Wall Street Journal publisher convicted in Hong Kong of deterring reporter from union role
Dow Jones convicted of one count of deterring Selina Cheng from role at Hong Kong Journalist Association but cleared of second charge
TL;DR
- A Hong Kong court found Dow Jones Publishing, the WSJ's parent company, guilty of deterring reporter Selina Cheng from exercising trade union rights.
- Selina Cheng was dismissed weeks after being appointed chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA).
- The court acquitted Dow Jones of dismissing or discriminating against Cheng because she exercised her union rights.
- The magistrate ruled that Cheng's termination was motivated by a wrongful application of the company's code of conduct concerning her union position.
- Cheng stated that reporters' employment rights must be safeguarded for safe reporting.
- The case raises concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong, which has seen a sharp decline in global press freedom rankings since 2020.