The publisher of the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Publishing, has been convicted by a Hong Kong court of deterring reporter Selina Cheng from taking up a trade union role. The case centers on Cheng's termination in 2024 after she was appointed chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA), with the company initially citing restructuring as the reason. Magistrate David Cheung ruled that Dow Jones Publishing was guilty of preventing an employee from exercising trade union rights, but acquitted it of dismissing or discriminating against Cheng for exercising those rights. The court case has raised concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong and set a precedent for journalists operating in the city.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
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, of trying to prevent journalist Selina Cheng from taking on a union role, but acquitted them of firing her over this reason. The case raises concerns about media freedom in Hong Kong. Selina Cheng was fired by the WSJ in July 2024 after being appointed chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). The court found Dow Jones guilty of "preventing or deterring an employee from exercising trade union rights" and could be fined up to $12,755. However, the judge ruled that Cheng's termination was due to corporate restructuring, not her role as HKJA chair. This conviction has sparked concerns about press freedom in Hong Kong, with Cheng stating that reporters' employment rights must be protected to work safely.
Written for “Wall Street Journal Controversy” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 8016 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-11
A Hong Kong court has convicted the publisher of the Wall Street Journal of deterring a reporter from taking up a trade union role, in a case that raised concerns about press freedom in the city.
asserted
that → convict → city
The newspaper dismissed Selina Cheng just weeks after she was appointed chair of the Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA) in 2024.
asserted
she → dismiss → 2024
She was told at the time her termination was officially due to restructuring.
asserted
termination → tell → restructuring
Outside court on Thursday, Cheng said: “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.”
asserted
we → say → reporters
Principal magistrate David Cheung ruled that Dow Jones Publishing, the parent company of the Wall Street journal, was guilty of “preventing or deterring an employee from exercising trade union rights,” but acquitted it of “dismissing or discriminating against an employee because she exercised those rights.”
asserted
she → rule → rights
Cheng, who covered China’s automobiles and energy sectors for the WSJ, said her editor had told her that employees should not be seen as advocating for press freedom in “places like Hong Kong”, saying it could be perceived as a conflict of interest.
uncertain
it → cover → interest
She alleged her employer had attempted to prevent her from taking up a role in the union.
asserted
employer → allege → union
She said the company told her that she needed to seek the firm’s approval for outside activities and requested her to leave her then-board position at the association.
asserted
her → say → association
Cheng launched the private prosecution against Dow Jones Publishing after losing her job in July 2024, weeks after taking up the position as chair of the union.
asserted
Cheng → launch → union
The company pleaded not guilty to both charges, which each carry a maximum fine of HK$100,000 (about $12,750).
asserted
which → plead → HK$100,000
Sentencing is expected to be handed down at a later date.
asserted
Sentencing → sentence → date
During the trial, the defence argued that Cheng was terminated because of redundancy and that the prosecution had not sufficiently proved that the firm’s management instructed Cheng’s supervisor.
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management → argue → supervisor
The defence also accused Cheng of acting in bad faith in a previous hearing.
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defence → accuse → hearing
But magistrate David Cheung said that Cheng’s termination “was motivated by wrongful and unjustified application of their code of conduct” when it insisted Cheng needed to seek prior approval to stand as chair of HKJA.
asserted
Cheng → say → HKJA
Cheung said he accepted Cheng’s explanation, describing the former WSJ reporter as “honest and reliable”, adding she and was clearly motivated by “the wish to see justice”.
asserted
she → say → justice
Cheng’s termination alarmed journalists, who are already operating in an increasingly restricted media environment in the city, where foreign outlets have traditionally faced less pressure than local news outlets.
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outlets → alarm → outlets
“The WSJ set a very bad precedent by punishing an employee who was exercising her constitutionally protected rights in Hong Kong,” said Eric Lai, a senior fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law.
asserted
Lai → set → Law
The WSJ maintained there was no link between Cheng’s role in the Hong Kong union and her termination.
asserted
WSJ → maintain → union
At the time of Cheng’s dismissal, it issued a statement saying: “The Wall Street Journal has been and continues to be a fierce and vocal advocate for press freedom in Hong Kong and around the world.”
asserted
Journal → issue → world
It was established in 1968 and is registered as a trade union representing journalists and workers in news.
asserted
It → establish → news
It has faced increasing pressure since the introduction of a Beijing-imposed national security law in 2020.
asserted
It → face → 2020
Hong Kong has fallen sharply in global press freedom rankings since the law’s introduction.
asserted
Kong → fall → introduction
In 2019 Reporters Without Borders ranked the city 73rd in the world.
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Reporters → rank → world
By 2026 it had fallen 67 places to 140th out of 180 countries and territories.
asserted
it → fall → countries
