The Nanfang Daily Media Group, which has long produced several of China’s boldest and most independent newspapers, is now under new leadership in a change that may “herald new troubles ahead,” China Media Project reports:
According to a news report from Caixin Media today — which happens to be World Press Freedom Day — the position of party secretary at the Nanfang Daily Media Group will now be held by Yang Jian (杨健), who served most recently as deputy minister of Guangdong’s provincial propaganda department.
This is the first time a top position at the group will be held by an “outsider,” sources say, and the first time the top positions — party secretary (党委书记) and director (社长) — will be held separately.
“There were several attempts in the past to install Party officials at the top level of the Nanfang Daily Group, but these attempts were always successfully opposed by the group,” one former top editor told CMP.
Read more about the Southern Daily Media Group and press freedom via CDT.
