The
International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) is concerned about editorial integrity and managerial
interference at Caijing business magazine
in China
after its editor-in-chief resigned on November 9.
Hu
Shuli, 56, resigned after 70 employees from the magazine’s marketing department,
including nine executives and general manager Wu Chuanhui, quit last month.
According
to local news reports, the magazine’s managing editor, Wang Shuo, and 30
writers and editors also tendered
resignations. More resignations of editorial staff are expected.
Chinese
authorities reportedly reprimanded the magazine for at least eight articles
this year and directed it to “return to positive reporting on finance and
economics,” according to a report in the International Herald Tribune.
The
IFJ has learnt that members of Caijing’smanagement board tried to influence the
editorial team, after the board was pressured by the magazine’s parent company,
the Stock Exchange Executive Council and other government-controlled groups.
Pressure
on Caijing reportedly intensified
after Hu sent three journalists to cover ethnic-based riots in Urumqi,
the capital of China’s
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in early July, despite Central Propaganda
Department orders banning journalists in the area.
Articles
published by Caijing about a new wave
of violence and riots in Xinjiang in September reportedly used only government-provided
information.
“An
independent editorial department is essential to ensure the integrity and
professionalism of any media outlet,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.
“The
stand taken by journalists and members of the editorial staff at Cajing indicate the courage and
commitment of many mainland journalists to resist and denounce editorial
interference as they seek to defend press freedom despite working in a heavily
censored and controlled media environment.”
The
IFJ stands in solidarity with Hu Shuli and all journalists and staff at Caijing in taking a stand to defend the
magazine’s professional integrity.
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents over 600,000 journalists in
120 countries worldwide