Commons (news website)
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| Type | Online-only news |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Michael Ngan |
| Editor-in-chief | A Muk |
| Founded | October 2021 |
| Political alignment | Pro-democracy |
| Language | Chinese |
| Website | commonshk.com |
Commons (Chinese: 同文) is a Taiwan-based Hong Kong news website established in 2021. Founded in response to the consecutive shutdowns of pro-democratic media outlets in Hong Kong, the website primarily covers political news and features interviews with members of the Hong Kong diaspora.
History
[edit]Commons was founded in October 2021 in Taiwan,[1] following the shutdowns of pro-democratic media outlets Stand News and Citizen News, and aims to fill the information deficit left by these media outlets.[2] It primarily focuses on interviews,[2][3] but also covers both Hong Kong and international news, addressing a wide range of political topics considered controversial under the Hong Kong national security law.[4] The website has headquarters in both Taiwan and the United Kingdom,[1] and chose Taiwan as its base for its shared timezone with Hong Kong to provide more timely reports on local news.[4] It was established by a team of eight, including former journalists from the now-defunct Apple Daily,[1] and politician Michael Ngan, who also serves as the website's chief international affairs critic.[2][5] A Taiwanese-Hong Konger known by the pseudonym "A Muk" serves as the chief editor,[2][3] while scholar Simon Shen acts as the coordinator for the editorial team.[2] Nilk Wu, co-founder of DB Channel, moved to Taiwan and joined Commons after Frankie Fung, another co-founder of DB Channel, was arrested for violating national security laws in 2021.[6] Within six months of its launch, the website published over 50 interviews featuring stories about overseas Hong Kongers in Taiwan, Canada, United Kingdom, and Europe.[2] In its early days, many overseas Hong Kongers from the United Kingdom and Canada were hired by Commons to conduct interviews and report on local events,[4][3] aiming to provide 24-hour news coverage of the Hong Kong diaspora globally, but following the emergence of similar overseas media after the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, Commons redefined its focus to cover news and events that mainstream media often overlooked.[4]
In 2022, Commons sent journalists, including Nilk Wu, to Ukraine and Poland to report on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4][6] An editor using the pseudonym "YC" explained that they took up war journalism because they found the situation in Ukraine to be similar to the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests and many Hong Kongers were concerned about the human rights situation there.[4] By July 2022, Commons had only retained two full-time staff members, including A Muk and another staff member focused on news design, along with six stringers spread across Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Canada.[2][6] The journalists operated on a rotating schedule, working two to three days each week.[2] Voice of America noted that Commons provided rare and new opportunities for the growing number of ex-journalists in the Hong Kong diaspora;[3] while the BBC found that Commons was able to amplify the overlooked voices of migrating Hong Kongers.[7]
Commons launched an audio news series on YouTube and Patreon in 2023, and included video interviews with overseas Hong Kongers in a podcast style, with two to three videos posted weekly.[4] The website does not have a subscription model, and all content is freely accessible online.[2] Given its coverage of controversial political subjects, no companies advertise on the site, and its expenses have relied on public donations.[2][4] Due to a lack of operational funding, Commons began reducing its written news coverage of international affairs starting in late April 2023.[4] As of May 2023, the website had over 42,000 followers on Facebook and 21,000 followers on Instagram.[4] By July 2023, Commons had three full-time staff members based in Taiwan and the United Kingdom.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Walker, Tommy (6 May 2022). "New Hong Kong Media Outlet Aims to Fill Media Vacuum". Voice of America. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j 呂熙 (5 May 2022). "疾風中的新聞自由（下）：花果飄零 海外再說「香港故事」" [Freedom of the Press in the Storm (Part 2): Falling Blossoms, Telling the "Hong Kong Story" Overseas.]. Radio Free Asia (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d Lu, Xi (9 May 2022). "Hong Kong Press Corps Battle Dislocation, Nostalgia, Unemployment". Voice of America. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "【專訪】訪問《同文》、《棱角》與香港民主女神：流散媒體如何在緊絀資源下生存？" [[Interview] Conversations with Commons, The Points Media, and Lady Liberty HK: How Do Exiled Media Survive with Limited Resources?]. Flow Magazine (in Chinese). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ 張子月 (9 June 2022). "新聞自由重創、民主派媒體接連關停，香港人還看什麼新聞？" [With Freedom of the Press Severely Impacted and Pro-Democratic Media Outlets Shut Down, What News Can Hong Kongers Still Watch?]. The Reporter (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ a b c 沈朋達 (1 July 2022). "巨變下的香港新聞環境 牆裡牆外仍有疾風勁草" [Hong Kong Journalism Amidst Great Changes, Resilient Voices Inside and Outside the Walls.]. Central News Agency (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 January 2025.
- ^ 林子晴 (5 November 2022). "香港BNO移民英國：飄洋過海之後仍放不下的鏡頭與筆" [Hong Kong BNO Immigrants in the United Kingdom: The Indefeasible Lens and Pen After Crossing the Ocean.]. BBC (in Chinese). Retrieved 13 January 2025.