A journalist has been placed on a police wanted list for reporting alleged irregularities at a Zhejiang company, highlighting the problems mainland reporters face when companies collude with local authorities. Economic Observer journalist Qiu Ziming was put on an online list of wanted criminals posted on Friday by the Shuichang county Public Security Bureau in Lishui for 'alleged damage to a company's business reputation', the newspaper said yesterday. Qiu had written three stories in the past two months linking Kan Specialties Material with the loss of state assets, possible embezzlement by its controlling shareholder, Wang Bailang, and affiliated transactions in a couple of company acquisitions, The Southern Metropolis News reported. Those found guilty of damaging a company's business reputation can face up to two years in jail, but only if it is established that they intentionally fabricated and disseminated false information and caused great loss to a company. Zhou Ze, a partner at the Beijing Wentian Law Firm who champions journalists' rights on the mainland, said that apart from criticising the government and officials, it was also dangerous to criticise companies. 'It is commonplace for local authorities to protect big taxpayers,' he said. 'It's totally against the law that local governments become a protective umbrella for companies. 'Suichang Public Security Bureau is abusing its power because it never communicated with either the journalist, editors or the newspaper and had no idea about the purpose and credibility of the reporting.' Zhou said that Kan had trampled on the media's right to supervise public activities and the right of the public and investors to be informed. Wang Shengzhong, deputy editor-in-chief of the Beijing-based Economic Observer, said: 'It is outrageous that regular news reporting with evidence and reliable news sources has become a threat to journalists. 'We are only fulfilling our duty to supervise public companies. We cannot do our job if things like this happen. We trust the credibility of this reporter and are confident of the news sources in the reporting.' Qiu wrote on his Sina microblog yesterday that he was not afraid because all he had reported was the truth and he had evidence that could prove Wang Bailang was guilty. 'The company tried to bribe me during my reporting and I am not escaping, just hiding because I don't want to suffer inside [the police station],' Qiu said. 'I will make Suichang police apologise to me eventually.'