From the Guardian · · 1m 40s
A WSJ reporter took a union job, then lost hers
Hong Kong's court found the Wall Street Journal's publisher guilty of trying to keep a reporter out of her union post.
In brief
Hong Kong's court found the Wall Street Journal's publisher guilty of trying to keep a reporter out of her union post. A court in Hong Kong ruled that a US newspaper broke local labour law by pressuring its own reporter out of a press freedom union role. Originally reported by the Guardian.
A conviction in Hong Kong
A Hong Kong court found Dow Jones Publishing, parent of the Wall Street Journal, guilty of deterring an employee from exercising trade union rights. It was acquitted of a second charge.
Fired weeks after the vote
Selina Cheng was dismissed in July 2024, just weeks after being elected chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association. The company told her it was restructuring.
The conflict of interest line
Cheng said her editor told her staff should not be seen advocating for press freedom in "places like Hong Kong". She was asked to get company approval and to leave the union board.
“employees should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in "places like Hong Kong"”
The magistrate believed her
Principal magistrate David Cheung called Cheng honest and reliable, and said her firing came from a wrongful application of the company's code of conduct. Sentencing comes later.
“motivated by wrongful and unjustified application of their code of conduct”
The WSJ still denies it
The paper pleaded not guilty to both charges and says there was no link between the union role and the dismissal. Each charge carries a maximum fine of about $12,750.
“The Wall Street Journal has been and continues to be a fierce and vocal advocate for press freedom in Hong Kong and around the world.”
A shrinking space for reporters
The HKJA, founded in 1968, has been squeezed since Beijing's 2020 national security law. Hong Kong fell from 73rd to 140th of 180 in press freedom rankings by 2026.
“The WSJ set a very bad precedent by punishing an employee who was exercising her constitutionally protected rights in Hong Kong”
The key point
A court in Hong Kong ruled that a US newspaper broke local labour law by pressuring its own reporter out of a press freedom union role.
