Western media companies continue to wrestle with the ethics of utilising AI in the newsroom as concerns continue over how many human journalists will be left in charge. According to a report in Digiday, the Reuters newsroom is now using agentic AI, creating and processing video metadata to cut different edits of video coverage with a human overseeing the final edit and output.

Meanwhile, in mainland China: entire videos output using a one sentence AI prompt, from script to sound and video. A national AI content factory, delivering personalised AI video content for a nation of Craig McCosker, Group Product Manager at the ABC in Australia, discusses his recent experiences at the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union's Beijing AI Forum. He highlights the shift towards "one sentence production" of media in China, where AI systems can independently handle tasks like scriptwriting and dubbing.

McCosker also discusses his theory of the AI media ladder, detailing five levels of AI autonomy in media production, the Chinese focus on personalized broadcasts and the ethical considerations in AI content creation. You'll also hear of the global race for AI sovereignty, driven by language and cultural specificity, and the potential impact of AI on media ethics and regulation.

Read Craig McCosker's Digital Futures newsletter on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/DigitalHorizons

Written and produced by Jarrod Watt

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Statement issued on on behalf of the FCC Hong Kong board on Friday, August 22:

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong is deeply concerned by the confirmation that Bloomberg journalist Rebecca Choong Wilkins has had her visa renewal application denied.

Choong Wilkins has worked for Bloomberg in Hong Kong for the past six years, most recently as a senior reporter on the Asia government and economy team. We understand that authorities did not give any reason for the denial of her visa renewal.

Regrettably, this decision and the lack of explanation reinforces widespread concerns about the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong, which is protected under the Basic Law and the Bill of Rights. We support any application for this decision to be urgently reviewed and call for future applications for employment visas and visa extensions for international journalists to be handled in a timely and transparent manner.

The FCC has contacted the Immigration Department to seek clarification. While we appreciate that in normal circumstances the Immigration Department cannot comment on individual cases, we contend that in cases such as this involving an international journalist, it is important to provide the visa applicant with a proper explanation for any denial of work visas or entry into Hong Kong. This suggested improvement to the system would show greater transparency in dealing with freedom of the press, which is vital to preserving Hong Kong’s image as an international business centre.

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A love letter to Hong Kong and a tribute to the journalist credited with changing modern journalism.

In 1960 the acclaimed journalist Gay Talese wrote a piece for Esquire magazine titled “New York Is A City of Things Unnoticed”, detailing his many observations of people and places based on his wandering and exploring of the city that never sleeps. Talese is most famous for his longform article "Frank Sinatra has a cold" in which he pioneered an in-depth literary-styled form of storytelling to profile the famed singer. However, it is his piece about New York which informs this special episode, based on historical research and observations of the architecture, the people and daily life in taxis, wet markets and the streets of Hong Kong.

Not far from the new Kai Tak stadium in Hong Kong is a small stone monument carved with the Chinese characters for “Sung Wong Toi” - “Terrace of the kings of the Song dynasty" - in the year 1279. It was once a 45 metre high monument to the child king who gave Kowloon its name, translated from the Cantonese words for "Nine Dragons". Look closely at the knife-shaped Bank of China tower and you'll see another tower with what appears to be cannons aimed at its banking competitor. Pick the right double-decker tram and you will be on the oldest operational example of its kind in the world. Learn why Hong Kong taxi cab drivers call each other to say they’re “banging the gong” when driving to Causeway Bay, why they call particular types of fares a “chicken foot” and the passive-aggressive meaning of why drivers tuck CDs behind their rear view mirrors. Learn about the place where statues of the Christian, Chinese, Thai and Indian gods are not so much disposed of as concreted into retirement. .. and much more.

Written by Billy Potts and Jarrod Watt

Presented by Billy Potts, Jason Budovitch, Lauren James, Laura Westbrook, Maria Spackman and Robin Ewing

Produced by Jarrod Watt

Podcast theme music composed by Allen Youngblood

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Morgan Davis is the newly elected president for the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong and in this episode discusses the priorities she has in her term, taking on everything from lease negotiations and statements about press freedom to the battle against bad coffee and the long list of requests for guest speakers.

You'll also hear her discuss the process by which the FCC publishes statements on behalf of its members and the importance of maintaining the FCC's voice in speaking up on issues affecting journalists, as well as the people who have influenced her both as a working journalist and as an educator of journalists - from Gay Talese to Ira Glass, Ida B Welles, Upton Sinclair and Patrick Radden Keefe.

Written and produced by Jarrod Watt

Theme music composed by Allen Youngblood

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Broadcast journalist Laura Westbrook sits down with arts journalist, curator and longtime FCC member John Batten in the room known as the "Bunker" in the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong to unravel the controversy behind the iconic photo known officially as "The Terror of War" and known more widely as "Napalm Girl" from the American war in Vietnam. Together, they examine new findings from the Associated Press and World Press Photo investigations, which found no conclusive evidence confirming or denying Nick Ut’s authorship of the image. The episode explores revelations from the documentary "The Stringer," raising questions about the role of gatekeepers in the editorial chain, the role of freelance photographers and the ethics of photo attribution in journalism.

John Batten looks at the long relationship between the FCC and war photographers coming from Vietnam for R&R breaks in Hong Kong, and the visual legacy hanging on the walls of the Bunker showing a range of photographs considered iconic moments captured during the war in Vietnam.

Discover the ethical and historical implications of the AP’s handling of the photograph, the importance of accurate credit in journalism, and how this controversy shapes the legacy of one of history’s most powerful war images. Laura and John reflect on truth, accuracy, and the future of journalistic integrity.

Written and produced by Jarrod Watt.

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David Webb, a renowned investor and activist, discusses his journey and contributions to Hong Kong's corporate governance and transparency. He talks about his background as a schoolboy investor, how he got to Hong Kong and about how he built his nonprofit platform, webb-site.com, which provides extensive databases and news analysis. Webb emphasized the need for reforms, including abolishing stamp duty, implementing a class action system, and improving corporate governance. He criticizes the government's over-regulation and central planning, advocating for a return to Hong Kong's laissez-faire economy. Webb also discusses the challenges of maintaining his website post-illness and the importance of public data transparency. The discussion is introduced by FCC president Lee Williamson and moderated by veteran journalist Philip Bowring.

Produced by Jarrod Watt

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Kriti Gandhi is one of the Claire Hollingworth Fellows for Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong, in this episode she sits down with Laurel Chor, an acclaimed Hong Kong-born journalist and visual storyteller known for her incisive reporting and striking photography. Laurel opens up about her dynamic career journey-from her early days at TIME OUT Hong Kong and Coconuts where she sharpened her writing and multimedia production skills, to her pivotal role at VICE. In 2018, Laurel made the bold decision to leave her full-time position to pursue freelancing, allowing her to focus on her passion for photography and independent storytelling.

Laurel delivered the closing keynote address at the 2025 journalism conference at the FCC in Hong Kong, as well as appearing on a panel discussing mental health challenges and practical solutions for journalists.

She candidly discusses the challenges of burnout in the fast-paced media world and shares valuable insights on the necessity of rest, setting boundaries, and maintaining mental health. She offers practical advice for young journalists on cultivating a personal brand and harnessing social media to amplify their voices in an increasingly crowded digital landscape, focusing on Instagram. The conversation also delves into the ethical complexities journalists face, especially when reporting from conflict zones like Ukraine. Laurel reflects on the responsibility of truth-telling under pressure and the delicate balance between storytelling and sensitivity.

Find Laurel Chor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurelchor/

Written and produced by Jarrod Watt

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Generative AI is changing our newsrooms, but how do we explain to the audience when it's being used, and how? As deepfakes become ubiquitous, how are newsrooms combating faked photos and video? How do journalists and editors handle photos and video sent in by the public if their phones are now enabled with AI to adjust or remove elements of the original image? Globally, there is a three cornered contest on AI regulation between Beijing, Washington and the EU: what of Hong Kong, where American, European and Chinese news organisations operate? Upon the 2025 FCC Journalism Conference this episode brings you conversations with three journalists at the forefront of the emerging frontiers of generative AI in journalism.

Daniel Funke is the head of digital investigation for the Asia-Pacific region for Agence France Press

Claudia Hinterseer is the lead video producer at the South China Morning Post as well as lecturer in Generative AI in Journalism for the masters of international journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University

Lynn Walsh is an Emmy Award-winning journalist with 15 years experience in investigative, data and TV journalism, former president and former Ethics Chair for the Society of Professional Journalists and currently Assistant Director at Trusting News, working with US-based newsrooms to develop ethical AI policies and strategies.

Produced by Jarrod Watt

Trusting News: trustingnews.org/trustkits/ai/

AFP Chrome plug-in for image verification:

chromewebstore.google.com/detail/fake-…eenfhe?hl=en

AFP watermarking of photos via their Nikon cameras

www.afp.com/en/agency/inside-af…enticity-its-photos

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Grace Shao is a journalist covering the AI industry from Hong Kong, focusing on China's tech companies and the commercialisation of AI. She talks about the "Deep Seek moment" over the Lunar New Year holiday in 2025, how it upended the accepted paradigm of generative AI development, and analyses how the traditional media narrative of a "race" and "conflict" between the US and China limits the understanding of what is happening with AI development. She also reflects on how this narrative impacts personally on a journalist born and raised in a Chinese family in Canada, educated in the US and working from Hong Kong, often travelling to mainland China. She discusses the advantages for Hong Kong-based journalists to bridge the culture and knowledge gaps in newsrooms in London and New York, as well as her journey from traditional media publications to developing her own Substack, and how this business model changes the presumptions of what is to be expected from journalists.

Produced and presented by Jarrod Watt

Find Grace Shao on Substack: https://aiproem.substack.com/

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Lee Williamson discusses the results of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong 2025 Press Freedom survey and the upcoming annual journalism conference with Robin Ewing, broadcaster on RTHK3 and director of the Masters of International Journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University. The annual press freedom survey revealed increased pressure and self-censorship among journalists, with 62% feeling their environment worsened since the last survey. The survey also noted a decline in sources' willingness to speak on record. Despite this, CNN is expanding in Hong Kong, and the FCC has seen an increase in members. Hear more about the guest speakers and panels at the upcoming annual journalism conference, themed "The Way Forward," which will focus on building skills, networking, and addressing issues like AI's impact on journalism.

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FCC Correspondent Governor Jennifer Jett moderates a panel of Hong Kong-based shipping industry veterans to discuss the many challenges facing the global shipping industry, including the latest salvo in Trump's trade war with China, called Section 301, which states any ship built, owned or operated by China will be charged millions of dollars to dock at any US port.

Angad Banga is the Chief Operating Officer of Caravel group, the diversified Hong Kong headquartered conglomerate whose extensive interests include fleet ship management, one of the world's largest ship management companies, with over 650 ships under management. In addition the group trades and transports over 70 million tons of iron ore each year, and other investments under caravel management include retail, beauty products, breweries, healthcare and technology.

Olivia Lennox King is the Chief Operating Officer of Cetus Maritime and owner and operator of a fleet of over 40 bulk carriers, trading globally with a wide range of commodities and operating from nine offices around the world.

Tim Huxley, is the founder and chairman of Mandarin shipping limited, a Hong Kong-based shipping company which has been operating in the container feeder market.

In addition, Tim is a director of a number of shipping companies in Asia and Europe involved in the bulk carrier, oil tanker and marine insurance sectors, and he is also the FCC second vice president and long time treasurer.

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Veteran broadcast journalist and FCC correspondent member governor Karen Koh convenes a panel discussion and an in-depth, personal and revealing QandA with the audience after a screening of "The M Factor: shredding the silence on menopause" documentary.

The panel includes: Christine Deschemin, a hypnotherapist and founder of the Menopause Festival; Maria Chau, COO of the Women's Foundation, and Brian Henderson, founder of Whole Business Wellness. They explore the physical, emotional, and mental health challenges of menopause and the need for cultural and workplace support. Menopause affects all women, and especially within a city like Hong Kong it is crucial to discuss how different cultures and workplaces can provide better support.

* Evercalm menopause app: https://www.evercalmmenopause.com/

* The Women's Foundation, Hong Kong: https://twfhk.org/

* Whole Business Wellness: https://www.wholebusinesswellness.com/

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Hong Kong categorises people who are not Chinese or caucasian as "ethnic minorities" and its media often portrays these people as an underclass of criminals, incapable of making contribution to mainstream society. In this panel discussion, journalist and FCC Clare Hollingworth fellow Jay Ganglani moderates a panel of two prominent trailblazers of African and South Asian heritage, along with a journalist who has covered many issues affecting ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.

You'll hear from Jeffery Andrews, Hong Kong's first ever ethnic minority social worker, a tireless contributor to a charity serving marginalised and disadvantaged communities and advisor at Diversity Hub, along with Innocent Mutanga, a former asylum seeker from Zimbabwe, now an investment banker and founder of the Africa Centre for Hong Kong, and South China Morning Post journalist Kathryn Giordano, who has filed many stories on Hong Kong's diverse ethnic minority community.

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Journalist and broadcaster Laura Westbrook sits down with two members of the FCC for two very different perspectives on 2024 and the year that was. Harry Harrison might just be the last surviving daily editorial cartoonist in Hong Kong, and speaks about his favourite news moments of the year, the prospect of drawing Donald Trump for four more years, and the real-life backgrounds and stories of some of his regular characters. Hear also his choice of which of those characters he'd love to see turned into a giant inflatable for a special "mega event" in Hong Kong.

FCC president Lee Williamson talks about 2024 and the FCC's return to its role in showing support for the community of journalists in Hong Kong: from the return of the annual journalism conference and its motto of "let's get to work" to the number of public statements issued by the FCC on behalf of the safety and welfare of journalists and the importance of press freedom. You'll also hear his personal highlights of the guest speakers who came to visit, from economists and political thinkers to Pulitzer Prize winning musician Wynton Marsalis and executive editor the New York Times, Joe Kahn.

Written and produced by Jarrod Watt.

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Hear veteran broadcast journalist Karen Koh in discussion with Chinese foreign correspondent Dr Rose Luqiu and Hong Kong-born international broadcast journalist Laura Westbrook on the upcoming US election, from an Asian perspective: what is being discussed on Chinese social media and in state media, how "third culture" people view the attacks on Kamala Harris' mixed race heritage, how sexism and "strongman" culture dominate Chinese media narrative how US foreign policy is viewed very differently from this side of the world.

Episode written and produced by Jarrod Watt

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Grammy and Pulitzer-prize winning trumpeter, composer and band leader Wynton Marsalis has this month toured with his Lincoln Jazz Centre Orchestra through Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong dropped by for a QandA at the FCC with Robin Ewing, director of the Journalism Masters program at Hong Kong Baptist University and presenter of the RTHK3 'Feelin Kinda Sunday' program. It was incidentally the 63rd birthday for Mr Marsalis, and he reflects on his childhood, what he's learned teaching new generations of musicians as well as new compositions of music influenced by a tradition of American jazz in China begun almost 100 years ago. You’ll also hear the audience Q & A session in which Mr Marsalis fields questions about the role of AI in music, gender bias in jazz, comparisons between jazz and journalism, the traditions of democracy and jazz, as well as his deeply felt intellectual response to hip-hop music.

Photo credit: Ben Marans @benmaransphotography

https://www.benmaransphotography.com/

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