Hong Kong Journalist to Sue The Wall Street Journal Over Alleged Retaliatory Firing
Selina Cheng, a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal, announced on Tuesday that she plans to sue the publication, claiming she was dismissed for her involvement in a trade union. Cheng lost her job in July, with a senior editor attributing her termination to restructuring. However, Cheng believes her firing was linked to her refusal to withdraw from the election for chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), a prominent trade union advocating for press freedom. This perceived injustice has sparked a wave of empathy and support for Cheng in the journalism community.
In a press briefing, Cheng, now the elected chair of HKJA, explained that her efforts to mediate with her former employer through private channels and legal representatives had been “not fruitful.” The Wall Street Journal refused to reinstate her. After these failed attempts at resolution, Cheng intends to file a civil claim with the Labor Tribunal, citing “unreasonable and illegal” dismissal due to her union activities. She has already submitted evidence to the city’s Labor Department.
“If The Wall Street Journal regrets this decision and agrees that it wasn’t right, there are ways to make repairs, perhaps still,” Cheng stated.
Cheng is also meeting with Labor Department investigators on Wednesday, urging them to investigate her case for potential violations of Hong Kong’s employment ordinance. Her plea underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for immediate action.
The Wall Street Journal‘s publisher, Dow Jones, has not responded to the allegations.
Hong Kong’s journalistic environment has drastically changed since Beijing’s imposition of the national security law in 2020. This led to the shutdown of critical outlets such as Apple Daily and Stand News following the arrests of their senior management. The conviction of two Stand News editors for sedition in August marked the first of its kind since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China, further diminishing press freedom in the city.
Cheng’s dismissal has sent ripples through Hong Kong’s journalism community, with many seeing her situation as emblematic of the challenges facing media professionals in the city. The Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees, a union within Dow Jones, called her alleged dismissal “unconscionable” and urged the publication to reinstate her and clarify its decision.
As Hong Kong ranks 135th out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index—down from 80 in 2021—Cheng’s case is yet another reminder of the region’s increasingly restrictive environment for journalists, emphasizing the importance of her fight for press freedom.