Top executives and most of the staff at China's most influential business magazine, Caijing, have resigned, raising concerns for the future of the ground-breaking publication.
Staff members at Caijing say about two-thirds of the magazine's more than 100 employees resigned enmasse just prior to China's October first National Day holiday.
Some staff member's have told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper that the magazine's founder and editor-in-chief, Hu Shuli, has yet to resign. The paper quotes some staff as saying that Hu is making a last minute effort to strike a deal with the journal's owner and publisher, Hong Kong-listed SECC Media Group.
Some believe that the apparent tussle over editorial freedom and business strategy at the magazine could mean Hu may leave and possibly start her own publication.
Caijing is known not only for its in-depth coverage of behind-the-scenes business news, but also for its reporting of corruption, pollution, public health scares and other sensitive topics
Trouble at the magazine could set back efforts to establish a freer press in China.
Caijing was established in 1989, and editor-in-chief Hu Shuli was known for her ability to negotiate the treacherous limits of China's tightly controlled media - and keep the publication from being censored or shut down.Some information for this report was provided by AP and WSJ.