With some world leaders proclaiming journalists ‘enemies of the people’, journalism has never been more dangerous.

Left to right: Tim McLaughlin, Eric Wishart, Kristie Lu Stout and Sonny Swe discuss online abuse. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

But Asia’s top reporters, editors and photographers agree that reporting the truth is more essential than ever, despite the risks in doing so.

The FCC’s 4th Journalism Conference heard from a diverse range of journalists on March 23, each sharing their experiences of the challenges they face in conflict zones, on social media, and in Hong Kong.

Keynote speaker, Nicole Tung, gave an emotional talk on her experiences reporting from conflict zones and losing colleagues in the process. She said she is often asked by people why she risks her life to report from war zones. “It influences policy, it’s important for public knowledge. It’s a sense of duty,” she told the packed conference.

Emily Steel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter who uncovered multimillion-dollar settlements paid out by Fox News in relation to alleged sexual harassment allegations against host Bill O’Reilly, revealed the painstaking eight-month investigation that led to the exposé.

“We’d all heard the numbers of sexual harassment in the workplace but not the stories behind them,” she said of the reporting that kicked off the #MeToo movement.

Panels at the conference covered a wide range of topics, including how to cover cultural journalism, reporting on science and health, online security tips for journalists, a mobile storytelling workshop, and an all-female panel on how to get paid what you’re worth.

A discussion on press freedom in Hong Kong and the challenges journalists face in the city saw Kevin Lau of Ming Pao group talk about the brutal knife attack that left him hospitalised. Fellow panelists Chris Yeung of the Hong Kong Journalists Association and freelance writer Mary Hui agreed that incidents including the rejection of former FCC vice-president Victor Mallet’s visa had marked a worrying drop in press freedom in the city.

The conference’s closing panel saw CNN anchor Kristie Lu Stout describe some of the vile personal attacks she has been subjected to by online trolls.

“The common denominator is hatred – it takes root online and is encouraged and turns into something extreme in the real world. We need to take these online threats and abuses more seriously,” she said.

A selection of the panels and workshops can be viewed on our Facebook page or by scrolling down this page.

Diana Jou, a panelist on the mobile storytelling workshop. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

Left: Kurt Lin and Abid Rahman, right. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

Amy Qin, left, and Kurt Lin. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

Mallika Kapur interviews Emily Steel. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

The panel on how to get paid what you’re worth. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

Maru Hui, left, and Kevin Lau. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

Stevo Stephen, left, and Patricia Evangelista. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

VIDEOS

Opening and Keynote Address

Press Freedom and the Dangers for Journalists in Asia

Workshop – Cultural Journalism: How Best to Cover Asian Culture and Beyond, and Avoid the Pitfalls

Noon panel: How Not To Get Sued

An Introduction to the Human Rights Press Awards, and A Conversation with Emily Steel

Workshop: Online Security Tips & Tools Every Journalist Should Know

Hong Kong Press Freedom – The Challenges Facing Local Journalists

Closing Panel: Online Threats Journalists Face in 2019 – part one

Closing Panel: Online Threats Journalists Face in 2019 – part two

We warmly invite you to join us at the FCC’s annual journalism conference on March 23 for a day of discussion, learning and networking with some of the region’s most talented journalists. As the media faces unprecedented attacks worldwide, the theme for this year’s conference is Enemy of the People? The Dangers of Being a Journalist in 2019.

For the day’s full line-up, scroll down or click here. Highlights include sessions on:

War reporting: Hear from opening keynote speaker, Nicole Tung, a Hong Kong-born, Turkey-based photographer and winner of the James Foley Award for conflict reporting. Tung, who has covered conflict zones in Libya, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the refugee crisis in Europe, will talk about the on-the-ground dangers journalists face.

Investigative reporting:  Join Emily Steel, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter from the New York Times in a fireside chat. Ms. Steel’s reporting at The Times uncovered a series of settlements totaling $45 million related to sexual harassment allegations against Bill O’Reilly, the former Fox News host. The reporting laid the foundation for an international reckoning over issues of sexual misconduct.

Freedom of the press:  Kevin Lau Chun-to from the Ming Pao Group will shed light on the challenges Hong Kong journalists face in a panel discussion that also includes speakers Chris Young from Citizen News and the chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, plus freelance journalist Mary Hui.

Cyberbullying: CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout, Frontier Myanmar’s Sonny Swe, and others will speak on a panel dedicated to the new threats emerging in the digital space that journalists face today.

Other panels and workshops will cover issues ranging from how not to get sued to tips for online security. The conference will host speakers from The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Bloomberg, TVB, CNN and more. Additional specialists in areas such as data security, legal and negotiation experts and more will share their insight in relevant areas.

Breakfast, lunch and closing drinks will be provided at the conference.

Tickets cost HK$495 for members and HK$595 for guests. To sign up, please complete this booking form.

Alternatively, please contact the FCC concierge desk at 2521 1511 or email [email protected]. Once confirmed, you will be contacted to indicate which workshops you wish to attend.

Members of the media and students wishing to attend the conference should email [email protected].

Save the date for Saturday, March 23 for the fourth edition of the FCC’s Journalism Conference, titled Enemy of the People? The Dangers of Being a Journalist in 2019.

Hong Kong Free Press’ Kris Cheng, left, and CNN’s Kirstie Lu Stout talk about confronting stereotypes at the 3rd FCC Journalism Conference. Photo: Sarah Graham/FCC

The increasing perils facing the press, including new threats emerging in the digital space, is the theme of the conference. Topics for workshops and panel discussions include the online and on-the-ground threats journalists face today, challenges to press freedom and online security tips. The conference will look at other issues impacting journalists too, such as pay negotiation strategies, mobile video storytelling, covering niche beats and more.

Speakers include reporters, editors, and publishers from leading news organisations. Additional specialists such as data security, legal, and negotiation experts will share their expertise in relevant areas.

Tickets cost HK$495 for members and HK$595 for guests. To sign up, please complete this booking form.

Students can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of HK$250. To sign up, please complete this student booking form.

Alternatively, please contact the FCC concierge desk at 2521 1511 or email [email protected]. Once confirmed, you will be contacted to indicate which workshops you wish to attend.