Hong Kong
A Singaporean as editor?
Grapevine: A Singaporean journalist, who made his mark abroad, may head the top English paper, as its tries to balance between journalism and displeasing China, says Asia Sentinel.
June 15, 2009

The South China Morning Post may be looking around for a new top editor, reports The Asia Sentinel.

Its correspondent said "The revolving-door post of editor of Hong Kong's main English-language newspaper and one of the most influential in the region, may be about to revolve again.

“That at least is the speculation and it may be reflected in the contents of the paper."

The online magazine, which is owned by Malaysia's Kuok family, said that one new name for the post had been raised: "a Singaporean with many years experience in Asia and the US, with a major US group."

The Sentinel added: "If he does get the job, can he keep the Kuoks happy while resisting a gradual descent of the SCMP to the standards of the Lee Kuan Yew school of journalism?

“It will not be easy but there is a chance that the decline of the past five years can be reversed."

It did not name the new prospective man, but reader Fiona Kwok wrote to say, "Instead of using euphemisms, why don't you just say Reg (reginald) Chua of Dow Jones is lined up for the job.

"Chua has had a wonderful career being kicked upstairs before he gets found out too much.

Chua was editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal with a staff of 80, published by Dow Jones. He graduated with a master's in journalism at Columbia University

“Lee Kuan Yew will be happy at least and the Kuoks will get the Singaporean they deserve.."

There has been no confirmation from the newspaper's publishers that C.K Lau, who became SCMP editor two and a half years ago, was being chopped - let alone any successor.

The Tribune, however, speculated on a possible reason.

“Many readers have been surprised at the extent of the newspaper's coverage of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, and of the candlelight vigil held in Hong Kong to mark the occasion.

"The volume and tone of the coverage was viewed as surprising given the growing trend of the SCMP to downplay such sensitive topics and generally to show itself to be "patriotic" by focusing on the triumphant aspects of contemporary China and play down the unpleasant bits.

“All of which suggests to some theorists that a power vacuum has developed at the top and section editors are running with the stories they want rather than the politically correct ones.

The SCMP has always been an establishment newspaper, particularly in its coverage of the local business elite.”

Since Lau became editor, however, it had been viewed by newspaper analysts as being more circumspect than ever on political as well as business topics, “the report added.

The Kuoks, meanwhile, are struggling with the fact that they have no particular affinity with newspapers.

Patriarch 85-year-old Robert Kuok Hock Nien is assumed to have bought it more as a favour to Beijing to keep it in safe hands, it said.

“The family reportedly has been wanting to sell but given the pressure on profits from the impact of recession, the impact of the internet and free newspapers on classified advertising and the political baggage of ownership a good price looks unlikely to be offered.

“The Kuok family member driving decisions now is 31-year old Kuok Hui Kwong, the youngest of Robert Kuok's eight children, who took over from an older offspring, Kuok Koon Ean, 59.

“She was briefly an investment banker after graduating from Harvard.

The SCMP's owners, which acquired it from Rupert Murdoch in 1993, had long been torn between wanting to improve it as a newspaper and doing what Beijing and the local establishment want, it said.

"The result: repeated dissatisfaction with the newest appointment and an almost-immediate hunt for a replacement."

Comments (excerpts)

By Heavenly peace
I thought the reporting of June 4 was in line what they write every year, no different at all. Over the past year there has been lots of coverage of dodgy officials doing dodgy things and protests by wronged villagers, as well as reports on shoddy school buildings in Sichuan - not just the ''glorious'' stuff. So it swings both ways. But yes, pages 2 and 3 are as boring as hell - since local politics hasn't been interesting since Chris Patten set sail.

john chu
Now I know why the pages of the post are full of rubbish! does anyone actually read the first two pages, for example? Do they CARE about us, the readers? Seems like they don't at all.

scmpinsider
View from inside SCMP is: the whole thing is drifting in a big way.
No one is really in setting any direction at all - so section heads are free to do as they wish. For some that is an excuse to burnish credentials, for others its an excuse to play even more safe than usual, and for the rest it's just an excuse to do even less than normal.
CK Lau is much less hands on than before, and likely it is Wang Xiangwei who will take over - He's the only one with seniority enough.
Some feeling that the critical approach to Tiananmen, coupled with an increasing focus on business in his column, is an attempt to show that he isn't some Beijing stooge and understands the HK economy.
Much more likely, however, is that no one has really been tabbed and the thing will continue to drift using the downturn and slide in advertising as an excuse to stand pat.
Problem is, there is no guarantee that much of the classified advertising comes back - which just leaves the whole thing in a deep hole.
Pretty much all staff despair of the ownership - having some owner's kid using it as training wheels hardly suggests the Kuoks really care about the paper. But if they aren't going to ever recoup their investment, you'd think they might try and at least have a little fun with it.
Alas, that seems unlikely - so my guess is expect this same story to be repeatable in a year.
It's very sad.

Doofer
A more true depiction of Clifford's tenure would be that he was totally out of his depth. He is also evil and got what he deserved. Live by the sword...he does not know that the pen is mightier.

Fiona Kwok
Instead of using euphemisms, why don't you just say Reg Chua of Dow Jones is lined up for the job. Chua has had a wonderful career being kicked upstairs before he gets found out too much. Lee Kuan Yew will be happy at least and the Kuoks will get the Singaporean they deserve..

For full report and comments, please read,
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1922&Itemid=204