Media differences in Hong Kong and mainland

出自香港新聞網 - 樹仁新傳系學生實習習作

Difference nature between Hong Kong TV station and mainland results in a different way they report news. A deputy controller of mainland media said TV station in Hong Kong is a commercial organization, but the mainland TV station work for the government.

“TV station in mainland is under surveillance of the government.” Mr. Li Xie, deputy controller of Shenzhen Media Group said, they are working for the ruling party in every aspects, “The entire operation fee comes from the government, it is inevitable to be a tool of the ruling party”

Hong Kong’s TV stations need profit to run a business, they create soap opera and bring up canto-pop songs simultaneously to cater for the advertisers’ favors. High view rate attract advertisers to place their advertisements.

He added that focus of media in mainland has now partly transferred to social needs, more of public interest and commercial apart from sending message for the government only. “We have biased on the view of news reporting but are moving forward in the past few decades, it is slow but the direction is right.”Li said.

Hong Kong emphasizes on the freedom of press, they are fair and report two sides of a story; are objective and let the readers to judge themselves. “Media in mainland work more on social responsibility while Hong Kong speak for the public and monitor the government.”

Li thinks the biggest troubles for mainland media is the unclear guidelines on what should or should not be reported. “We never know the consequences unless we reported.” Like the Shenzhen Media Group has received negative news about Hong Kong, but they decided to remove it because of the damages it can caused.

“No absolute freedom of press everywhere, even Hong Kong has commercial considerations,” Li said. We have different cultures compared with other countries, it is not necessary to compare us with US as we are an independent entity. He thinks the professional ways we report news in Hong Kong is the best among the industry