The removal of two senior editorial staff at a Beijing-based computer magazine yesterday is being linked by some observers to a story it published in July lashing out at the mainland's biggest internet company.
China ComputerWorld, a 30-year-old weekly magazine that is part of the China ComputerWorld Media Group, reshuffled its senior editors yesterday morning.
It was announced that Bao Ran , president of the magazine, and editor-in-chief Sun Ding were no longer in charge of editorial matters, a statement on the magazine's website said.
Bao kept his other positions as assistant group president and editor-in-chief of China Digital Television Magazine. Sun was appointed deputy editor for the group.
Senior management denied the removals were connected to a cover story entitled 'Tencent, You Dog F***er' on July 26. But several mainland media outlets claimed to have confirmed it was related.
Tencent Holdings had a turnover of 12.4 billion yuan (HK$14.17 billion) last year. Tencent's QQ is the most popular free instant messaging program on the mainland. QQ.com ranked 10th overall in Alexa's worldwide internet rankings.