The top editor of the Southern Weekend, Xiang Xi was named the paper’s "executive" editor-in-chief.

According to Reuters, Xiang will now be working under a new top editor. Reuters cited three Southern Weekend employees who asked to remain anonymous. They say the personnel shuffle came after pressure from the Chinese regime’s propaganda department.

Xiang had an exclusive interview with United States President Barack Obama during the official visit to China in November.

Sources told Reuters, that that interview was requested by the White House and approved by the Chinese regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But when the communist regime’s propaganda department found out about the interview, they reportedly restricted questions and publication of the transcript.

Then when Southern Weekend published the interview, the bottom half of the page was left mostly blank. Chinese call it “opening a blank window.” It’s recognized as a sign of protest against censorship.

Like all Chinese media, the Southern Weekend is under state control, but the paper has developed a reputation for daring reporting that sometimes pushes the limits of the Chinese regime’s censors.

Award winning journalist and author Gao Yu says media outlets like the Southern Weekend are frequently suppressed.

[Gao Yu, Journalist & Author]:
“In China, media with independent thought has constantly been suppressed. In fact, it is a case of ‘you must listen to me (the Communist Party), and don’t discuss anything else.’ Now this rule by the Party is even stronger.”

During his visit to China, Obama pressed the communist regime on censorship and human rights. But Chinese officials showed no signs of giving ground. While they promised a live-streaming of Obama’s town hall style meeting with Chinese students, it was only shown in Shanghai.