The South China Morning Post is still dedicated to journalism, 120 years later
- Seasons change, but the Post stands firm in our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of journalism
What a journey it has been for the South China Morning Post since it first hit the streets of Hong Kong on November 6, 1903.
On the front page of that maiden issue on Friday was a wall of advertisements for passage on steamers – no aeroplanes back then because the first was about to be flown only in the following month – and businesses hawking furniture, whisky, typewriters and printing presses, all reflecting the international nature of this already thriving city.
Now, 120 years later, advertising has generally moved out of our front pages unless companies have bought a full-page wrapper, a banner or a quarter-sized advertisement at the bottom right corner.
Everything else was and remains dedicated to one goal: reporting on the city’s fortunes, its meteoric highs and its miserable lows, all the while keeping a close eye on changes in the wider world.
When it launched, the Post joined several other English-language newspapers in competing to be the first one out with the news every day. Now it can safely say it is one of the most influential newspapers, not just in Hong Kong and the rest of Asia, but also with a substantial global audience that is the envy of our direct competitors.
We have come a long way, thanks to you, dear reader. We owe our success to you as much to the perseverance and dedication of our team of reporters, photographers, subeditors, editors and many other related professionals who work tirelessly, 24/7, to bring you the latest news that matter. Our stories are about triumphs as much as about tragedies, always reflecting the complexities of the world we live in.
