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China newspaper journalists stage rare strike China newspaper journalists stage rare strike
(35 minutes later)
Journalists at a major Chinese newspaper, Southern Weekly, have gone on strike in a rare protest against censorship. Journalists at a major Chinese paper, Southern Weekly, have gone on strike in a rare protest against censorship.
The row was sparked last week when the paper's New Year message was rewritten to become a Communist Party tribute. The row was sparked last week when the paper's New Year message calling for reform was changed by propaganda officials.
The staff wrote two letters calling for the propaganda chief's resignation. Staff wrote two letters calling for the provincial propaganda chief to step down. Another row then erupted over control of the paper's microblog.
A crowd of supporters has also gathered outside the paper's offices in the city of Guangzhou, reports say. Supporters of the paper have gathered outside its office, reports say.
Some of the protesters carried banners that read: "We want press freedom, constitutionalism and democracy".
Chinese media are supervised by so-called propaganda departments that often change content to align it with party thinking.Chinese media are supervised by so-called propaganda departments that often change content to align it with party thinking.
Southern Weekend is perhaps the country's most respected newspaper, known for its hard-hitting investigations and for testing the limits of freedom of speech, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing. Southern Weekly is perhaps the country's most respected newspaper, known for its hard-hitting investigations and for testing the limits of freedom of speech, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.
'Pressure''Pressure'
Almost 100 editorial staff members have gone on strike, saying the newspaper is under pressure from authorities. The row erupted after a New Year message which had called for guaranteed constitutional rights was changed by censors into a piece that praised the Communist Party.
Last week, the newspaper journalists had called for the propaganda chief's resignation, accusing him of being "dictatorial" in an era of "growing openness". In response, the newspaper's journalists called for the Guangdong propaganda chief's resignation, accusing him of being "dictatorial" in an era of "growing openness".
In two open letters 35 prominent former staff and 50 interns at the paper demanded Tuo Zhen step down, saying the move amounted to "crude" interference.In two open letters 35 prominent former staff and 50 interns at the paper demanded Tuo Zhen step down, saying the move amounted to "crude" interference.
It appears that the strike was triggered after journalists and management disagreed on Sunday about who would control the content of the newspaper's official microblog accounts and a statement was released saying the editorial had not been altered, reports suggest. On Sunday night, a message on the newspaper's official microblog denied that the editorial was changed because of censorship, saying that the "online rumours were false".
The microblog updates, said to have been issued by senior editors, sparked the strike among members of the editorial team who disagreed with the move, reports say.
Almost 100 editorial staff members have gone on strike, saying the newspaper is under pressure from authorities.
It is thought that this is the first time that there has been a direct showdown between newspaper staff and party officials, our correspondent adds.It is thought that this is the first time that there has been a direct showdown between newspaper staff and party officials, our correspondent adds.
How the case is handled is seen as a key test for Chinese officials, installed just two months ago in a once-in-a-decade leadership transition, observers say.How the case is handled is seen as a key test for Chinese officials, installed just two months ago in a once-in-a-decade leadership transition, observers say.
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