Sacked editor at i-Cable tells of story meddling

A sacked China editor of i-Cable's news channel said senior management interfered in the reporting of sensitive stories while asking them to learn from TVB.

i-Cable's news department laid off 40 staff members on Tuesday, including all the reporters of its award-winning investigative program News Lancet, as well as members from other major news teams.

The dismissals prompted at least eight veteran editors and the station's China news team to resign. Five editors and most local reporters also resigned.

The deputy chief of the China news team, Wong Lai-ping, who was among those fired, said yesterday that senior management member Hui Fong-fai made "ridiculous orders" in editorial meetings.

"The China news team pitched a story about mainland authorities appointing lawyers for defendants in which a victim was to give an account of how he was not allowed to appoint his own lawyers," Wong said on a radio program yesterday.

"However, Hui said the way the story was told was not balanced and demanded we add opinions on how government-appointed lawyers can sometimes help people."

She said it was these occasions that the newsroom had a huge difference in news judgment."I can't tell if he is ignorant or executing orders from someone else."

Wong also said that Hui also questioned the China news team's decision to not send reporters to the daily press conference by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She also said Hui asked her why i-Cable did not broadcast the press conference live, when TVB did so.

"I told him that if I follow how TVB works, then there is no reason for me to work for i-Cable News," Wong said. "We will not have our own distinct reporting if we copy from other TV stations."

She also said it is possible that political motives were behind the layoffs, adding: "It is hard for anyone to believe that there is no political censorship.

"Management said we have to restructure our resources, and employees are taking unpaid leave, but the company transferred the former head of the news department, Fung Tak-hung, to an advisory role and employed four executives to replace Fung," Wong said. Fung was transferred on August 10.

The four executives are deputy general managers of the news department Edna Tse, Hui Fong-fai, and news controllers Oscar Lee Tsun, Anderson Chan Hing-cheong.

Chris Yeung Kin-hing, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, echoed Wong's sentiment on a separate radio program, saying i-Cable News' management is making people question if news departments covering more sensitive topics will be targeted in the political atmosphere in Hong Kong.

"News Lancet is one of the selling points of i-Cable News, which shows the TV station's passion, commitment and effort to build a reputation for the newsroom. But as the management failed to give an explanation for the sackings, I believe there is political pressure to rectify the media," Yeung said.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com