Ordinary Gweilo

Is it possible that the Hong Kong Standard might not exactly be impartial when it reports on changes at its great rival the South China Morning Post?

A paper that’s well red

Hong Kong Standard | Thursday, February 02, 2012

What’s black and white and red all over?

That old chestnut of a joke is doing the rounds again following the appointment of Wang Xiangwei as editor-in- chief of the South China Morning Post.

His elevation to the top spot comes hot on the heels of a visit to Beijing recently by SCMP CEO Kuok Hui-kwong – daughter of chairman Robert Kuok and known affectionately in the newsroom as "Baby" Kuok.

Baby, wearing black leather thigh- high boots, was allowed a rare one-on- one chat with Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Wang Guangya. (Though they share the same name, he is not related to the SCMP’s new editorial supremo.)Baby’s lips remained tight after the meeting, but the rumor mill has it Wang was happy to discuss Wang, if you get our drift. The SCMP’s Wang, coincidentally, is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Jilin province.

Also moving up – to deputy editor – is Beijing darling Tammy Tam Wai-yee, formerly ATV’s senior vice president. Tam spent a few months on the Post’s China desk after quitting ATV over the Jiang Zemin debacle.

Wang is the 10th editor over the past 11 years to sit in the SCMP’s fast- revolving hot seat. But, as the venerable organ becomes more firmly attached to Beijing, perhaps he’ll last longer than his here today, gone tomorrow predecessors.

Incidentally, SCMP’s (0583) share price fell to just HK$1.36 on news of Wang’s appointment. That’s a fall of 5.56 percent from January when there was talk of a possible Singaporean buyout of the SCMP Group. Seems there could be a lot more red ink to come in more ways than one.

Or here’s another point of view:

Mainlander named as South China Morning Post Editor

Asia Sentinel | Wednesday, 01 February 2012

Who knows what’s going on in there?

But not necessarily Beijing’s man

The appointment of Wang Xiangwei as editor in chief of the South China Morning Post, announced Tuesday, has reignited concerns that the paper, arguably the most influential English-language daily in East Asia, is being drawn closer into the mainland Chinese embrace.

Wang, who moved to the paper as a China business reporter in 1996, becoming deputy editor in 2007, is a member of the People’s Political Consultative Conference of Jilin Province. He spent three years at the state-owned China Daily before moving to the United Kingdom, where he worked at the BBC and other news organizations. He returned to Hong Kong to work for the now-defunct Eastern Express.

The appointment caps a months-long search for outside talent through at least last November. One journalist who left the paper some time ago after arguments over coverage of China said the decision to name Wang and his deputy, Tammy Tam, “completes the Sinicization of the South China Morning Post.” However, those who have worked closely with Wang say he is likeable and is no stooge for Beijing despite the fact that he is the first editor-in-chief to have been born in Mainland China.

“He is his own man,” one observer said. “His commentaries on China are objective, critical and come from authoritative knowledge. He is respected by his peers and the Beijing brass. He is more of a scholar and intellectual than a manager. His role as editor in chief is probably more focused on leadership on China affairs than in running the newsroom.”