| Code | 918G |
| Title | The Media and SARS |
| Author | William CHIU, Veronica GALBRAITH and Christine LOH |
| Affiliation | Civic Exchange |
| Abstract |
For the international media, the SARS virus was the next big story after the Iraq War. As SARS spread quickly around the world via Hong Kong, the medical, social, economic and political aspects of the disease were the subject of extensive media coverage. At the outset, the lack of information about the virus led to some highly sensational reporting. This situation was compounded by the fact that SARS originated in China, where the government's penchant for secrecy made it hard to get at the facts. Early reports were often incomplete and raised many worrisome questions. However, despite criticisms that the media was fear-mongering, intense and highly critical international reporting helped pressure the Chinese Government to be more transparent about the outbreak.
For the Hong Kong media, SARS was one of the biggest news stories ever. The local media played a special role in the reporting of the outbreak worldwide, as it was only when SARS hit Hong Kong in late February 2003 that it received international attention. Unlike mainland China, Hong Kong enjoys freedom of expression and freedom of the press, factors that enabled both the local and the international media to report on the domestic situation as Hong Kong emerged as the epicentre of the worldwide SARS outbreak and provide the global community with information about the new disease. The SARS outbreak showed that a free media is vital in a crisis situation and in keeping the authorities honest. While there have been criticisms that the media "hyped" the outbreak and exaggerated its effect, it should remembered that the initial sensational reporting had much to do with the novelty of the disease and the lack of information from mainland authorities. This paper starts by examining how the international media reported the outbreak in Hong Kong, which in turn shaped public perceptions worldwide. It goes on to discuss the HKSAR Government's shortcomings in handling communication with the media and takes a look at the various roles played by the local media during the crisis. It notes, for example, how the Hong Kong media defended press freedom when it saw this being threatened by the government's attempt to pass new national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. It continues by comparing how SARS was reported in Hong Kong and Toronto in order to draw insights about the differences between the two societies. Finally, the media's situation in mainland China is examined, and conclusions discussed about the overall role of the media in Hong Kong, a society where democracy is limited. |