Hong Kong newspaper
The South China Morning Post (SCMP), with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper owned by Alibaba Group. Founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai and Alfred Cunningham, it has remained Hong Kong's newspaper of record since British colonial rule. Editor-in-chief Tammy Tam succeeded Wang Xiangwei in 2016. The "SCMP" prints paper editions in Hong Kong and operates an online news website that is blocked in mainland China.
The newspaper's circulation has been relatively stable for years—the average daily circulation stood at 100,000 in 2016. In a 2019 survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the "SCMP" was regarded relatively as the most credible paid newspaper in Hong Kong.
The "SCMP" was owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation from 1986 until it was acquired by Malaysian real estate tycoon Robert Kuok in 1993. On 5 April 2016, Alibaba Group acquired the media properties of the SCMP Group, including the "SCMP". In January 2017, former Digg CEO Gary Liu became the "SCMP"'s chief executive officer.
Since the change of ownership in 2016, concerns have been raised about the paper's editorial independence and self-censorship. Critics including "The New York Times", , and "The Atlantic" have alleged that the paper is on a mission to promote China's soft power abroad.
History.
Origins.
Anti-Qing revolutionary Tse Tsan-tai and British journalist Alfred Cunningham (克寧漢) founded the "South China Morning Post" in 1903, publishing its first issue on 6 November 1903. 
The purpose of founding the "SCMP" is disputed, although it has been attributed to supporting the reform movement in the late-Qing Empire.
Early editorials were mainly written by British journalists, such as Cunningham, Douglas Story and Thomas Petrie, while Tse attracted business to the newspaper. The editors maintained a good relationship with the Hong Kong government. In 1904, the newspaper's circulation was 300 copies.
The newspaper faced competition from three English-language newspapers: the "Hong Kong Daily Press", "China Mail", and "Hong Kong Telegraph".
Post-war era.
After the Second World War, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) bought majority shares in the newspaper. It was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 1971, but was privatised again in 1987 after being bought by the News Corporation in 1986 for HK$2.2 billion (US$284.4 million). "SCMP" relisted in 1990.
Reading the "SCMP" has been described as a status symbol in the 20th century, when the newspaper represented the interests of Hong Kong elites and the British government. Editors of the "SCMP" attended regular meetings at the Government House for disclosures that aimed to influence public opinion and received business briefings from the HSBC.323
For most of the 1990s, the "SCMP" was the world's most profitable newspaper. By 1993, the "SCMP"'s daily circulation exceeded 100,000 and posted profits of HK$586 million (US$75.6 million) from mid-1992 to mid-1993.
In September 1993, Murdoch was in negotiations to sell his 50 percent interest in the "SCMP" as part of a scheme to increase the News Corporation's investments in the Asian electronic media industry. News Corporation then announced that it would sell 34.9 per cent stake – a controlling interest – for US$375 million to Kerry Media owned by Malaysian businessman Robert Kuok.
Kuok's son, Kuok Khoon Ean, took over as chairman at the end of 1997. Kuok Khoon Ean's sister, Kuok Hui Kwong, was named chief executive officer on 1 January 2009. Kuok launched a general offer for the remaining shares in September 2007, and increased his stake to 74 per cent at US$209 million. It was delisted in 2013 when the shares' free float fell below the required 25 per cent.
Jonathan Fenby served as editor until 1999, when he was replaced by Robert Keatley from "The Wall Street Journal", who became interim editor. Mark Ländler of "The New York Times" wrote that under Fenby, the "SCMP" was "sharply critical of the Hong Kong government" and that this may have been a factor behind Fenby being replaced. The "SCMP" has had 10 editors from 2000 to 2011. Mark Clifford, editor-in-chief of "The Standard" from 2004 to 2006, was hired as editor-in-chief in February 2006. Clifford brought with him several staffers from "The Standard", including business section editor Stuart Jackson, who departed after seven turbulent months. He presided over the controversial dismissal of several journalists over an internal prank, and himself resigned with effect 1 April 2007. Following Gina Chua's short-lived tenure at the Post, from 2009 to April 2011, and deputy editor, Cliff Buddle served as acting editor-in-chief for 10 months.
Wang Xiangwei, a member of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, succeeded him in 2012. Tammy Tam, senior editor of the China section, was promoted to deputy editor under Wang. In May 2015, the "SCMP" told columnists Philip Bowring, Steve Vines, Kevin Rafferty and Frank Ching – all of whom have criticised the government in commentaries to varying degrees on different subjects over the years – that their services would no longer be needed. The manner of their dismissal generated criticism, as well as speculation as to who had instigated the removals.
In January 2016, Tam was promoted to the paper's editor-in-chief.
Alibaba ownership.
During Alibaba's failed attempt at securing an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the "SCMP" published articles questioning the business practices of the platform, including incidents involving counterfeit goods.
On 11 December 2015, Alibaba Group announced that it would acquire the media assets of SCMP Group, including "SCMP", for HK$2 billion (US$266 million).
Alibaba's ownership of "SCMP" led to concerns that the newspaper would become a mouthpiece of the Central People's Government. Among the possible motives of the Alibaba acquisition was to make media coverage of China "fair and accurate" and not in the optic of Western news outlets. Alibaba said that the newspaper's editorial independence would be upheld.
Joseph Tsai, executive vice-chairman of Alibaba Group, said that the fear that Alibaba's ownership would compromise editorial independence "reflects a bias of its own, as if to say newspaper owners must espouse certain views, while those that hold opposing views are 'unfit'. In fact, that is exactly why we think the world needs a plurality of views when it comes to China coverage. China's rise as an economic power and its importance to world stability is too important for there to be a singular thesis." He also said, "Today when I see mainstream western news organisations cover China, they cover it through a very particular lens. It is through the lens that China is a communist state and everything kind of follows from that. A lot of journalists working with these western media organisations may not agree with the system of governance in China and that taints their view of coverage."
The acquisition by Alibaba was completed on 5 April 2016. The "SCMP" took down the paywall to its website.
According to a 2016 public survey conducted by the Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the "SCMP" received a credibility rating of 6.54, the highest credibility score among the various paid newspapers in Hong Kong.
In 2016, following the Alibaba acquisition, the "SCMP" removed its paywall, but in July 2020, SCMP announced that it would return to a subscription model in August 2020.
In March 2021, it was reported that the Chinese government is pressuring Alibaba to sell SCMP, due to concerns over the company's influence over public opinion in Hong Kong. Critics say this is designed to move the paper under the ownership of Chinese state-owned firm or an associated billionaire, placing it under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In a leaked internal November 2021 memo, SCMP CEO Gary Liu denied any sale was in the works.
Closure of subsidiary publications.
Since the Alibaba acquisition, the "SCMP" has discontinued several subsidiary publications, including its Chinese-language edition, the "48 HOURS" weekend magazine, and the popular "HK Magazine" alternative weekly. The "48 HOURS" staff continue to write on other "SCMP" platforms. Zach Hines, former editor-in-chief of "HK Magazine" from 2000 to 2015, said that closing the magazine is an effort to shift the focus away from Hong Kong to mainland China and target western readers. Hines wrote in the "Hong Kong Free Press" of its closure:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;The "South China Morning Post" purchased us at the right time, and for sensible reasons. The media landscape was changing dramatically, as it continues to do, and their ownership bought us a few final years of life. But, like "One Country, Two Systems", this odd and uncomfortable marriage was never going to last.
To be a truly independent press, you cannot be beholden to anyone except your readers. But, to my great dismay, this is becoming an increasing impossibility in Hong Kong, in both the mainstream Chinese and much-smaller English media. SCMP is owned by Alibaba, perhaps the biggest pro-China organization in the world, if you don't count the Communist Party. The paper's business interests are also drifting away from Hong Kong, and toward readers in the United States and the rest of the west. HK Magazine is a canary in the coal mine. [...]
As this sad end to HK Magazine shows, it is clear that it is time now for someone else to step up and provide an alternative voice for Hong Kong. If you care about free speech and the liberal values that make Hong Kong what it is, say something about it. Do something about it. Support independent outlets like "Hong Kong Free Press" and FactWire. You have a voice. Use it. Or you will surely lose it.
Initially SCMP stated that the "HK Magazine" website would be deleted from the internet, but the move was criticised. The Hong Kong Journalists Association lodged an inquiry with SCMP management. Hines stated, "It is unthinkable that a newspaper of record would ever consider deleting content from its archive. The SCMP should be held to proper journalistic standards. HK Magazine was an important feature of Hong Kong's media landscape, and it must be preserved. Deleting it would be an utter travesty of journalistic principles – and a slap in the face to SCMP's readers and to Hong Kong society in general." Following the negative reaction, SCMP stated that "HK Magazine" content would be migrated to the "South China Morning Post" website before the "HK Magazine" website was deleted. Additionally, Hong Kong data scientist Mart van de Ven launched a public appeal to help archive back issues of the magazine, expressing doubt that SCMP would preserve the full archive. He found that he was unable to access issue 1,103, which featured Leung Chun-ying on the cover.
Circulation and profitability.
The paper's average audited circulation for the first half of 2007 stood at 106,054; while its Sunday edition, the "Sunday Morning Post", has a readership of 80,865. In 2012, the readership of the "SCMP" and the "Sunday Morning Post" was estimated at 396,000. Its readership outside Hong Kong remains at some 6,825 copies for the same period, again, relatively unchanged. It also had the position as the most profitable newspaper in the world on a per reader basis, profit declined since peaking in 1997 at HK$805 million. Its average audited circulation for the first half of 2015 stood at 101,652 copies, with the print edition representing 75 percent of the number of copies; the Sunday edition registered 80,779 copies on average during the same period.
The Group reported net profit of HK$338 million for the year 2006 ("2005 = HK$246m"), the operating profit of HK$419m ("2005 = HK$306m") was attributable mainly to the newspaper operation.
The selling price of the paper is HK$9 each from Monday to Saturday, and HK$10 for the "Sunday Morning Post". A discounted student subscription is also available. It was increased 14.5% (from HK$7) and 25% (from HK$8) respectively in August 2011.
As of 26  2010,[ [update]] SCMP Group posted a profit of $52.3 million in the first half of 2010.
Format.
The printed version of the "SCMP" is in a broadsheet format, in sections: Main, City, Sport, Business, Classifieds, Property (Wednesday), Racing (Wednesday), Technology (Tuesday), Education (Saturday), Style magazine (first Friday of every month); the Sunday edition contains Main, a Review section, a Post Magazine, Racing, "At Your Service", a services directory, and "Young Post", targeted at younger readers.
On 26 March 2007, the "SCMP" was given a facelift, with new presentation and fonts. Another redesign in 2011 changed the typefaces to Farnham and Amplitude for headlines, Utopia for text, and Freight for