Chinese-owned media outlets are stepping back from Asia’s premier journalism prize, the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) awards, citing increasing domestic pressures against perceived “collusion with foreign forces.”
Caixin Media, based in Beijing, which clinched SOPA awards for five consecutive years from 2014 to 2018, has refrained from submitting entries in recent years due to what its senior staff members describe as “obvious reasons.” Speaking to Media, two senior staff members cited domestic pressures and stated, “We cannot submit, even if we receive invitations from overseas organizations; we just cannot participate.”
Similarly, Shanghai-based Sixth Tone, a subsidiary of The Paper, a digital news outlet under the state-owned Shanghai United Media Group, also opted out of this year’s SOPA submissions, according to sources familiar with the matter. Sixth Tone had been a finalist or winner each year from 2017 to 2023. Notably, both The Paper and Sixth Tone withdrew from SOPA membership this year following a management restructuring, establishing the Shanghai Global News Network in October last year, placing Sixth Tone under its umbrella.
The decision marks a significant departure from last year when state-backed The World of Chinese participated in the awards. However, it too abstained from submitting entries this year, according to insiders.
The withdrawal of Chinese media from SOPA is attributed to the increasingly stringent political environment, which frowns upon engagement with overseas platforms, particularly those perceived as critical of Chinese policies. This move reflects concerns over potential reprisals and underscores the imperative for self-preservation in a challenging media landscape.
While this retreat may safeguard Chinese media from domestic backlash, it raises questions about the diversity of voices in prestigious regional journalism competitions like SOPA. Some experts warn that a decline in Chinese-language entries could diminish the award’s credibility and authority.
The South China Morning Post, owned by Alibaba and based in Hong Kong, also chose to exit SOPA membership this year and did not submit any entries for awards, according to sources. The reasons behind its withdrawal remain undisclosed.
In recent years, Chinese media outlets such as Caixin and Sixth Tone have faced mounting scrutiny for their critical reporting on Chinese affairs, drawing ire from nationalists. This pressure has intensified, prompting caution among media organizations and signaling a tightening grip on press freedom in China.
Luwei Rose Luqiu, an associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, views the withdrawal from SOPA as indicative of shrinking space for journalistic freedom in China, especially for English-language media outlets. Despite this, she notes that such awards have minimal impact on readership for Chinese media.
SOPA, established in Hong Kong in 1982, aims to promote excellence in journalism across the Asia-Pacific region. While renowned international media outlets like Bloomberg and The New York Times are members, the departure of Chinese media highlights the evolving challenges facing press freedom in the region.
Input From Nikkei Asia
03rd May 2024
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