AP Interview: Chinese editor Hu Shuli steps aside not down
Hu Shuli
Far from it  says  Hu Shuli   founder of the financial magazine Caixin.
 Hu  listened one recent afternoon to the theories floating in China's chattering class about why  she  was handing over the editorial reins at Caixin  the only newsroom known for hard-hitting  investigative reporting in China â and dismissed them.
"Laughable rumors  " Hu  snapped. "I'm not stepping back or stepping down. You could say I'm stepping up."
In a rare interview with the Associated Press   Hu  spoke bullishly about transitioning this month into a publisher role at the newsmagazine  she  co-founded in 2009  and about the prospects of the "Me Too" movement in China.  She  spoke more guardedly about censorship and declared Caixin as free as ever to conduct its signature muckraking reporting. China watchers say the space for independent journalism in the country  already one of the world's most censored news environments  is fast vanishing under President Xi Jinping.
"We always think there are stories to do and we don't think  'maybe this environment should be better '" said  Hu . "We've always felt we could do anything we wanted. It was just based on what our priorities are."
 Hu  said  she  was handing the operation over to  her  long-time deputy Wang Shuo because of  her  age â  she  turns 65 this year.  She  will occasionally conduct major interviews and remain involved in major editorial decisions as an adviser to Wang  who  she  hired as a 25-year-old two decades ago.
Known for her political savvy  for 30 years  Hu  has published scoops that uncovered corporate malfeasance and government corruption without repercussions while other journalists fell afoul of authorities and landed in jail.  Her  publication blew open the government cover-up of the SARS epidemic in 2003 and has questioned countless deals among powerful companies  including state-backed enterprises.
Caixin's reshuffle comes shortly after Wang Qishan  an official widely seen as  Hu 's longtime ally  stepped down from the Communist Party's top leadership body  said Willy Lam  a political analyst at the Chinese University in Hong Kong.
" Ms. Hu  is famous for being supercharged  full of energy " Lam said. "It's difficult to believe she's stepping aside because of age. It has to do with politics."
 Hu  declined to discuss her relationship with Wang and denied that political factors were behind her move. In any case  Wang appears to retain significant influence: he joined a parliamentary delegation this week amid speculation that Xi might soon name him vice president.
Pressed nearly two years later   Hu  shook her head  saying she doesn't remember the incident.
Even though she has not directed coverage recently   Hu  said  she  is proud of  her  staff's reporting on sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement in China. Discussion of the subject has sometimes been censored on Chinese social media or branded as a destabilizing foreign movement. But the story has gained some domestic traction  including reports by state-run outlets like the official Xinhua news agency  which  Hu  praised.
"China also has this kind of problem ... China had the 'women hold up half the sky' revolutionary slogan â but the actual situation  the actual status of women â I think is a very profound issue " said  Hu   adding that  she  wanted to do more to promote #MeToo.
 Hu  said most of  her  energy will be focused on developing Caixin's business model.
In October the company became the first Chinese news company to erect a paywall  a decision  Hu  made based on the success of leading western newspapers.  She  declined to discuss subscription or revenue numbers  but acknowledged that online revenues are not yet considered "substantial."
Wei Wuhui  a lecturer of new media at Shanghai Jiaotong University who was asked by  Hu  to consult on Caixin's paywall model last year  said the increasingly restrictive political atmosphere will affect Caixin. Apart from direct censorship  it will be hurt by the scarcity of young people willing to pursue journalism.
Far from it  says   [TGT] founder of the financial magazine Caixin.
  [TGT] listened one recent afternoon to the theories floating in China's chattering class about why   [TGT]   was handing over the editorial reins at Caixin  the only newsroom known for hard-hitting  investigative reporting in China â and dismissed them.
"Laughable rumors   [TGT] snapped. "I'm not stepping back or stepping down. You could say I'm stepping up."
In a rare interview with the Associated Press   Hu  spoke bullishly about transitioning this month into a publisher role at the newsmagazine   [TGT]   co-founded in 2009  and about the prospects of the "Me Too" movement in China.   [TGT]   spoke more guardedly about censorship and declared Caixin as free as ever to conduct its signature muckraking reporting. China watchers say the space for independent journalism in the country  already one of the world's most censored news environments  is fast vanishing under President Xi Jinping.
"We always think there are stories to do and we don't think  'maybe this environment should be better '" said   [TGT]  . "We've always felt we could do anything we wanted. It was just based on what our priorities are. [TGT] 
said   [TGT]   was handing the operation over to   [TGT]   long-time deputy Wang Shuo because of  her  age â  she  turns 65 this year.  She  will occasionally conduct major interviews and remain involved in major editorial decisions as an adviser to Wang  who  she  hired as a 25-year-old two decades ago.
Known for her political savvy  for 30 years   [TGT] has published scoops that uncovered corporate malfeasance and government corruption without repercussions while other journalists fell afoul of authorities and landed in jail.  Her  publication blew open the government cover-up of the SARS epidemic in 2003 and has questioned countless deals among powerful companies  including state-backed enterprises.
Caixin's reshuffle comes shortly after Wang Qishan  an official widely seen as  Hu 's longtime ally  stepped down from the Communist Party's top leadership body  said Willy Lam  a political analyst at the Chinese University in Hong Kong.
" Ms. Hu  is famous for being supercharged  full of energy " Lam said. "It's difficult to believe she's stepping aside because of age. It has to do with politics."
 Hu  declined to discuss her relationship with Wang and denied that political factors were behind her move. In any case  Wang appears to retain significant influence: he joined a parliamentary delegation this week amid speculation that Xi might soon name him vice president.
Pressed nearly two years later   Hu  shook her head  saying she doesn't remember the incident.
Even though she has not directed coverage recently   Hu  said  she  is proud of  her  staff's reporting on sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement in China. Discussion of the subject has sometimes been censored on Chinese social media or branded as a destabilizing foreign movement. But the story has gained some domestic traction  including reports by state-run outlets like the official Xinhua news agency  which  Hu  praised.
"China also has this kind of problem ... China had the 'women hold up half the sky' revolutionary slogan â but the actual situation  the actual status of women â I think is a very profound issue " said  Hu   adding that  she  wanted to do more to promote #MeToo.
 Hu  said most of  her  energy will be focused on developing Caixin's business model.
In October the company became the first Chinese news company to erect a paywall  a decision  Hu  made based on the success of leading western newspapers.  She  declined to discuss subscription or revenue numbers  but acknowledged that online revenues are not yet considered "substantial."
Wei Wuhui  a lecturer of new media at Shanghai Jiaotong University who was asked by  Hu  to consult on Caixin's paywall model last year  said the increasingly restrictive political atmosphere will affect Caixin. Apart from direct censorship  it will be hurt by the scarcity of young people willing to pursue journalism.