Media Outlet Hong Kong Free Press Date of first publication 20/02/2024 Date of Latest Change 20/02/2024

14. Internal Accountability

14.1. Dealing with Inaccuracies

There shall be a systematic editorial structure in the Media Outlet to ensure that any inaccuracies in its content are corrected in a timely and transparent manner. This shall include a clear process to allow potential errors to be communicated to the Media Outlet by the public and those with knowledge of the story and for assessing and dealing with the claims.

Do you have a clear process to allow potential errors to be communicated to the Media Outlet by the public?

Yes

Do you publish that process?

Yes

What is the URL where it can be seen? Or, where is it seen next to each bit of Content?

Corrections policy: https://hongkongfp.com/hkfp-corrections-policy/
Corrections log: https://hongkongfp.com/hkfp-corrections-log/
Contact page: https://hongkongfp.com/contact-us/

Do you have a clear process to allow potential errors to be communicated to the Media Outlet by those with direct involvement in the story?

Yes

Do you have a clear process for assessing and dealing with the claims?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Yes, HKFP must correct factual errors as quickly as possible if senior team members assess the need for a correction.

Journalists should openly and honestly report errors to their editors. We encourage readers to report any errors to us via the contact page.

Falsities, misquotes, incorrect names, or misleading statements are among the situations where a correction may be warranted. However, corrections will not usually be issued for simple typos, unless the meaning or facts of the story are affected

When issuing a correction, HKFP will publish:
The date and time of the correction.
The information that was corrected.
If appropriate, an apology and explanation.

Is there a systematic editorial structure in the Media Outlet to ensure that any inaccuracies in its content are corrected in a timely and transparent manner?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

Yes. All staff members must refer a correction to their editor. Then we follow our procedure detailed publicly here: https://hongkongfp.com/hkfp-corrections-policy/

14.2. Publishing Corrections

In particular, in relation to inaccuracies, a Media Outlet shall adopt good practice for correcting inaccuracies, such as making a clear indication of the correction in a similarly prominent place and manner as the original version, such as the same URL or in similar time and format of broadcast.

Does your Media Outlet guarantee the publication of the correction of all significant inaccuracies and errors in a similar place and manner as the original version, such as the same URL or in similar time and format of broadcast?

Yes

14.3. Contact and Process for Complaints

A Media Outlet shall have a designated person and/or contact information in place for complaints. A process shall exist for members of the public to open a dialogue with the organisation in the event of potential breaches of its journalism principles or Editorial Guidelines. This information shall be easily available.

Does your organisation have a designated contact in the event of complaints about potential breaches of its journalism principles or Editorial Guidelines?

Yes

If you want to publish additional information, please provide it here.

For technical reasons, all complaints are channelled through one email address, which is manned/monitored by the full team every day: https://hongkongfp.com/contact-us/ We publish contact details, a corrections policy, and a corrections log. Invitations to give feedback are seen at the bottom of each story and in our newsletter. We also have an Actionable Feedback policy here: https://hongkongfp.com/hkfp-code-ethics/#actionable-feedback

Does your organisation have a designated process for the public to open a dialogue with you regarding potential breaches of its journalism principles or Editorial Guidelines? (These may follow the Uniform Correction or Clarification act adopted by most U.S. States.)

Yes

Is that information clearly available?

Yes

What is the URL of where this information is available? If it is not on a single page, describe where people can find it.

Policy for feedback is here: https://hongkongfp.com/hkfp-code-ethics/#actionable-feedback
Contact channels for feedback are here: https://hongkongfp.com/contact-us/ with links on every page of the website.

14.4. Internal Process for Complaints

The Media Outlet shall have a clear procedure in place to ensure that all staff are aware of the process that must be followed when such a complaint is received. For example in larger Media Outlets, it must be known and accepted that the creator of a piece of journalism that is subject to such a complaint must escalate the issue to a designated third person. A Media Outlet shall ensure that complaints are addressed within the Media Outlet in a fair, reasonable and timely manner.

Are your staff (Employees and Freelance) aware of the process that must be followed in the event of such complaints?

Yes

Are they aware that all such complaints must be brought to the attention of a senior member of staff (of organisations large enough to have a staff) not directly connected with the creation of the story?

Yes

Is your Media Outlet committed to the resolution of any such complaints in a fair, reasonable and timely manner?

Yes

14.5. Independence of Ombudsperson

Where a Media Outlet's internal accountability mechanism takes the form of an ombudsperson, that person may be appointed by the Media Outlet; but in this case there shall be a transparent process for his/her appointment and the ombudsperson's independence shall be protected to ensure that he/she cannot be removed from the position simply for challenging journalistic or editorial decisions or actions.

Does the Media Outlet have an Ombudsperson?

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