Politics
Ukrainian journalists defend local voices as war with Russia enters third year
- 2025-02-21
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LAI Uen LingEdited by: AU YEUNG Jim
- 2025-02-21
Ukrainian journalists at the frontline regions of the Russia-Ukraine war shared their challenges in wartime reporting at a seminar at the Danish School of Media and Journalism. Organised by Nordic Journalism Center, a group of Ukrainian journalists were invited to share their experience in operating newsrooms in wartime Ukraine as the war with Russia enters into a third year. Oleksiy Soldatenko, programme director of the Institute for Regional Media and Information of Ukraine, said journalism in Ukraine has been struggling with the lack of funding and human resources. “We have no equipment, we have energy cuts and blackouts, but we understand that we are part of this profession and we need to work within professional standards," Soldatenko said. He added although working with communities in destroyed cities is difficult, some regional newspapers continue to reach readers. “We work for our communities, but sometimes communities are not there,” Soldatenko said. “We have cities and towns that are completely destroyed, like Pahmo, but the newspaper from Pahmo is still working and going, trying to reach their people wherever they are, across Ukraine and in other countries of the world.” Iryna Synik, editor of Stepova Zorya, a local newspaper based in Russian-occupied Petropavlivka in southern Ukraine, relies on online subscriptions to support operations. Synik said there is no room for depression because she and her only colleague have to edit and produce all the news pieces. But she remains motivated to run the 95-year-old local newspaper. "Because we are a local newspaper, we can tell stories that would not appear in the national news," Synik said. Marharyta Halich, editor of regional TV broadcaster Suspilne Zaporizhzhya, said finding interesting stories during wartime is challenging because people are tired of hearing negative news about destruction and casualties. Halich said she constantly feels empty and depressed …
Increasing use of social media for news risks overloading users’ mental well-being
- 2024-12-21
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AU YEUNG Jim、AO Wei Ying VinciEdited by: KONG Tsz Yuen
- 2024-12-21
Conor James Walker, 22, a university student majoring in history and politics, gets his daily news from websites such as the BBC and Al Jazeera. He said the current amount of information online is detrimental to his mental health. “A lot of information online, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not, is mostly quite depressing subjects,” said Walker. “Fear of war, disease, disasters, and how politics rarely has a good story that comes out of it, no matter what country you look at,” he said. “It can take quite a mental toll on any individual,” said Walker. Walker added that he is less likely to read social media news unless it appears on his social media feed. “There’s the thing with social media,” said Walker, “which is anything can be said by anyone, and it turns out there’s a good chance it may not be true.” According to a report from the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom), the country’s telecommunications watchdog, 82% of those aged 16-24 years relied on social media for news, while only 28% of those aged 55 years do so. The report added that of all Britons aged 16 or above, 52% now consider social media their primary news source, whereas 51% still watch news on television via main broadcasters. This means online media has overtaken television as the biggest source of news. The American Psychological Association describes that constant feed of negative news as “media saturation overload.” Online platforms, especially social media, have algorithms that feed users more of the same to drive views and engagement. Bryan Mclaughlin, an associate professor in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University, said that social media access leads to people being constantly caught up on the news. “If you don't have social media, even …
US Election 2024: Star-studded campaigns lack real impact on voter decisions
- 2024-11-19
- Politics
- By: Yau To LUM、Wai Sum CHEUNGEdited by: Wai Sum CHEUNG、Yau To LUM
- 2024-11-19
Just after the US presidential debate on Sept 11, Taylor Swift wrote to her 280 million Instagram followers to declare her support for Vice President Kamala Harris saying she “fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them”. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) The next month, superstar Beyoncé made a surprise appearance at Harris’s Houston rally in the closing days of the campaign. In addition to tech billionaire Elon Musk, popular podcast host Joe Rogan and Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson endorsed former President Donald Trump. Controversial influencer Logan Paul even interviewed Trump on his podcast “Impaulsive” in June. During the presidential election campaign, a constellation of A-list celebrities leapt from the stage to the political arena, rallying behind both presidential candidates. However, despite the star-studded spectacle, Harris’s disappointing election results suggested that such an approach may be less effective than anticipated. The trend of celebrity endorsements is not new in American politics. In the 2016 and 2020 elections, notable figures such as Lady Gaga and Jay-Z campaigned for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden respectively. John Affleck, Department Head for Journalism at Pennsylvania State University, said that many seek to portray themselves as socially responsible. “There’s a public service aspect. I’m a good person, putting out these democratic values, asking people to vote,” he said. Affleck added that some celebrities hope to connect with fans who share their beliefs, enhancing their visibility. “Someone may not know you that well but then you espouse this political viewpoint. And I might also have that political viewpoint, so I might be more likely to listen to your record,” he said. Matt McAllister, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, said that the surge in social media has transformed how celebrities communicate …
2024 US election: Harris supporters cry during concession speech, say still have hope for nation
- 2024-11-12
- Politics
- By: Man Hei ChanEdited by: Man Hei Chan
- 2024-11-12
Washington, DC – Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election to Donald Trump in a speech on Wednesday afternoon at Howard University, telling her tearful supporters not to give up. "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," she said in her speech. "The light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting." The future of the country is still bright, said Daniel Tellez, 22, an intern in the U.S. Congress from Ohio State University who was at Harris’s speech, adding that the Democrats need to understand the root of the defeat. Donald Trump won the six major battleground states in the U.S., obtaining 312 electoral votes, well over the 270 needed to win, according to the Associated Press, which historically calls the presidential election. “The Democrats should think deeply about why Trump won all the swing states, and Harris could not even get one,” Tellez said. Many experts have pointed to the economy as the key issue for voters. The inflation rate in 2021 was the highest since the 1980s despite significant increases in employment and average pay. “The main thing that differentiates Harris and Trump is the economy,” Tellez said, adding that he thought Trump’s message about the economy was clearer than Harris’s. Harris will be president in the future and bring the nation together, said Merry, 69, who attended the concession speech and asked not to use her full name. "We all should be optimistic, and it is unnecessary to be anxious about everything,” Merry said. “At this point, we have nothing to do but to accept it,” Tellez said.
2024 US Election: American voters’ concerns soar over inflation impact
- 2024-11-06
- Politics
- By: Junzhe JIANGEdited by: Robin Ewing
- 2024-11-06
Washington, DC – The economy is a driving issue in today’s presidential election in the United States, voters at the polls said. This is tracked by a September report that said around 81% of U.S. voters cited the economy and high inflation as their top concern, followed by healthcare and Supreme Court appointments, according to a survey from Pew Research Centre. Ben Frank, 34, a resident of Pennsylvania, said he has to pay more to raise a family of seven: “The food prices went incredibly high after the pandemic,” Frank said. “I used to pay US$150 (HK$1166.2) for one week, and it cost me US$200 (HK$1554.92) now.” James Wright, who works at mega retail outlet Target in Pennsylvania, said, “Food and gas are so much more expensive than before.” In the last month, he spent around US$1,000 (HK$7774.76) on food, gas and other bills, over half his salary. Trump inaccurately blamed Biden’s government in the debate with Kamala Harris: “We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before. Probably the worst in our nation's history.” The inflation rate in the world’s biggest economy reached a three-year-low of 2.4% in September from a peak of 8% in 2022, according to the CoinNews Media Group. The inflation averaged 1.9% from 2017 to 2021 when Donald Trump was president, while the average rate has been on track at 5.6% in the past three years. Frank said that Donald Trump could solve the issue, although no further policies were given by the former president except to levy more tax on Chinese and other imported goods. People love Trump because he can bring something special, Frank said, and he thinks Trump’s policy may work if Americans consume more from nearby countries with lower transportation fees. Harris proposed tackling high prices by fighting against …
Hong Kong Policy Address 2024: government to fuel fencing fad after Paris Olympics
- 2024-10-16
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: YANG Haicen、WANG LudanEdited by: Juncong SHUAI
- 2024-10-16
Hong Kong will build a sports arena with fencing training and competition facilities after two Hong Kong fencing athletes won in the Paris Olympics, said John Lee Ka-chiu in his third policy address. Hong Kong's Edgar Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai each won gold medals in the men's foil and women's epee events in Paris, sparking an increase in Hongkongers taking local fencing classes. This is part of the government’s broader plan to increase Hong Kong’s international competitiveness. “We will make full use of the Kai Tak Sports Park and other existing venues to host large-scale international competitions so that Hong Kong teams can compete on home soil, building their own audience,” said Lee. “These will be conducive to the long-term development of the sports industry.” Hong Kong is set to host the World Foil Championships in 2026 and co-host the 15th National Games with Guangdong and Macou, during which Hong Kong will be responsible for organising eight events, including fencing. "After the Paris Olympics, the number of people inquiring about fencing increased by approximately 50% to 80%. In the past, most were children below secondary school age, but now there is a noticeable rise in interest from university students and adults as well," said Rever You, Administrative Director of the Hong Kong Fencing School, where this year's Olympic fencing champion Cheung spent six years learning the basics of fencing. There are 46 fencing training institutions in Hong Kong, including the Asian Fencing Academy, Hong Kong Fencing School, and Fencing Formula, that offer a range of fencing courses, according to the Hong Kong Fencing Association. "After seeing Vivian Kong and Edgar Cheung win championships this year, my child has raised a strong interest in fencing," said Liu, who preferred not to disclose his full name. You said that after …
Engaging the Diaspora: Examining the Significance of Overseas Voting in Hong Kong for Korea's 22nd National Assembly Elections
- 2024-04-16
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: KIM SeojoonEdited by: Kin Hou POON、Elif Lale AYHAN
- 2024-04-16
Ban Kyungmin, an exchange student at Hong Kong Baptist University, came to the Korean consulate with a friend on the first day of the election to vote. "I've always participated since I had the right to vote. I knew that I could vote overseas, so I applied in advance to participate in the overseas elections,” she said. South Korea is holding parliamentary elections on April 10th. Under the overseas election system, which was introduced after the amendment of the Public Offices Election Act in 2009, the Korean Central Election Commission announced that it would set up overseas voting stations in 178 diplomatic missions around the world, so Koreans living in Hong Kong will be able to vote at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong from March 27 to April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each day. The Hong Kong Korean Association and other Korean student organizations in all Hong Kong universities and colleges have been eagerly anticipating the event and have been promoting it through their respective online communities and social media. Election officials are at the entrance to guide the election. “I think it's an opportunity for Koreans abroad to feel a sense of belonging to Korea and to unite with other Koreans living abroad," Ban Kyung-min added. Kyungmin Ban and her friend make a "vote-proof pose". The Korean Central Election Commission is responsible for preventing and cracking down on election crimes and supervising election administration. The Overseas Election Commission comprises two members nominated by the NEC, one nominated by each of the political parties that form a bargaining group in the National Assembly, and one nominated by the head of the diplomatic mission. Overseas missions and the Election Commission have recruited various personnel, including poll guides and election officials. …
Hong Kong bus companies roll out electric and hydrogen powered buses to meet carbon neutrality goal
- 2024-03-29
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: WANG Ludan、YANG Shuyi、WANG JingEdited by: Sze Kei WONG
- 2024-03-29
The first hydrogen double-decker buses in Hong Kong set sail in February for the Vodafone Road route. Starting from 2022, the electric buses are appearing on the Hong Kong’s street to reduce emissions more than diesel buses as part of the public transportation sector’s efforts to help Hong Kong achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Budget 2024 Key Takeaways: Careful balance of revenue and deficit to continue
- 2024-02-28
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AU YEUNG Jim、AO Wei Ying VinciEdited by: Juncong SHUAI
- 2024-02-28
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered the 2024-2025 Budget speech on Wednesday, announcing policies to strive for high-quality development while sustaining a solid economy. Top the list is the cancellations of property cooling measures, with Special Stamp Duty, Buyers’ Stamp Duty and New Residential Stamp Duty scrapped with immediate effect. For the coming fiscal year, the total government expenditure will increase by about 6.7% to HK$776.9 billion, while the total government revenue is estimated to be HK$633 billion. Chan expects that there will be a deficit of HK$48.1 billion for the year, and fiscal reserves will decrease to HK$685.1 billion. Here are the key takeaways of this year’s budget plan.
Budget 2024: Hong Kong government extends subsidy for people waiting for public housing
- 2024-02-28
- Politics
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAN Wing Yiu、KIM SeojoonEdited by: Aruzhan ZEINULLA
- 2024-02-28
People waiting for public housing will continue to receive monthly government subsidies while the government continues to build new public housing units, Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po said in the budget address today. The cash allowance trial scheme is available to applicants who have been on the waiting list for public rental housing for more than three years. The subsidy amount for individuals is HK$1,300 per month. The average waiting time for public housing in Hong Kong is 5.6 years, according to the Hong Kong Housing Authority. Transitional housing remains insufficient despite 21,000 new units built last year. Many waiting for public housing are forced to live in cramped subdivided flats, the Society for Community Organization reported in a recent survey. Transitional housing is difficult to get, some public housing applicants said. Chan, 67, who declined to use his full name, said he has been rejected for transitional housing twice. “I hope the government can pay more attention to the elderly living in subdivided flats. They are having a hard time,” Chan said. Tse, 59, who declined to use his full name, said he currently resides in a hotel in Yau Ma Tei and pays HK$3,000 a month for rent. Despite being unemployed and receiving government assistance, he cannot get transitional housing due to a shortage of units for single individuals, he said. SOCO has implemented various projects to provide temporary housing to low income people, in areas such as Chai Wan, Tin Hau and Tai Po. “The greatest housing problem is that everything is expensive, including rent, water, and electricity,” said Sze Lai-shan, the deputy director of SOCO. Sze said that extending the monthly subsidies for public housing applicants is positive. Sze said that cash subsidies can be specifically directed toward residents living in subdivided units.