Repressor on Leashes: Hybridized Practice of Pro-Regime Media in Hong Kong

Research on hybrid regime journalism has long revolved around how liberal media resist control. Yet this struggle captures only part of their journalism, as pro-regime media often wield greater influence than liberal ones in hybrid regimes. This paper uses Hong Kong as a case to examine how pro-regime media operate in a hybrid regime. While non-democratic, Hong Kong is freer than the rest of China, and its society and media remain largely influenced by liberal norms. Consequently, pro-regime outlets must fulfill their political mandate within a society that does not necessarily view heavy-handed pro-regime practices favorably. Therefore, how do they strategically calibrate their practices to meet social expectations? Against a relatively liberal backdrop, how do their journalists justify their work? Drawing on news coverage and in-depth interviews with their journalists, we find that pro-regime media have cultivated hybridized practices to preserve credibility, such as regularly criticizing local government officials, refraining from referencing the Communist Party, and avoiding a personality cult. They also strategically invoke ideals of free speech to legitimate their opinionated reportage. Meanwhile, some journalists find that their pro-regime affiliation paradoxically affords them a safer platform for criticism. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.