Apple Daily: An assignment
About
Apple Daily was a tabloid-style newspaper published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021. Founded by Jimmy Lai, it was one of the best-selling Chinese language newspapers in Hong Kong. Along with the entertainment magazine Next Magazine, Apple Daily was part of Next Digital. The paper published print and digital editions in Traditional Chinese, as well as a digital-only English edition.
It started as a local tabloid with a reputation for sensational headlines and paparazzi photographs.
But over its 26 years in print, Hong Kong’s Apple Daily became something rarer — a newspaper unafraid to be openly critical of the Chinese state and a standard-bearer for the pro-democracy movement.
Its role as one of Hong Kong’s most vocal defenders won fans but contributed to its eventual demise.
Last year(2020), its outspoken founder Jimmy Lai was arrested and jailed under a string of charges just months after the imposition of new national security law.
And last week, the authorities said reports by the paper had breached the national security law. They froze its bank accounts and arrested key staff members.
Apple Daily announced it was closing, signalling both the end of Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy paper and a broader journalistic era.
Details
Known for its sensationalist articles and bold headlines, Apple daily’s early coverage centred on crime and entertainment news and occasionally strayed into unethical territory.
But over the years the paper evolved and started to cover more politics. Hong Kong began experiencing a series of social movements in the early 2000s which saw people resisting integration with mainland China.
And while the paper continued to cover soft news and entertainment, it produced a growing number of political pieces and cemented its position as an unapologetically pro-democracy outlet.
Its reporters are typically barred from covering news in mainland China, and none were permitted to cover the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The paper’s criticism of the Chinese government and pro-establishment figures in Hong Kong also resulted in frequent advertising boycotts.
2020
In June, Beijing implemented a sweeping new security law — despite much criticism and protest.
The law gives Beijing powers to shape life in Hong Kong it has never had before. Critics say it effectively curtails protest and freedom of speech, though China has said it will return stability.
Just months after the law was implemented, Lai and a handful of other media figures and activists were arrested and the Apple Daily officers were raided.
17th June 2021
Hundreds of police officers raided the paper’s headquarters and this time, they froze HK$18m ($2.3m; £1.64m) of its assets over allegations that its reports breached the national security law.
Police also detained its chief editor and four other executives. The freezing of company accounts meant the paper no longer had money to pay its staff and run daily operations.
“The government basically forced them to end themselves. They hadn’t even been found guilty but their assets were frozen. They had money but they just couldn’t touch it,” said Prof Tsui.
On 23 June 2021, the announcement of its closure was made. That night, hundreds turned up outside the Apple Daily headquarters in the rain to say their farewells, shining mobile phone lights and shouting messages of encouragement.
Journalists inside the building, who were putting together the paper’s last edition, would occasionally come out onto a balcony and wave. Someone million copies were printed for the paper’s final edition.
Opinions
“The forced closure of Apple Daily by the Hong Kong authorities is a chilling blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong.”
“It is crystal clear that the powers under the national security law are being used as a tool to curtail freedoms and punish dissent — rather than keep public order.”
-British Foreign Minister
“The closure of Apple Daily’s Hong Kong operations clearly shows how the National Security Law imposed by Beijing is being used to stifle freedom of the press and the free expression of opinions.”
“Apple daily’s closure seriously undermines media freedom and pluralism, which are essential for any open and free society. The erosion of press freedom is also counter to Hong Kong’s aspirations as an international business hub.”
-EU
vs.
“I want to emphasise, Hong Kong is a society that has rule of law. Everyone is equal in front of the law, no one or no organisation is above the law. All rights and freedom, including media freedom, cannot go beyond the bottom line of national security.”
-Chinese foreign ministry
(Note: Information is taken from BBC, Reuters and Wikipedia)
