directly about my contract. He fidgeted and said he would not be able to renew it due to budget problems. , b2 W$ z- s( G2 L& mTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 5.39.217.76+ E( w9 y! N, a- u8 Z3 s
To me it was clear that this was a political decision. For seven months, he had basically blocked me from writing any China stories for the newspaper. During that period, I only had two stories in the China pages of the newspaper–one on panda bears and one on compensation for AIDS victims. Some two dozen other story suggestions went unanswered by the China Desk–in one case a story was approved, but the editor told me Wang had overruled him. A half-dozen emails to Wang pleading to write more for the newspaper went unanswered.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb& Q- w- {5 s! s$ @6 O
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It certainly was not about money. Following my departure,Wang hired a spate of new young reporters, many apparently from the mainland.And if there were budget problems, why was I chosen to be let go? Obviously,there were newer people at the newspaper than myself. I had been on contract for two years, and wrote my first article for the newspaper in 1990, some 22years ago. And I'd won 10 awards for my reporting for the newspaper, more than any other staff reporter. . D4 m" l7 Y6 j" e, a p/ g0 ~0 C! w; `5.39.217.76When I offered to freelance and said I didn't care about the word rate, he hemmed and hawed. When I asked if the newspaper could at least allow me to keep my journalist accreditation with the South China Morning Post,so I could continue to contribute articles to the newspaper, he muttered something about having to think about it. Despite several emails asking about this, he never agreed to do this. And there was no cost in sponsoring me. ( ^7 h- ?( t' G; E8 |1 MTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 公仔箱論壇0 T4 T2 m* e' H' B- K
When the news came last year that Wang had been appointed the editor-in-chief, I was quite surprised. For one, despite talk of him being a veteran journalist, he had little actual practical experience doing real journalism–far less than a lot of his staff. Wang had worked for the China Daily, done a masters degree in journalism and had gone off to London on a training program, where he worked briefly for the BBC. As far as I know,he never “pounded the sidewalks,” as we American journalists say of a reporter who has spent years roaming around doing interviews. . m6 ]6 S- i% v7 B* V* Otvb now,tvbnow,bttvb $ ^+ \2 _" J! V+ }- Htvb now,tvbnow,bttvbHe'd shown weakness in news judgement on many occasions, but more important, he'd long had a reputation as being a censor of the news, which may be what endeared him to Mr. Robert Kuok, the Malaysian tycoon who owns the newspaper, and his son and daughter, who took turns running the newspaper. K. q* @. h9 Z4 f! W( \ 2 F* a' J3 J% i, v5 OTalk to anyone on the China reporting team at the South China Morning Post and they'll tell you a story about how Wang has cut their stories, or asked them to do an uninteresting story that was favorable to China. ( C4 f; P7 [7 N$ `3 [+ Q2 f5.39.217.76 5.39.217.768 \; Y/ B1 ?( B# B+ e% N. d; v" |8 p! O
Last November, I traveled to the US on holiday and decided to take a train to meet Geng He, the wife of rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who had snuck past Chinese security guarding their Beijing home with a young son and daughter, making it all the way to Thailand and eventually political asylum in the US. 1 F9 A0 E3 O- `TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 1 f5 p1 n+ m+ [2 x3 R公仔箱論壇During a three-hour interview in a highway Burger King, Ms.Geng gave me unreported details about the harrowing escape through Southeast Asian jungles, much of it in the middle of the night. She cried as she talked about her husband's treatment by brutal security people, and she smiled when she recalled her husband's dedication as a lawyer. Tears fell as she described the difficulties the family was facing in the US.Both children had been seriously affected by the treatment of their father herein China, which included serious torture and forced disappearances for lengthy periods. 6 I. ^) _# ~( O- g2 N# K0 g7 ptvb now,tvbnow,bttvb , ?9 R$ |2 D! u$ ^* F4 l: JTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。An editor expressed interest in the story, but got back tome later in the day to tell me that Wang had spiked it. No reason was given.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。) X; u+ N8 T. t# C4 i
8 }) b9 f6 } t3 M, AWhen I was the second foreign reporter to see Gao during his brief respite from being disappeared, Editor-in-chief Reg Chua and Deputy Editor David Lague had a bitter argument with Wang, who was not keen to run the story. They wanted it on the front page, but Wang wanted it buried inside. They compromised by putting the story inside and cutting it slightly. Gao Zhisheng was obviously on Wang's list of people not to be reported about.8 n; o* y* O7 w$ z- ?8 o& A
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When the government began its nasty crackdown against rights lawyers and other dissidents last year, that saw people have black hoods thrown over their heads before being stuffed into a car, and then being taken to hidden location, where most endured horrible torture. I saw an unprecedented pattern of intimidation and pain that clearly marked a new and frightening trend and so I suggested a story to the China Desk (David Lague, the deputy editor, was on holiday at the time). The story was immediately rejected by a China Desk editor, who said the newspaper had reported on tortured lawyers already. I wrote a short note saying this was a new and different trend, but I knew it would go unanswered. 1 c5 ^2 `6 L, I0 ]1 Q( V4 d ; E4 M& x; x/ S. q7 kWhen David Lague returned weeks later, I submitted the story to him and he immediately said to go ahead. I finished the story, but it sat on China Desk for about three months, a practice I later learned was not uncommon when Wang wanted to let a story shrink in importance. When I wrote to David Lague, he pleaded he no longer had the authority he used to have. Silence of the Dissidents ran three months later, and I went on to win two awards for the story the China Desk tried to kill. % {4 U% D& }& f1 G0 n 1 D. r3 b' ]# ^- UDuring their time at the newspaper, the two veteran journalists frequently battled fiercely with Mr. Wang over stories, with the daughter of Mr. Robert Kuok, the Malaysian owner of the newspaper, frequently siding with Wang. Insiders say the Kuoks long coddled Wang, believing he had influence in China.5.39.217.76" g4 }# G1 {! D* Z$ H* T
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Nor was I the only foreign reporter to be pushed out of the newspaper–I follow a long line of foreigners–each with long experience–who saw their contracts allowed to run out by Wang–this way he could plead innocence:You've not been fired, your contract ran out. There are now no foreign reporters working for the South China Morning Post in China–a first in a long while.公仔箱論壇: Z1 w& W% k0 A' A7 Z
; e' e- E$ j) B6 tOne good example is the case of former Guangzhou correspondent Leu Siew Ying, a native of Malaysia,who won the European Commission's Lorenzo Natali Grand Prize in 2006 for her reporting on protests in the village of Taishi the previous year. Sheleft the paper in 2007 after disputes with Mr. Wang about following up on Taishi and pressure from the Guangdong authorities. ' @2 `* \0 q2 J1 w0 `0 i公仔箱論壇 ( C( [' ?* r% t+ o+ T6 _
During Wang's time with the newspaper, several foreign editors were offered the job of editor-in-chief, but most left after fighting a losing battle with the former China Daily reporter and member of the Jinlin Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The Kuoks always made it clear where their loyalties lay.( L" T; |2 O' x t4 e A+ b. E
+ F+ P! u+ I D& U& gBut this is not just a case of foreign reporters being harassed. Talk to just about any one of the excellent Chinese or Hong Kong reporters writing about China for the newspaper, and, if they're willing to talk, they'll quietly tell about Wang spiking perfectly good stories or of being told to write more “positive” articles. 2 A5 p, T3 B5 ~8 S& y0 R- N% O$ ? 公仔箱論壇) E/ a) n, {/ w* G$ w3 v
It's interesting that the story that finally exposed Wang was one about the mysterious death of June 4 activist Li Wangyang, which barely got coverage in the newspaper.- L( Z$ ^, s, o$ m
1 S+ v8 r5 V+ F) o0 ptvb now,tvbnow,bttvbAfter a sub on the desk questioned this gap in the newspaper's reporting, about a story that other Hong Kong media had jumped on eagerly, Wang curtly told the sub off. “I don't have to explain to you anything. I made the decision and I stand by it. If you don't like it, you know what to do.” 3 Y# }9 M5 E5 a5 ^! p7 W5 E: e: O 4 I' E- [( b# l* Z* A5 ZTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。When the news gained international attention, and his own reporters signed a letter asking for an explanation, a worried Wang responded with a statement to staff that he decided to run the story as a brief on the first day because he felt the newspaper didn't have enough hard facts for a full story. : f' T* Y) H4 S9 w' T2 }) ? tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb( w D# p4 @% G- p' c& z5 r
But what Wang failed to say was that the newspaper had in fact run a much longer story on Li's death in its first edition and that Wang had chosen to yank it, shave it down to a brief for the next edition, and replace it with an article about former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui and a conversation he had with a group of students–a story that had already run two days earlier. What few have noticed, is that self-censorship is not the only problem. Possibly more worrying is the newspaper's new-found proclivity under Wang to publish dubious stories that reflect Beijing's views.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。( Y0 N, d i, q* z
, j$ _9 m6 ]: _, ^' P( i: n$ ~tvb now,tvbnow,bttvbEarlier this year, deputy editor Tammy Tam gushed like a high school girl in a story about the Chinese Panchen Lama, asking only one serious question of a person who has never appeared in the Western media before. Eric X. Li, a well-known apologist for China,has been writing regular columns for the South China Morning Post. In one recent article he slapped Hong Kong citizens on the wrist for not welcoming mainland women to have their babies in the territory,and then wondering aloud if a people like this deserved the right to vote. Last week came a story by Professor Jiang Shigong, deputy director of Peking University's Centre for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, that claimed “Hongkongers accept Beijing's rule.”TVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。) }: }4 t% i1 R* c* S
/ b- E" `& J4 v3 T% @6 EIn his own weekly commentary, Wang had egg on his face after predicting that disgraced Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai had escaped any serious trouble. “Firstly, Bo's political career looks safe for now and he has apparently managed to push back the pressure from his opponents within the party,” Wang wrote just before Bo fell hard. ( [! e( ~- N0 Y公仔箱論壇 公仔箱論壇2 j' J; m# u6 q6 m2 F& [$ M
Another article described Tibetans in Lhasa happily celebrating the Tibetan New Year, with quotes coming from one unidentified “middle-aged Tibetan man.” Meanwhile, more objective reports were reporting a dire situation in the Tibetan area. The article read like a China Daily story. : \4 |. B$ \& ?6 {, r3 [tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb # `8 b. D; O2 [ l$ k0 R- ~While the South China Morning Post continues to publish good critical reportage on China, the newspaper no longer has the status it had in the late 1990s, or more recently under three years direction under Mr. Chua and Lague, when the newspaper made great advances.公仔箱論壇) }7 e [# K' Z- F8 P
9 j& ?2 z0 g4 yUnder Wang's stewardship, the newspaper has lost credibility with Hong Kong and international readers and is now often the butt of jokes in the local Chinese media there. Sadly, the South China Morning Post, which has a history of more than 100 years, may be beyond the point of return. With credibility and morale at the newspaper sagging, and controversies on the rise, competent journalists will now be reluctant to join the newspaper, and it can only sink deeper into mediocrity. The prospects for English-language journalism in Hong Kong is not good and this is sad.