Media and information praxis of young activists in the Umbrella Movement

Abstract

Young people were key participants in the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong and the media also played an important role in this protest. This study examines how Hong Kong’s young activists developed communication strategies and media practices to mobilize this social movement. A framework termed “media and information praxis of social movements” is proposed for the analysis. The findings showed that in their praxis, the young activists used their media and information literacy skills to initiate, organize, and mobilize collective actions. They not only used social media and mobile networks but also traditional mass media and street booths in a holistic and integrated approach to receive and disseminate information. Hence, these young activists served as agents of mediatization. The results also indicated that the young activists moved away from the traditional movement mode which just tried to motivate a large number of people to protest in the streets. They actively engaged in the new movement mode, which emphasizes the media and information power game. Their praxis in the Umbrella Movement reflects the trend toward the mediatization of social movements in Hong Kong.

Keywords:

• media and information literacy
• media and information praxis of social movements
• mediatization
• Scholarism
• Umbrella Movement
• young activists

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ Moral and National Education refers to the school curriculum previously proposed by the education authority in Hong Kong. The subject was controversial in praising the nationalist ideology of the Chinese Government and was accused of “brain-washing” Hong Kong students. Public demonstrations, joint signatures, and hunger strikes were launched. These collective actions finally forced the Hong Kong SAR Government to leave aside its curriculum guide in October 2012.

² The Anti-Express Rail Link Movement was launched between mid-2009 and early 2010. Some social groups in Hong Kong protested against the proposed costly construction of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

³ Apple Daily is a popular newspaper with a pro-democracy stance, whereas Ming Pao Daily News is a quality newspaper that emphasizes objectivity and neutrality. Both iCable News and Now TV News are paid TV channels. Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) is a government department, but it strives to be a public broadcaster.

⁴ Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law deals with anti-subversion. In September 2002, the Hong Kong SAR Government released a legislative proposal concerning Article 23. The proposal caused a major controversy, and half a million people took to the streets to protest against it. The proposed bill was eventually shelved.