A leading mainland news magazine is halfway to closure and its editor has been disciplined after it defied a central government directive not to report on politically sensitive historic events, according to reliable sources.
The Communist Party's propaganda department decided to impose a six-point penalty on Lifeweek magazine after an investigation.
The propaganda department recently introduced the points system for the print media to tighten its control ahead of a crucial party congress this autumn. Media outlets can be closed if they incur a deficit of 12 points.
The magazine's executive editor, Miao Wei , was also disciplined with a 'serious internal warning'.
Disciplining of media officials ranges from 'internal criticism'; 'internal warning'; 'serious internal warning'; and removal from office and party membership.
In a reshuffle, two deputy editors were appointed recently to strengthen the editorial work.
In November the propaganda department and the media regulator ordered the magazine to reform after the publication of three issues seen as politically sensitive.