Pic: AP.

BEIJING (AP) — Some Chinese journalists are openly confronting state censors after a southern newspaper known for its edgy reporting was forced to change a New Year editorial calling for political reform into a tribute praising the Communist Party.

Sixty journalists from the Southern Weekly in Guangdong province issued a complaint Thursday over the last-minute changes that they said were made without the consent of the newspaper’s editorial department.

Another group of 35 former reporters from the paper went a step further Friday, calling for the resignation of the province’s propaganda chief and arguing that strong and credible news media are crucial for the country.

The state-run Global Times newspaper hit back with a defense of the government line, saying the media cannot exist “romantically” outside the country’s political reality.