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In meeting the changing demands of authenticity and visibility in social media, performances of identity and connections are discussed to entail new sociotechnical labours and digital literacies. Research has looked into the construction and presentation of celebrity identities, in light of these developments, but has paid little attention on the celebrities’ experiences and perspectives, which is also due to the lack of willingness of industry insiders in this culturally sensitive business to be interviewed and genuinely talk about its problems. Twelve in-depth interviews with celebrities and entertainment industry practitioners were conducted between 2014 and 2015. Particularly, this article draws on the cases of two established celebrities in Hong Kong and China, and assesses how and why they were unable to actively construct and perform their preferred media identities, highlighting the blurring boundaries among traditional celebrities, micro-celebrities and ordinary people for their construction of online identities through social media, and also elucidating the opportunities and challenges posed by today’s evolving media environment. We argue that social media only superficially open up a site of counter-narratives for celebrities to resist the identities imposed on them by the mainstream media and online audiences. The interviewed celebrities’ contradictory experiences in their self-presentations in social media offer alternative angles to understanding the incoherent and unstable celebrity identity production processes, the blurring boundaries between celebrities and ordinary people through such processes as well as the celebrities’ capacity to reclaim control in asserting their ‘true’ selves.

Celebrity diagnoses can strongly impact public awareness and behaviour. This study aims to examine the public's perception of celebrities with serious illness in Hong Kong and the impact of media stories of ill celebrities on health awareness and behaviour. A survey using purposive sampling was conducted in April 2014. Altogether, 297 completed questionnaires were received. The public's perception of celebrity diagnoses was generally favourable. Respondents showed sympathy and support towards celebrities with serious illnesses. They tended to believe stories revealed by the ill celebrities rather than news coverage in media. This is the first study to examine public perception towards celebrity diagnoses and the impact of media stories of ill celebrities on health awareness and behaviour in a Chinese context.

This study examined how female and male patients perceive primary doctors’ communication skills in the Chinese context. To do so, this study specifically investigates female and male patients’ general perceptions toward primary care doctors’ communication skills in medical consultations. Specifically, this study focused on (a) female and male patients’ satisfaction level toward primary care doctors’ communication skills in medical consultations (b) female and male patients’ perception of the types of verbal and nonverbal communication skills applied by primary care doctors in medical consultations (c) as well as which gender of doctors with whom patients prefer to communicate during primary care medical consultations in Hong Kong. A purposive sampling survey of Hong Kong residents aged 18 or older was conducted in April 2014. A total of 450 completed questionnaires were received. All respondents have visited a public hospital for outpatient service in the past 2 years. Results showed that there were no patient gender differences in patients’ perceptions of doctors’ communication skills, both female and male patient respondents showed a preference for same-gender doctors. Interestingly, in contrast with prior research, male patient respondents in this study revealed a stronger preference for doctors of the same gender than female patient respondents did. Other differences, such as cultural norms, values and practices, rather than just gender differences, may account for patients’ perceptions of doctors’ communication skills.

This paper aims to examine consumer perception toward celebrity diagnoses of major depressive disorder (MDD) in Hong Kong and to provide insights into the effect of various factors on the persuasive effectiveness of MDD communication. A total of thirty-five interviews were conducted in April 2015. Interviewees in general are aware of celebrity MDD diagnoses, but they do not deem MDD as a threat to themselves. Hence, they are not motivated to learn more about the symptoms. Responses to celebrity MDD diagnoses are mixed. Many interviewees are sympathetic toward ill celebrities diagnosed with MDD, but some of the interviewees are dubious about the true intention behind disclosing their diagnoses to the public. Compared to non-fans, fans reported a greater increase in the level of knowledge of MDD after reading related media stories about celebrity MDD diagnoses. Source credibility is perceived as an important factor in MDD communication. This research suggests that the government or NGOs may use credible celebrities whose image can be associated with MDD and cooperate with fan clubs to spread health-related information. The paper represents the first attempt to investigate the effects of celebrity disclosure of MDD diagnoses on the mental disorder-related perceptions of the general public in Hong Kong.

A secondary analysis of survey data of Hong Kong school students (N = 2,865) examines social learning about persons with a (physical) disability (PWDs). Path models, connecting recalled information in communication about PWDs of different sources (media, significant others, and contact) and content (assistance, pity, and fear) with perceptions, general attitude, and behavior inclination toward PWDs, showed content as better predictor than either media channels or interpersonal sources. Interpersonal sources were better predictors than media channels were. The effects were also mediated by perception of PWDs' capabilities, perception of PWDs' inner state, and general attitude toward PWDs. The findings are interpreted and discussed.

PurposeThe study aims to investigate consumers' attitudes toward advertising by medical professionals, and how the attitudes vary among different demographic groups.Design/methodology/approachA survey using quota sampling was conducted. Altogether 1,297 adults aged 20 or above in Hong Kong filled in an online questionnaire in March 2012.FindingsConsumers' attitudes toward advertising by medical professionals were in general favorable. Respondents reported that advertising by medical professionals provides consumers with information about the services and qualifications of practitioners. However, consumers were worried about misleading information in these advertisements. Respondents perceived strongly that advertising by medical professionals would lead to an increase in the price of services. Younger respondents and respondents with higher education were more sceptical toward advertising by medical professionals.Practical implicationsMedical professionals should put emphasis on providing consumers with relevant information of their services, expertise, and qualifications to assist consumers' information search. They should refrain from using price appeal.Originality/valueThis is the first study to examine consumers' attitudes toward advertising by medical professionals in a Chinese context.

Even after 40 years of philosophical discussions about whether “customer” terminology is appropriate in the context of education, health care, religion, government, and other social institutions, virtually no research has been conducted to identify actual public attitudes on the subject. Thus, a large-scale, five-country study was conducted to examine the question: Should patients, students, news media readers/viewers/listeners, political constituents, and members of religious organizations be treated as “customers”? In addition to collecting and analyzing quantitative responses, the study explored the reasoning behind respondents' attitudes, provided benchmark data for future research, and highlighted critical implications for both public and private policy.

A content analysis of 311 food commercials broadcast on television networks in Hong Kong was conducted. There were nearly equal proportions of ads for healthy and unhealthy foods. The three most frequently used advertising appeals were taste/flavor/smell/texture, health/wellbeing and physical performance/speed/strength. Altogether 54 percent of the food ads contained health-related claims. Intriguingly, 23 percent of the ads for unhealthy food contained health-related claims. The prevalent use of general health claims in unhealthy food ads calls for policy makers to devise better ways to regulate health claims in food advertisements. This is the first content analysis of health and nutrition information in food advertising arising from a society with a rich herbalist tradition.

A qualitative study was conducted to investigate attitudes toward advertising by lawyer’s in Hong Kong. The study found that interviewees in general appreciated the information values of these advertisements. There were mixed views regarding the impact on the image of the lawyers brought about by advertising by lawyer’s. Some interviewees found the advertisements helpful and hence perceive that the lwayers was now more approachable and transparent. However, some interviewees found advertising by lawyer’s that use price appeal misleading. They perceived the lawyers to have become more commercialized. Interviewees expressed concern that advertising by lawyer’s encourage the seeking of litigation as a preferred way of problem solving. The study informs lawyers regarding message design and media selection in the marketing of their services in a Chinese context.