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* "95% confidence level" means that if we were to repeat a certain survey 100 times, using the same questions each time but with different random samples, we would expect 95 times getting a figure within the error margins specified.
** Collapsed from a 5-point scale.
Results of survey conducted in early October showed that, on a scale of 0-10, the latest credibility rating of the Hong Kong news media in general was 5.60 marks. Moreover, 59% of the respondents were satisfied with the freedom of the press in Hong Kong, 18% perceived the local news media to be responsible in their reporting, 73% believed the local news media had given full play to the freedom of speech, but 74% said they had misused or abused the freedom of press. Besides, 41% of the respondents thought the local news media had practised self-censorship while 44% perceived the contrary, 34% thought they had scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government, whereas 63% thought they had scruples when criticizing the Central Government.
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Commentary
Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme, observed, "The credibility rating of the local news media continues to drop in the past six months, now very near to the previous low recorded three years ago. The recent paparazzi case of a singer changing clothes has apparently taken its toll. Compared to six months ago, those who said the media had given full play to the freedom of speech has not changed much, but those who said the media had misused press freedom, and being irresponsible in their reporting have surged by 5 percentage points. The former percentage is now near the record high of 75% recorded in November 1998. As for self-censorship, compared to six months ago, those who thought the media had scruples when criticizing the Central Government have gone up by 7 percentage points, but those who said the media had scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government, or had practiced self-censorship on the whole have not changed much. The question of how to preserve press freedom without it being misused or abused, still remains to be an important question Hong Kong society has to face."
News about POP
POP's normal practice is to release the results of our regular surveys every Tuesday afternoon via our POP Site, except during public holidays, each time with a forecast of the items to be released in the next 7 days. According to schedule, our next release of regular survey findings will be October 24, 2006, Tuesday, between 1pm to 2pm, when the naming results of top 10 political figures will be released for the first time.
Our general practice is to answer all questions on the research design of the surveys published in the POP Site as soon as we receive them, but we will not further comment on the findings. We welcome questions for follow-up purpose, please email them to us at <[email protected]>. We will keep such an arrangement under constant review, suggestions most welcome. Please note that everything carried in the POP Site does not represent the stand of the University of Hong Kong. Dr Robert Ting-Yiu Chung, Director of POP, is responsible for everything posted herewith, except for column articles which represent the stand of their authors.
Starting from January 2006, we have included in our regular press releases a small educational section for the purpose of general civic education, so that we can share our experience with the general public. The subject of our education section today is "About HKUPOP".
About HKUPOP
People's appraisal of local news media
After the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, HKUPOP included people's appraisal of local news media into our tracking surveys as a credibility indicator of the media. The development of the survey is as follows:
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Starting from September 1997, our media appraisal surveys were conducted once every month. It was then changed to twice every month in January 1998, until it was changed again to three times every month beginning from May 2000. Starting from April 2006, its frequency was again changed to once every six months, in order to spare resources for other surveys.
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Our media appraisal survey firstly asks the respondents to rate the credibility of news media using these wordings: "Please use a scale of 0-10 to rate the credibility of local news media, with 10 indicating absolutely credible, 5 indicating half-half and 0 indicating absolutely not credible. How would you rate the local news media?" They are then asked how satisfied they are with the freedom of speech in Hong Kong, whether they think local news media have given full play to the freedom of speech, have misused/abused the freedom of press, have been responsible in their reporting, have practiced self-censorship, and have scruples when criticizing the HKSAR Government and Central Governments.
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Regarding sample size, from the beginning to March 2000, the sample size of the survey was set at slightly over 500. From May 2000 onwards, it was increased to at least 1,000.
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After our HKU POP Site was established in June 2000, the findings of all "local news media" surveys were released on-line starting from March 2002.
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