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Two media execs detained in China

September 25, 2014

The Chinese government has taken two executives working at a financial newspaper into custody. Officials are investigating the newspaper company for charges of bribery.

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Image: LAURENT FIEVET/AFP/GettyImages

China has detained two executives at the 21st Century Business Herald, the state news agency Xinhua reported. The newspaper's chief editor, Shen Hao, a well-known media personality and the general manager, Chen Donyang, were taken away by the police.

According to Xinhua, the accused persons had coerced more than 100 companies since November last year in return for positive coverage and for blocking negative reports.

The Chinese news agency reported that the 21st Century Herald charged companies amounts between 200-300,000 yuan (25,600-38,400 euros) for these services.

Earlier this month, Chinese officials closed down the paper's website and began investigating eight executives suspected of bribery. Soon after, Liu Dong, the website's president and editor-in-chief Zhou Bin appeared on the state broadcaster China Central Television in bright orange clothes and confessed their crimes.

The financial publication is a part of the influential Nanfang Media Group. Last year, the 21st Century Business Herald published a series of stories, citing unnamed whistleblowers who alleged bribery by foreign and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies.

Chinese newspapers, broadcasters and media companies are heavily regulated by the government, which has vowed to crack down on corruption. Officials arrested a top news anchor and began an investigation into an executive from China Central Television last month on charges of bribery.

However, media observers say blackmail is rampant in China's domestic press and journalists are susceptible to bribes.

mg/jr (AP, Reuters)