Xinhua confirmed it was investigating one of its journalists after internet postings alleged that more than 30 of her stories were based on quotes from family members.
A spokesman for Xinhua's bureau in Harbin, Heilongjiang province , told the South China Morning Post yesterday that it was investigating Yan Bingguang after internet users alleged she constantly promoted her family members' private businesses in stories submitted to Xinhua over the past six years.
A posting at the weekend listed more than 30 of her stories that contained quotes from her husband, daughter, sisters, father and mother-in-law. Most of the stories mentioned in the posting can be found on Xinhua's website.
'Yan quoted her husband, Lu Dongxing , a lecturer at the Heilongjiang Administrative Cadre Institute of Politics and Law, in a story about the Lunar New Year travel peak in February 2007 and three more stories - one about inflation in August, one about the National Day holiday in September and the other about the retail industry in November,' the post said.
Yan even quoted herself in stories as part of 'the Lu Dongxing couple' or 'Lu Dongxing's wife'.
She also allegedly promoted a pharmaceutical business run by her sister, Yan Binghong, frequently mentioning the company name in Xinhua stories.