A Guangzhou-based weekly newspaper might be reconsidering its decision to sack an editor over the publication of a controversial special report last month after coming under intense public pressure.
Time Weekly, published by the Guangdong Provincial Publishing Group, ran a special report on the '100 Most Influential People of Our Time' on December 13.
The list included milk safety activist Zhao Lianhai, who was released on medical parole last month, and several people who signed the Charter 08 political manifesto - Beijing Film Academy professor Cui Weiping , scholar Xu Youyu and economist Mao Yushi .
A reporter said Peng Xiaoyun , the editor of the paper's opinion section who was in charge of the special, was told that she had to resign before the Lunar New Year. Peng has been on involuntary leave for the past few days.
But, the reporter said, 'the newspaper saw a strong reaction to the decision and has frozen its original decision ... As far as I know, Peng will be fine - at least up to the Lunar New Year.'
Peng said: 'It's not convenient for me to talk to media right now.'