Top Editor Leaves China's Boldest News Magazine

ALEXA OLESEN

BEIJING (AP) — The founding editor of a hard-driving Chinese magazine that tackled tough subjects such as corruption, pollution and worker's rights has resigned, casting doubt over prospects for greater media independence.

Many say Hu Shuli's departure on Monday could spell the downfall of Caijing, an 11-year-old financial news magazine that under her guidance pushed boundaries with the country's censors and chased stories that embarrassed the government. Its aggressive reporting on SARS in 2003 forced the government to acknowledge the scope of the crisis — which it had tried to keep secret — and to change the way it handles public health scares.

Insiders said Hu's team had been trying without success to wrest greater editorial and financial control from its Hong Kong-listed publisher.

China media expert Jeremy Goldkorn called Hu's decision to leave "a step back for professional media in China."

A less-aggressive Caijing could set back efforts to build an independent watchdog media. Though the magazine is not shutting down, Goldkorn and others said Caijing would be gutted by Hu's resignation.