TVB journalists quit over coverage of alleged police attack on Occupy protester
Seven journalists resigned from TVB around the Lunar New Year, in an apparent move to express their discontent about how their bosses handled politically sensitive stories.
Seven journalists resigned from TVB around the Lunar New Year, in an apparent move to express their discontent about how their bosses handled politically sensitive stories.
Specifically, the journalists opposed the station's removal from its broadcast of references to police officers allegedly assaulting an Occupy protester in October. News controller Yuen Chi-wai is believed to have made the decision.
A source close to the matter confirmed yesterday that managing editor Chow Kit-yee, former deputy news editor and chief researcher Ho Wing-hong and principal reporter Lam Tsz-ho had resigned, and in Lam's case left, shortly before or after the Lunar New Year. Senior reporters Maggie Tam Mei-ki, Lau Tsz-yan, Stella Lam Chiu-yee, and reporter Julia Chiu Pui-yu also resigned.
Those who resigned were among 28 employees who had signed a statement to management in October, expressing regret that the station had deleted a description of the alleged attack by police. The report ran several times in the early morning hours, but was then edited to remove a voice-over describing the attack.
The footage appeared to show seven officers kicking and punching Civic Party member Ken Tsang Kin-chiu as he lay on the ground in Admiralty.
One hundred more TVB editorial staff members went on to sign the petition.
The source said "the handling of the Tsang incident prompted the resignations of these journalists", who had long been unhappy with the station's management, especially Yuen, over coverage of the mainland and Hong Kong governments.
Yuen last night said he did not see the case as a collective display of discontent over his editorial decisions or how the station handled the Tsang incident, but rather normal staff turnover after the new year bonuses were paid.
"This happens in all big firms," Yuen said. The source said two of those who quit did not receive bonuses.
