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Top business media pair held by police
Print Edition
POLICE have detained the editor-in-chief and general manager of an influential business publication group, weeks after editors and reporters on its website were held on allegations of extortion, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
Shen Hao, 21st Century Media’s editor-in-chief and its General Manager Chen Dongyang were taken away yesterday afternoon, Xinhua said.
21st Century Media is affiliated to the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily Media Group, which sacked the duo shortly afterward.
Deputy Editor-in-Chief Wang Yijun and Guo Yile, director of Nanfang Daily’s business department, were appointed in their place.
21st Century Media’s flagship products include the 21st Century Business Herald newspaper, its website (21cbh.com), the 21st Century Business Review and Money Weekly magazines.
The 21st Century Media has offices in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, but Xinhua did not say from which office the officials were taken. It only said that police arrived at 21st Century Media offices around noon. Police searched their offices after the two were led away, news website 163news.com quoted witnesses as saying.
Eight employees with the website were detained in Shanghai earlier this month.
They included Liu Dong, the website’s president, and Zhou Bin, its editor-in-chief. Several reporters, marketing department staff, and the heads of two PR firms were also held.
Staff at 21cbh.com are said to have persuaded companies to sign “advertising contracts,” usually costing between 200,000 yuan (US$32,600) and 300,000 yuan, that would guarantee positive coverage.
Any that refused would be subject to negative coverage, police said.
An initial estimate showed that the website had raised more than 100 million yuan from these “dubious contracts,” Xinhua said.
The website’s license was revoked.
After the allegations came to light, 43-year-old Shen, who was also CEO of 21st Century Media, sent a letter to all 900 employees.
He wrote: “My heart is as heavy as lead, but we will take no tolerance on any employee who dare to violate the law or the journalism ethics.” The letter added: “We hope those who were taken away keep a positive mood and stay healthy, and we will spare no effort to help their family members. We believe in the justice of the law.”
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