The Epoch Times
December 15, 2009
NTDTV

The top editor of the Southern Weekend, Xiang Xi was named the paper’s “executive” editor-in-chief.

According to Reuters, Xiang will now be working under a new top editor. Reuters cited three Southern Weekend employees who asked to remain anonymous. They say the personnel shuffle came after pressure from the Chinese regime’s propaganda department.

Xiang had an exclusive interview with United States President Barack Obama during the official visit to China in November.

Sources told Reuters, that that interview was requested by the White House and approved by the Chinese regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But when the communist regime’s propaganda department found out about the interview, they reportedly restricted questions and publication of the transcript.

Then when Southern Weekend published the interview, the bottom half of the page was left mostly blank. Chinese call it “opening a blank window.” It’s recognized as a sign of protest against censorship.    more …