Financial Journalism, Conflicts of Interest and Ethics: A Case Study of Hong Kong

Abstract

This article explores the practice, ethics, and regulation of financial and business journalism in Hong Kong and examines business journalists' understanding of their “social responsibility.” The research is based on an analysis of the legal framework and codes of conduct plus interviews with professional journalists, editors, and other experts. The focus is on the interrelated issues of conflicts of interest, disclosure of interest, investment by journalists, and market manipulation. While some journalists are aware of key ethical dilemmas and the professional standards, there remains confusion among many journalists regarding appropriate standards. The Chinese language business media in Hong Kong operate with a more relaxed approach to conflicts of interest than the English language media and global business news providers. The assumptions behind these different approaches are compared and contrasted.