Press has to keep faith with public

Hong Kong journalists are ambivalent about the future of their profession, a poll on press freedom and the media shows.

The survey, conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Journalism and Communication Department, reveals that while journalists treasure professional values such as neutrality and press freedom, they also feel themselves under pressure not to offend the rich and powerful.

Of the 553 journalists who responded to the poll, a majority declined to express a view on some political issues: the reaction of 56.2 per cent and 49.2 per cent respectively was neutral towards the propositions that 'Hong Kong's future is getting better and better' and 'The concept of 'one country, two systems' is workable'.

Objectivity still ranks high as a notional virtue among journalists, 57.7 per cent of respondents resisting the idea that 'in pursuing ideals journalists may not have to be neutral'; 18.8 per cent voiced no opinion either way.

A clear majority - 81.9 per cent - disagreed with the suggestion that the news media should not expose too much of the seamier elements of society in order to maintain stability and prosperity.

These replies emphasise that Hong Kong journalists regard impartiality and the freedom to report as very important facets of their professionalism.