Macau Media Outlet Shuts Down Amid Official Pressure

MACAU, China — All About Macau, an independent media outlet, announced on Thursday that it will cease operations after government authorities denied its reporters entry to official events and deregistered the company. The decision to shut down comes as the publication faces increasing pressure and risk, making continued operation untenable.

The outlet revealed that it would stop its monthly publication after the October issue and discontinue updates to its website and social media accounts from December 20 onward. A statement titled “Take Care, Goodbye” was issued in Chinese, explaining the circumstances surrounding their closure.

“Since last October, some official events have prevented our reporters from entering. In April, we were denied entry to the Legislative Assembly, and now three of our reporters are facing possible criminal prosecution due to this incident,” the statement said.

The Macau Government Information Bureau confirmed the cancellation of All About Macau’s periodicals registration, stating that under the Press Law, the media organization no longer has a legal basis for conducting related activities. As of 2024, 111 publications remain registered with the Bureau.

Officials did not disclose specific reasons for the deregistration. However, the outlet noted its reliance on advertising income, reader subscriptions, and donations to sustain its operations. With resources dwindling and external pressures mounting, the team expressed doubts about their ability to maintain quality reporting moving forward.

In a troubling incident earlier this year, two reporters from All About Macau were detained for 11 hours after being barred from the Legislative Assembly. Ian Sio Tou, president of the Macau Journalists Association, was among those taken for questioning.

The Macau government-controlled broadcaster TDM reported that authorities claimed the reporters were suspected of “disrupting the operations” of the Macau Special Administrative Region. The Macau Journalists Association expressed regret over the incident, while the Society of European Journalists condemned it as an attack on press freedom.

All About Macau was established in 2010 and expanded to a monthly print publication in 2013, gaining recognition for its coverage of significant local events, including the 2014 protests against government perks for officials.

As concerns over press freedom grow in the region, the government’s tightening grip intensified after the expansion of national security laws in May 2023, aimed at preventing foreign interference.

In the months leading up to the outlet’s closure, city officials disqualified several candidates from legislative elections, alleging they did not pledge allegiance to Macau’s constitution, further raising alarms about media and political freedoms in the territory.