The Worst is “Nothing Happened”

Hong Kong journalists and citizens are busy for the past years on reporting and debating political and social issues. There are many protests against the government. As journalists ourselves, we worry if the core values of the society and the best moments are fading away.

There are comments saying the instability is partly due to “negative” news coverage, blaming journalists for not saying something good for the government. In fact, we can’t take for granted that “to speak out when needed” is always true.

The index figure of measuring local press freedom is declining. Some publications are alleged to be controlled by businessmen or bigwigs. People start questioning about their impartiality. There are worries about self-censorship. Initially there were text reports being affected. Now comes news images.

Some photographers from the frontline said their companies have reminded them “to handle carefully” images of tycoons and government officials, especially court case related coverage, in which it’s better to show just the official rather than tycoons. Such orders from the management may have implications on serving advertising clients and sacrifice independent news judgment. At worst, readers think they are well informed from news publications but indeed not.

It may not be a big deal without a picture of a tycoon. However, it’s hard to tell if one day voices are not heard from those in needed. There may be no image from June 4th candlelight vigil, or no image from July 1st mass protest. For those who only report “positively”, false images may overtake reality.

This exhibition displays awarded images taken last year, which considered truly reflecting the reality. One should rejoice that such images can still be openly shown.

We take this opportunity to thank for the photographers who work hard and without fear. In addition, an immense applause to Nikon, our major sponsor, who has been with us from the very beginning. We also thank Times Square for sponsoring us the venue, which is the best location to display these witnesses of history.

This exhibition reflects what has been going on in our city. The content has no gimmick and to some extent may be considered as too serious for casual viewers. We treasure the opportunity to be exhibited here. We hope not, but it could be the last of its kind. The support from sponsors and the public offer us the power to go on.

Tyrone Siu

Chairman of Hong Kong Press Photographers Association.

 

最可怕是「什麼也沒有發生」

作為關心社會的香港市民和記者，這幾年簡直是「疲於奔命」。每天報上也見到爭拗不斷的社會議題，政府政策不得民心，群眾活動此起彼落。我們不禁對一直堅信和守護的價值感到擔憂，過往的美好歲月是否已經煙消雲散。

今天市民對政府的反對聲音響徹雲霄，有人歸究這是記者「報憂不報喜」的錯，質疑傳媒「有破壞無建設」，不協助政府疏導民意。然而，今天社會隨時可以「不平則鳴」、可以批評政府施政，並非必然。

香港新聞自由指數連年下跌，傳媒日漸被商人和權貴「統戰」，不少傳媒的編採方針都受市民質疑，自我審查的質疑不絕於耳。過往新聞審查多發生在文字稿件，最直接的干預，是在某些敏感新聞以特別方式處理。但今年年初，這種審查和干預卻悄然來到新聞攝影之上。

有前線新聞攝影記者表示，公司指名要「小心處理」涉及某幾位巨富和政治人物的新聞照片，除了減少報導涉及某富商和前高官貪腐醜聞一案，亦開宗名義下令必須有圖片見報時，也只能使用高官的照片，避開某富商的影像。這些指示簡直令人心寒，難免猜測該機構赤裸地為廣告商服務，犧牲新聞中立。

自我審查最可怕的是，當讀者自己看到的已是「真相」，卻不知道一切只是偽像。

看不到涉案富商的照片，可能無關痛癢，但難保有一天，弱勢社群的困境無人知道，六四晚會萬人薪火相傳的影像亦「被消失」，七一遊行的人士聲嘶力竭的素求亦無人再聽見。改為「報喜不報憂」的傳媒，每天亦改為報導虛假的歌舞昇平，掩飾現實的崩壞。

傳媒「有破壞無建設」很可怕嗎？還是幾十萬人的集會被傳媒滅聲、當不公義的事情被消失，才更加令人懼怕？

攝影記者攝會的新聞攝影展覽，是前線攝影記者在過去一年用心為社會留下來的新聞紀錄。透過這些圖片，市民大眾可以看到城市的荒謬，見到對堅持理想的抗爭，感受到對公義的執著，見證到災難對人性的考驗。大家都應該慶幸這些新聞相片沒有被消失。

感謝我們的攝影記者，毋懼壓力，繼續付出血汗，去為大家留下紀錄。也感謝贊助機構Nikon，場地贊助時代廣場，讓這些優秀作品，可以公開在這裡展出。在這個以時代命名的廣場，我們很榮幸為各位留下香港的時代見證。

這展覽也沒有巨型卡通公仔予人拍照、也沒有新奇和有趣的綽頭。這裡有的，是香港一頁頁的歷史，沉重得讓人無法直視，嚴肅得幾乎「趕客」，可是又容易被摧毀，被滅聲，我們很珍惜每年在這裡展覽的機會，每一年的展覽也可能是最後一次。希望社會各界繼續支持攝影記者的工作，你們的支持和鼓勵，是推動我們繼續前進的動力。

最後，我引用香港作家韓麗珠的一句話作結。「長久下來的威嚇，所有本來堅強的背都會微駝，而習慣蜷縮的身子也會愈變愈矮小。每個人都要為了忠誠地成為自己這一件事付出難以估計的代價，而成為自己就是其中一項，無論走到那裡，也試圖把身子垂正站立，而非為了配合牢房而長期扭曲」。