The founder and editor in chief of a Chinese magazine known for pushing boundaries with the country's censors and chasing stories that could embarrass the government resigned Nov. 9 amid friction with her publisher, colleagues and the magazine said.

Hu Shuli's departure is a major blow to Caijing, an 11-year-old financial news magazine that under her guidance tackled tough subjects such as corruption, pollution and public health scares. The magazine boldly reported on SARS and demanded greater government transparency on the epidemic well before authorities acknowledged the full extent of the crisis.

A less-aggressive Caijing could set back efforts to establish a free press in China.

Two Caijing employees said that Hu left because of disagreements with Caijing's publisher, Hong Kong-listed SEEC Media Group, over editorial and financial control. One source said dozens of the magazine's 180-strong editorial staff resigned Nov. 9 in a show of support for Hu.