Public Opinion Project Unveils Latest Polls on Usage and Appraisal of News Media
23 September 2026
The Public Opinion Research Project for Domestic and Overseas Hongkongers conducted an online survey from mid-November 2025 to early May 2026. The survey focused on the use and evaluation of news media. After excluding incomplete questionnaires and automated responses, a total of 507 valid responses were received from respondents.
Although the sample size was substantial, because the survey relied on voluntary online participation, the sample was not generated through random sampling and may therefore be subject to bias. Overall, a significant proportion of respondents resided overseas: 39% in the United Kingdom, 32% in Hong Kong, followed by Canada (13%), Australia (6%), and the United States (4%);The age distribution of respondents was concentrated in the and older age groups: 29% were aged 45–54, 23% were aged 55–64, 20% were aged 35–44, 13% were aged 65 or older, and those aged 18–34 accounted for a combined 15%;Educational attainment was relatively high, with approximately 73% of respondents holding a university degree, master's degree, or higher. Additionally, 9% of respondents had previously worked at media organizations.
Overall, respondents primarily access news and information through online channels; 91% indicated that they usually obtain news from social media, while 60% obtain information from news websites. Regarding overseas Hong Kong media outlets, the most widely accessed were The Pulse HK 追光者 (including The Chaser 追新聞and Photon Media光傳媒) (86%) and Green Bean綠豆 (84%), followed by The Points 棱角 (58%). Regarding evaluations of media credibility and performance, respondents' views on Hong Kong's mainstream media and overseas Hong Kong media differed significantly. Sixty-two percent believed that Hong Kong's mainstream media coverage of Hong Kong news was "unreliable," whereas 80% considered overseas Hong Kong media "reliable"; 96% believed that state-run media in mainland China and Hong Kong had low credibility in reporting Hong Kong news; and 83% indicated that, by comparison, they were more inclined to trust overseas Hong Kong media than mainstream media in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Respondents' assessments of the current state of Hong Kong's news media were generally negative. Taking several types of Hong Kong news media into account, 79% expressed dissatisfaction with their overall performance; 96% were dissatisfied with the current level of press freedom in Hong Kong; 75% believed that Hong Kong's news media lacked accountability in their reporting; 96% believed that Hong Kong's news media engaged in self-censorship; and 93% believed that Hong Kong's news media did not fully exercise freedom of speech. In contrast, respondents' evaluations of overseas Hong Kong media were significantly more positive: 80% were satisfied with their performance as news outlets; 79% were satisfied with the current level of press freedom overseas; and 79% believed that overseas Hong Kong media fully exercise freedom of speech. However, respondents were more reserved in their views on whether overseas Hong Kong media are accountable and whether they engage in self-censorship: 47% believed their reporting is accountable, while 42% said it was "half and half"; 43% believed overseas Hong Kong media do not engage in self-censorship, but 38% responded "don't know/hard to say."
Regarding the role of overseas Hong Kong media, the majority of respondents held a positive view. 82% agreed that overseas Hong Kong media help the international community understand the situation in Hong Kong; 74% believed their reporting supplements information not available in Hong Kong; and 92% agreed that Hong Kong people should support or fund credible overseas Hong Kong media. In terms of actual engagement, 79% said they subscribe to overseas Hong Kong media, 51% have made payments to support such media, and 31% are monthly donors to overseas Hong Kong media. As for whether the number of overseas Hong Kong media outlets has reached saturation, respondents' opinions were more divided: 27% agreed, 35% disagreed, and 38% were neutral.
Cross-tabulation analysis revealed that, regardless of factors such as age, educational attainment, place of residence, time spent consuming news, or whether respondents subscribed to or financially supported overseas Hong Kong media, their views on several core issues were remarkably consistent. This was particularly true regarding negative assessments of press freedom in Hong Kong, the credibility of Hong Kong's mainstream media, and the credibility of official media in mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as positive evaluations of the overall performance and role of overseas Hong Kong media. More pronounced differences were observed primarily among respondents who had subscribed to, financially supported, or made monthly donations to overseas Hong Kong media; those who had done so generally tended to view the credibility, performance, and level of press freedom of overseas Hong Kong media more favorably, and were also more supportive of Hong Kong residents funding credible overseas Hong Kong media.