Behind the paywall

News consumers nowadays are enjoying the most colorful world ever by surfing the Internet, accessing stories from any corner of the world, seeking information through search engines and even chatting with their favorite writers online. It is the future of journalism, but maybe the end of print media.

Source/Google

Facing a long time of survival problems in this information age, news organizations are struggling to find approaches to make profits through online service. Changes inevitably should be made by news media, especially newspapers. Thus, paywall, is “established” by news media between webpage content and readers. 

Dating back to 1997, The Wall Street Journal became the first major newspaper to implement a paywall. And the New York Times, one of the most successful example of using this strategy, disclosed in its 2011 Third-Quarter Report that the Times had 324,000 paid digital subscribers and paid and sponsored relationships with over 1.2 million digital users. New York Times will continue to build on its paid offerings.

Despite so much free information online, why would readers pay for New York Times? According to a report on Poynter, digital news is different. As an intangible good, it has an natural advantage over print news. And unlike those financial newspapers’ exclusivity, New York Time’s originality and convenience along with readers’ payment awareness and appreciation all contribute to its success.

The paywall, however, has its own weakness. Some softwares, like NYTClean, emerge to “solve” the blocking of paywalls. And Internet users can also easily dodge paywalls by cleaning browsers’ cache to avoid being blocked after 20 free articles/month by New York Times.

Photo/Kathy Zhu

But not all the newspapers flock to paywalls. Metro Daily in Hong Kong is one of these newspapers. Peter Kuo, CEO of Metro Hong Kong, talked about their Future Daily Project on Nov.29 at the News World Summit. He said as a pioneer of releasing free newspapers in Hong Kong, Metro Hong Kong insists delivering quality free content to MTR passengers and commuters.

“Flipboard is a good example of free content application combined with phenomenal consumer experience,” said Kuo. Combining the traditional newspaper with mobile apps, Metro Hong Kong now are catering to new consumer behavior by adapting technology and integrating it into gaining readership and branding.

Meanwhile, not all the newspapers implementing paywall are as successful as WSJ and NYT. With a dramatic decrease of online readers after erecting paywall, British newspaper The Times is just the latest example. It seems now is too early to predict who is the winner in the battle of survival, but this is indeed the first time the model of free online news has been challenged by an industry-wide trend. While this is happening, new high-tech products and apps are emerging and offering unlimited access to free information.

Which model will win?

Zoroastrians: dwindling, but keeping the faith

Photo/Kathy Zhu

By KATHY ZHU

HONG KONG – On the street, Homyar G. Nasirabadwala looks the same as any Indian man. But when he enters the Zoroastrian Building, where he lives and works, in Causeway Bay, he dons a long white robe. As priest of the Zoroastrian community in Hong Kong, he tends to the fire, revered by believers, and prays for the Zoroastrians five times a day.

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world, dating back almost 3,000 years. But now Zoroastrians, who are called Parsis in India, are facing a decline in numbers. Nasirabadwala said the global Zoroastrian community has dwindled to about 100,000, with most living in India and Iran. Only 224 Zoroastrians live in Hong Kong.

The Zoroastrians’ strict rules about conversion and ethnic purity have contributed to their population crisis.

“In a sense, we do not allow any conversion. We do not convert from other communities, other religions to our religion,” Nasirabadwala said strongly. “We’re born as a Zoroastrian. That’s the only way.”

Once one of the largest religions, Zoroastrians have stuck to this regulation for thousands of years.

“We, unfortunately, have quite late marriages and we have a single-child policy,” he said.

He also said if a Zoroastrian woman marries a non-Zoroastrian, she stops receiving benefits from the community and her children cannot be accepted into the religion. On the contrary, if a Zoroastrian man marries a non-Zoroastrian, his children will be Zoroastrian. This has created a heated debate within the community.

“The community obviously faces a survival crisis now,” said Dr. Chan Sze Chi, senior lecturer in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Hong Kong Baptist University.  “It’s very hard for a religion to change its principles because that’s the spirit of why its followers believe. But I think it’s time for Zoroastrians to make some changes due to their current situation, like encouraging couples to have more kids, bypassing the core principle to have some tiny changes and being more brave and open to adapt to modern world.”

Now in Hong Kong, lives of Zoroastrians still move on day by day. Nasitabadwala and his companions enjoy every single day in this metropolis. With nearly 80 percent of Zoroastrians in Hong Kong working in the field of business and trade, they adapt to the morden life quite well. Every month, they gather together twice to do prayers, to eat meals, to share anecdotes and to keep the faith of their belief. 

“There is a little fear of numbers declining. But don’t worry, we’ll be around for some more centuries,” said Nasitabadwala.

Accuracy and speed: two reasons why people pay for news

By KATHY ZHU

HONG KONG – Despite so much free news on the Internet, people would like to subscribe and buy news because of the accuracy and speed of a news agency, a senior editor said Friday in his speech at Hong Kong Baptist University.

“Firstly, journalism is all about credibility. It’s all about being right. Credibility is the key word,” said Phil Chetwynd, the Asia-Pacific editor for Agence France Presse. He was sharing perspective and experience about how a major agency functions in the newsgathering process with journalism students.

Chetwynd said that accuracy should be the guideline of everything journalists do in journalism and ultimately, news agencies and journalists get double payoff from being accuracy. People want to read their newspaper, watch their TV buy their services due to their credibility and accuracy, he said.

Another reason is speed. “We’re trying to be as fast as we can,” he said. “The battle on speed is absolutely immense. That’s why everybody is competing to be as quick as possible.”

Chetwynd also chose the Olympic 100 meters final in Beijing as an example. He said that AFP used 22 cameras to shoot 100 meters ten seconds event from multi-angles and the process of taking the photo of the winner and then putting it on its clients’ websites was only 93 seconds.

Meanwhile, Chetwynd admitted that it is “challenging” to balance both accuracy and speed, especially for the online market now. “People consume news now very very fast. They don’t want the news in three minutes’ time. They want it now,” he explained.

Accuracy, however, is the absolute priority in journalism. When asked about the specific way to achieve accuracy and speed, Chetwynd said nowadays mistakes would spread faster throughout the world and the consequences were severe. He said the “Death of Jiang Zemin” news reported in Hong Kong is “terrible”. And thus, accuracy has to be the most important thing.

Five Interesting Facts about Hong Kong

1. Country Parks

Statistics from Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department show that the number of hill Fires inside or threatening Country Parks has sharply decreased from 107 to 16 during around 20 years. And the number of participants joined educational services and the number of tree planted inside country parks both increased by over two times from 1991/1992 to 2009/2010.

Statistics about Country Parks

For more details:

http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_lea/cou_lea_use/cou_lea_use.html

2. Population Aged 15 and Over by Economic Activity Status and Sex

The number of women who participate in economically activites and the number of women who are employed sharply increase from 1986 to 2010. More women get into word than before.

Population Aged 15 and Over by Economic Activity Status and Sex

For more details:

http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_1149/T04_01_01A.xls

3. Visitor Arrivals by Country/Territory of Residence

The chart below shows the number of visitors who arrive in Hong Kong by country/territory of residence. Visitors from mainland China are far more than visitors from other countries and the number keeps increasing year by year. And Hong Kong also attracts more visitors from other areas, such as South & Southest Asia, North Asia and America.

Visitor Arrivals by Country/Territory of Residence

For more details:

http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_807/transport.pdf

4. Parents’ Intentions about their Babies’ Future Living Arrangement in the Five Rounds of the Survey

The five rounds of the survey is accomplished from 2007 to 2011. Babies born in Hong Kong to Mainland women are classified in the following two categories: (1) Father being a Hong Kong Permanent Resident; and (2) Father being not a Hong Kong Permanent Resident. The statistic shows that recently more parents do not want their babies living in Hong Kong, especially when their babies are before one-year-old.

Parents’ Intentions about their Babies’ Future Living Arrangement by Type in the Five Rounds of the Survey of Babies

For more details:

http://www.statistics.gov.hk/publication/feature_article/B71109FB2011XXXXB0100.pdf

5. Decisive Factors for the Babies to and Not to Reside in Hong Kong after Birth or Later in their Life by Type of Babies in the Fifth Round of the Survey

It is the same survey as above. The two charts show the decisive factors for the babies to and not to reside in Hong Kong after birth or later in their life by type of babies in the fifth round of the survey. Due to the better education, comprehensive legal system and better quality of living, some parents want their babies residing in Hong Kong. On the contrary, some parents do not want their children living in Hong Kong because they hope their children can grow up under the guidance of their parents and they also have good transportation, thus there is no need to stay in Hong Kong. But the reasons vary from diffenert types of babies.

Decisive Factors for the Babies to Reside in Hong Kong after Birth or Later in their Life

Decisive Factors for the Babies not to Reside in Hong Kong after Birth or Later in their Life

For more details:

http://www.statistics.gov.hk/publication/feature_article/B71109FB2011XXXXB0100.pdf

Source from Census and Statistics Department.

One month in Hong Kong

Till now, I have already been in Hong Kong for one month. How time flies!

Looking back this period of time, I am really appreciated that I come here. Everyday is new and challenging for me to touch Hong Kong and study journalism. Suddenly some words just pop up in my mind about my first close contact with Hong Kong.

▇ Keyword No.1 – Amazing

This is Hong Kong, amazing Hong Kong. Standing at 552 metres above sea level, the Peak is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island. Seeing from here, Central, Kowloon and Victoria Harbour were decorated by the color of the night and bright lights.

▇ Keyword 2 – Busy

It’s was 10 p.m. when I stepped out of library yesterday, carrying my heavy bag and computer but in the mood of content and ease. Every day is busy, full of assignments, readings, presentations and something new to learn. However, why am I so happy about my new journey in Hong Kong? Does anyone feel the same with me?

▇ Keyword 3 – Paradise

Hong Kong is a paradise for shopping and eating, the two commom hobbies for most girls. Yes, I do love the delicious food in Hong Kong.

▇ Keyword 4 – Joy

I think I have gradually entered the right track during the first month trying to adapt to the life in Hong Kong.

Life is still moving on. Let’s go!

Just presenting numbers isn’t enough any more, said 2011 Pulitzer Prize Winner

Jake Bernstein in the speech (Photo/Kathy Zhu)

By KATHY ZHU

HONG KONG – In today’s Internet age, journalists should look for creative way to do storytelling instead of just presenting facts and numbers, said the 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner on Sep. 23 at Hong Kong Baptist University.

“Just presenting numbers, or a long story, isn’t enough any more, especially with Internet,” said Jake Bernstein, the 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner for national reporting, sharing his story with journalism students as a guest lecturer for HKBU-Thomson Reuters Financial Journalists’ Workshop.

Depart from facts and numbers, graphics, radio programs, comics or videos can be used by journalists in reporting as well, which is more important in financial and business reporting to avoid boring readers, said Bernstein. He also shared a video “Bet Against The American Dream” as an example to explain how to do creative storytelling.

Meanwhile, Bernstein said that journalists should take good advantage of social network to do creative reporting. He exchanged experience about how to gather various information through the Internet. Contacting with people who worked in Wall Street via Facebook and Twitter when reporting, Bernstein emphasized the vital roles of social media to today’s journalists.

In the speech, Jake also gave some reporting tips that journalism students could draw on. He said that a journalist shouldn’t stop at the official line and be afraid to question the consensus. Journalists can also find independent experts who can check their math and assumptions.

Jake now works for ProPublica, a non-profit news organization based in New York City, as a business and financial reporter. In April 2011, he and colleague Jesse Eisinger were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series of stories on questionable Wall Street practices that helped make the financial crisis the worst since the Great Depression.

Pan Xianjian: Seeking the Definition of Love

Pan Xianjian (Photo/Kathy Zhu)

By KATHY ZHU

Among many teaching assistants of Jiananmeidi（JNMD or “迦南美地” in Chinese), a Christian organization aiming at helping mainland students in Hong Kong, Pan Xianjian is really a shy and quiet man.

After carefully checking the pronunciation of some Cantonese words with several mainland students, the 33-year-old man starts the talk with brief self-introduction. As one of the civilian staff who offer timely and effective logistics support, Pan has been working in the Transport Division of Hong Kong Police Force for over two years.

But he seems prefer to talk about his work in JNMD rather than his formal job. Pan is not a talkative and outgoing person, but speaking of JNMD and his belief Christianity, he seems have endless words.

“Our original intention is to serve, which means to take actions to respond our God,” he says with a pause. “We gather together to help and love mainland students due to our same religion. No one can organize it because it is a work for God.”

JNMD was founded in 2007 by some mainland postgraduates and PhD students who was helped and cared by a group of Christians. There were only several people in the beginning, but now, around 50 Hong Kong locals work as teaching assistants and helpers. They organize free Cantonese classes once a week and other various activities, like the Mid-autumn Day party held several days ago.

“Many people, even some students who join us, doubt our intentions at first. But we think the best way to serve is caring for mainland students and helping them quickly adapt to the life in Hong Kong,” Pan says in a firm and serious tone.

Devoting much spare time to JNMD and mainland students, he says the reason is that he regards JNMD as a place to learn how to love.

“We love, because first God loved us,” he thinks most people do not know what love is and how to love. He himself is still seeking the definition of love through serving and helping others.

“But the Bible gives a good definition,” he says. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

This year, more than 1000 mainland students have joined JNMD. Pan says he is happy to see love goes on through their efforts.

 

JNMD on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000436916788

JNMD on Weibo: http://weibo.com/jnmd2011