A Hong Kong court has convicted Dow Jones of trying to prevent journalist Selina Cheng from taking a union role, but acquitted the publisher on charges of firing her for doing so. The company faces up to $12,755 in fines under Hong Kong's labour laws. The case raises concerns about media freedom in Hong Kong, where several outlets have closed since Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020. Dow Jones has disagreed with the ruling and is evaluating its next steps.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A Hong Kong court has convicted Dow Jones, the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, for trying to stop journalist Selina Cheng from taking a role as chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) union. The company was found guilty on Thursday, but acquitted of firing Cheng due to her union role, instead ruling that she was made redundant due to corporate restructuring. Cheng had accused Dow Jones of unlawfully terminating her employment in July 2024 and trying to prevent her from standing for the union position, which is protected by Hong Kong's labour laws. The court did not specify a punishment for Dow Jones, but employers found guilty on similar charges can be fined up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars ($12,755).
Written for “Hong Kong Press Freedom” on 2026-09-10,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 2 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 7490: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-10
A Hong Kong court has convicted Dow Jones for trying to deter a journalist from taking a union role, but also acquitted the publisher on the charge of dismissal over the role, in a case that raised concerns about media freedom in the city.
asserted
that → convict → city
Selina Cheng, who was fired by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in July 2024, had accused the newspaper’s publisher Dow Jones of unlawfully terminating her employment over her role chairing the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and of trying to prevent her from standing for a union position.
asserted
who → fire → position
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The court found the company guilty on Thursday of trying to prevent Cheng’s right to run for the union chairmanship.
asserted
company → overturn → chairmanship
However, the judge sided with Dow Jones’ argument that she was made redundant because of corporate restructuring, and not due to her role as HKJA chair.
asserted
she → side → chair
The right to take part in a trade union is protected by Hong Kong’s labour laws.
asserted
right → take → laws
An employer found guilty on “prevent or deter” charges could be fined up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars ($12,755).
uncertain
employer → find → dollars
“If reporters’ employment rights are not sufficiently safeguarded, or when their rights are violated and not enforced in law, then we can no longer work safely as reporters,” Cheng told reporters outside the court after the ruling.
asserted
Cheng → safeguard → ruling
The judge said the company’s requirement that Cheng seek prior permission to take a union role was an “unjustified deterrent” of her rights.
asserted
Cheng → say → rights
Dow Jones said it disagreed with the ruling and was evaluating next steps.
asserted
it → say → steps
“The Wall Street Journal has a long and proud history as an employer in Hong Kong.
asserted
Journal → have → Kong
Throughout that time, we have remained deeply respectful of its labour laws and supportive of our employees’ rights, while publishing excellent, impartial journalism about the region,” a spokesperson said.
asserted
spokesperson → remain → region
Sentencing is expected to be handed down at a later date.
asserted
Sentencing → expect → date
Cheng launched a private prosecution last year for illegal termination, after filing a complaint with the Labour Department that did not result in a prosecution.
asserted
that → launch → prosecution
Founded in 1968, the HKJA is Hong Kong’s longest-established journalists’ organisation and one of the last remaining groups advocating for media rights in the city.
asserted
HKJA → found → city
Although Hong Kong was once known for its independent news outlets, media freedom has come under strain and many outlets have disbanded since Beijing imposed a 2020 national security law following sometimes violent pro-democracy protests, according to international rankings and HKJA surveys.
uncertain
Beijing → know → rankings
