• About Us
  • Who Are We
  • Work With Us
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
39 °f
New York
44 ° Fri
46 ° Sat
40 ° Sun
41 ° Mon
No Result
View All Result
The Globe Post
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Protests in Hong Kong: Media’s Portrayal Versus Firsthand Experience

Alexandra Sofine by Alexandra Sofine
12/04/19
in Opinion
Police fires tear gas at protestors in Hong Kong.

Police fires tear gas at protestors in Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Thinking of Hong Kong, I imagined a city ignited in flames and tear gas. With media reporting news of violent confrontation and flaring tension, visiting the region seemed daunting and unsafe. Little did I know, the place portrayed as “violent and chaotic” would surprise me in the best way possible.

The infamous protests began in June in light of the extradition bill controversy. Sparked by activist gatherings, the anti-government demonstrations were aimed at withdrawing the newly introduced bill. With rising tension and mass dissatisfaction, the protests transformed into clashes between the activists and the police.

Gaining recognition and mass media attention, both local and foreign, the demonstrations grew in scale and ferocity. While the bill withdrawal was adopted in response to the rising tension, activists adopted additional demands such as protester amnesty.

Media’s Portrayal of Hong Kong

Commencing as a local scale protest, the Hong Kong movement swept countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Gaining global support, the rallies also gained major media attention.

Reading about the rising violence not only made me cancel my impending trip to Hong Kong but made me terrified for my friends living in the impacted area. With social unrest showing no signs of dying down according to the numerous news outlets, Hong Kong seemed completely out of reach.

Mid-November, soon after the reported attacks on Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, my trip was bound to take place. With a heavy heart, I boarded the plane, not knowing what to expect. Driving through Hong Kong in a local taxi, I blankly stared out the window, keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of violence.

To my surprise, the only violence I spotted was the occasional pedestrian shoving when crossing the street. The busy city center had strange tranquility to it, as if a calm after the storm, with sporadic screaming from the nearby street market. I turned to my cab driver politely asking him if the city was safe, to which he quietly murmured Shì de, which translates to “yes, that’s right.”

Can You Trust Media?

As I met my local friend, I was overcome with questions. Reading the news made me associate Hong Kong with terror and violence, while in reality, the city was lively and vibrant. I asked her how it was, living in the city amongst the protests. With a gloomy face, she answered, “terrible, terrible, don’t ask! They canceled [music festival] Clockenflap and the holidays. Besides that, it’s been fine.” Cancellation of a music festival and festivities is in fact terrible; however, such does not compare to the violence painted in the media.

While I grew extremely content that the region was safer than portrayed, I began questioning the legitimacy of international reporting. Is it safe to trust the media?

These photos from the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong are incredible.

The protesters gathered on Thanksgiving to show their gratitude to Congress and @realdonaldtrump for passing legislation that supports their efforts. #Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/BVHSsyKwX5

— Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) November 28, 2019

I was startled by the mismatch – the media portrayal of Hong Kong did not add up with the local life I was observing. As a political science major from Columbia University, I immediately thought of media bias.

Social media platforms and international media outlets provided opposing views about the intensity of the protests, confusing millions in the process. Interestingly, Hong Kong, Chinese, and American media show clashing perspectives of the demonstrations, blurring the lines between make belief and reality. Not only did media add flame to the controversial topic, social media platforms such as Sina Weibo, with a 340 million active subscription base, but also gave rise to misperception and variance of public opinion.

Strolling through Shing Wong Street with my camera, I was incorporated into local, everyday life. People smiling, yelling, selling, yet nothing screamed violence. Reading about the riots on paper formed my opinion about Hong Kong, however living the experience spoke louder than a thousand words, changing it completely.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Globe Post.
ShareTweet
Alexandra Sofine

Alexandra Sofine

Student at Columbia University in the City of New York, studying Political Science and Biology

Related Posts

Lai Ching-te attends an inaugural ceremony as president of Taiwan
Featured

China’s ‘Growing Authoritarianism’ Won’t Stop With Taiwan: Lai

by Staff Writer with AFP
August 29, 2024
A protester reacts from tear gas fired by police during a 2019 pro-democracy march in Hong Kong
Democracy at Risk

Rare Hong Kong Protest Sounds Alarm on New Security Law

by Staff Writer with AFP
February 27, 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping listens to a speech
World

Pacific Nation Nauru Cuts Ties to Taiwan, Switches to China

by Staff Writer with AFP
January 16, 2024
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen
Democracy at Risk

Possible Scenarios for a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

by Staff Writer
January 9, 2024
Doctors attended to quake survivors with mild injuries at the Jishishan County People's Hospital
World

China Quake Survivors Recover in Hospitals as Toll Rises to 135

by Staff Writer with AFP
December 21, 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping
World

China Announces ‘Strategic Partnership’ With Syria

by Staff Writer
September 22, 2023
Next Post
Anti-immigration protesters in Slovakia

What is Causing the Rise of Today's Global Far Right?

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Top Democrat Tells House to Draft Trump Impeachment Articles

Recommended

Tens of thousands of protestors shut down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, April 5, 2025, protesting the Trump administration's abuse of the separation of federal powers as well as the deep cuts to governmental services overseen by presidential advisor Elon Musk.

Civil Society Is Holding the Line. Will Washington Notice?

June 17, 2025
An Iranian walking in front of a wall painting of the Iranian flag in Tehran

How Much Damage Has Israel Inflicted on Iran’s Nuclear Program?

June 16, 2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on November 19, 2017

Israel MPs to Vote on Opposition Bid to Dissolve Parliament

June 11, 2025
Two protesters wave Mexican flags while standing on a vandalized Waymo vehicle during a demonstration in Los Angeles, California, on June 8, 2025, following a series of aggressive federal immigration operations in the city.

Unrest in Los Angeles Over Immigration Raids as Troops Sent by Trump Fan Out

June 9, 2025
US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on August 4, 2020. Photo: Drew Angerer/AFP.

US Steel, Aluminum Tariff Hikes to Take Effect Wednesday: W. House

June 4, 2025
textile workers in Kenya

Workers’ Rights in ‘Free Fall’ Globally: Report

June 2, 2025

Opinion

Tens of thousands of protestors shut down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, April 5, 2025, protesting the Trump administration's abuse of the separation of federal powers as well as the deep cuts to governmental services overseen by presidential advisor Elon Musk.

Civil Society Is Holding the Line. Will Washington Notice?

June 17, 2025
A Black Lives Matter mural in New York City.

Fuhgeddaboudit! America’s Erasure of History

April 2, 2025
Bust of Deputy Rubens Paiva in the Chamber of Deputies

Democratic Brazilians Are Still Here

March 18, 2025
A woman from Guatemala

Dispatch From Central America

January 28, 2025
US President Donald Trump

Dear Trump Supporters: Is This the America You Wanted?

January 28, 2025
Putin talks to Trump in Hamburg

From Roosevelt to Trump: The Complicated Legacy of Personal Diplomacy

November 15, 2024
Facebook Twitter

Newsletter

Do you like our reporting?
SUBSCRIBE

About Us

The Globe Post

The Globe Post is part of Globe Post Media, a U.S. digital news organization that is publishing the world's best targeted news sites.

submit oped

© 2018 The Globe Post

No Result
View All Result
  • National
  • World
  • Business
  • Interviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Democracy at Risk
    • Media Freedom
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Columns
    • Book Reviews
    • Stage
  • Submit Op-ed

© 2018 The Globe Post