Speaking to Sources (or People Outside One's Country) is Not Crime and Not Seditious
This morning we said "Jennifer Robinson Turns to Free Press in Hong Kong" because of some articles about Robinson and others in the National Press Club Address.
Few people (in the West) know what the Daily Apple is or who Lai is, let alone what he is being accused of doing. In short, he had the 'audacity' to express particular views on the new regime and at the same time he had the 'audacity' to speak to people outside his country.
Does that make him a 'foreign agent'? A 'spy'? Does speaking to people make him a 'criminal'? How about Julian Assange speaking to Manning in pursuit of much-needed information?
There are some similarities here and some serious ramifications for publishers, not just near China.
Robinson has been dealing with case of this nature for a couple of decades.
The AAP Newswire (AP in Australia) says: "In the name of free speech, Julian Assange is a convicted criminal and Jimmy Lai awaits trial for sedition in a Hong Kong prison, but despite their struggles both men want the world to heed a call to arms."
Don't let journalism become associated with crime. Let's ensure truth always wins. █