Hong Kong people lose faith in TV and newspaper credibility

Jan 5, 2011, 6:57 GMT

Hong Kong - Hong Kong people's confidence in the credibility of the city's newspapers and broadcast media fell significantly in 2010, according to a survey Wednesday.

The media industry as a whole was given a credibility score of 6.36 out of 10 for its 2010 coverage in the annual survey by the city's Chinese University, 7 per cent lower than the score in 2009.

Every one of 25 individual newspapers, television broadcasters and radio stations received lower individual scores from interviewees for 2010, with their average ratings 8 per cent lower than in 2009.

The survey's 1,200 interviewees rated government-run RTHK TV and radio as the most credible media organization. The English-language South China Morning Post was ranked the most credible newspaper.

Hong Kong, a former British colony, has a free press and limited democracy. Freedom of speech and expression was guaranteed under the terms of its return to Chinese rule 14 years ago.

However, newspapers and news channels in Hong Kong have often been accused by pro-democracy activists of self-censorship or kowtowing to Beijing since the 1997 handover.

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