The Fall of Stand News: A Blow to Hong Kong's Press Freedom

After a police raid and the arrest of two editors, Stand News, an online media outlet known for its hard-hitting reports during the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, was forced to shut down. The case marks the first sedition conviction of journalists since the 1997 transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China, reflecting deteriorating media freedoms under a security crackdown.

In the wake of a police raid and subsequent arrest of two editors, Stand News, a prominent online media outlet in Hong Kong, decided to shut down to prevent further detentions. Known for its in-depth coverage of the 2019 pro-democracy protests, the outlet saw a rapid surge in readership during that period.

On December 29, 2021, staff members gathered to erase their archives, feeling the weight of their vanished labor. 'It's very depressing that all our hard work was gone in one night,' said Louise, a former video journalist at Stand News.

This Thursday, a Hong Kong court found former Stand News chief editor Chung Pui-kuen guilty of conspiring to publish seditious materials. Another editor, Patrick Lam, was also convicted. This marks the first sedition conviction of journalists since Hong Kong's 1997 handover from Britain to China, amid growing concerns about media freedom under China's rule.

(With inputs from agencies.)