Apple Daily

Infobox Newspaper
name = Apple Daily
type = Daily newspaper
format = Broadsheet
foundation = 1995
owners = Next Media
headquarters = 8 Chun Ying Street
T.K.O Industrial Estate West, Tseung Kwan O
Hong Kong
website = [http://www.atnext.com/ http://www.atnext.com/]

"This article is about the Hong Kong version of the newspaper. For the Taiwan version of the newspaper, see Apple Daily (Taiwan)"

"Apple Daily" (zh-tsp|t=蘋果日報|s=苹果日报|p=Píngguǒ Rìbaò) is a Hong-Kong-based newspaper that was founded by Jimmy Lai Chee Ying in 1995 and is published by its company, Next Media. A sister publication carrying the same name is published in Taiwan under a joint venture in Taiwan between Next Media and other companies. The publications take an unrelenting stance of economic and political freedom, as a consequence the publications are banned in China and websites blocked by the great firewall of China.

"Apple Daily"'s main sections include "Local News", "Foreign News", "Finance", "Entertainment", "Sports" and "Others"—including technology, travel, eating, cooking, fashion and more provocative material generating much of its popularity and controversy. Apple Daily's popularity as Hong Kong's second best selling newspaper, according to AC Nielsen, is derived from its concentration on celebrity coverage, brash news style, sensationalist news reportage and its anti-government political positions.

Its founder brainstormed the name of this newspaper, stating that "if Adam and Eve didn't eat the apple, there would be no evil or wrongdoings in this world, which made news a non-existing term". [cite web |title=黎智英品味 挑戰台灣 |url=http://udn.com/SPECIAL_ISSUE/DAILY/9002/21a/public7.htm |date=2000-02-21 |language=Traditional Chinese |accessdate=2007-12-20]

History

Apple Daily was founded by Jimmy Lai Chee Ying on June 20, 1995. Unlike newspapers at that time, it used colour printing on all pages of the newspaper and didn't allow advertisements covering the complete frontpage. Since then, it attracted a large amount of readership. Other newspapers followed its suit and a few were forced to close due to intense competition by Apple Daily.

The newspaper uncovered many political scandals, including a former LegCo member for not reporting conflict of interest in 2000, former Financial Secretary Antony Leung for tax evasion on a Lexus LS 430 which saved him HK$50,000 (USD $6,400), and many others, leading to the convictions or forced resignations of those individuals.

Just prior to July 1, 2003, the newspaper encouraged people to go on the street and protest against the government. On that day of protest, it prepared banners and newspaper front pages for the public to carry and protest. The 2003 protest drew 500,000 citizens (the third largest protest ever seen in Hong Kong) to the Hong Kong July 1 marches. Since then, it was viewed as the newspaper that helped carried the message of protest against the government.

Others

David Tang, "bon vivant" and founder of Shanghai Tang writes a weekly column for Apple Daily in English, a selection which were published in book as An Apple a Week.

In September, 2003, veteran columnist To Kit (陶傑) joined the newspaper, and publishes his daily column "The Golden Adventure" (黃金冒險號) and a weekly editorial called "Sunday Rest" (星期日休息) at the newspaper.

Popular food critic, travel writer and former movie producer Chua Lam writes a regular column for the newspaper.

Popular writer/doctor Au Lok Man also writes articles for the newspaper's leisure section on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

See also

* Media in Hong Kong
* Newspapers of Hong Kong

References