ATV journalists yesterday ignored an instruction from their newly appointed news chief to play down a Democratic Party protest over the broadcaster's editorial independence in the aftermath of the station's wrong report on the death of former president Jiang Zemin.
They did so after the instruction was given by senior vice-president of news and public affairs Lau Lan-cheong to vice-president Tammy Tam, who told the news team to make their own decision as she had already resigned, according to a person close to the ATV newsroom.
The incident signifies a widening rift between senior management and the news team of the free-to-air channel following the resignation of at least three senior journalists including Tam and her former boss, Leung Ka-wing.
About 20 democrats demonstrated outside the ATV headquarters at 3.30pm demanding that the broadcaster explain its handling of its report on Jiang.
'Shortly after it, Lau Lan-cheong, who replaced Leung Ka-wing as news chief, instructed the outgoing vice-president Tammy Tam to tune down the coverage,' the source said.
'Tam relayed the message to the duty editors and subeditors and said, 'It is up to you to decide, I am leaving anyway'.'