BEIJING (TIP): A Chinese newspaper baron, acclaimed in the west for trying to make a difference in the highly controlled publishing industry, has been put on the mat by the ruling Communist Party’s investigators. The official Xinhua news agency said Dai Yuqing, the former head of the newspaper group which controls 19 dailies and magazines, has been accused of taking bribes and abusing power between 2006 and 2011 to “promote unqualified people and help others obtain ad contracts”. Although the group is owned by Guangzhou city government, Dai commanded huge influence during his five-year term as chairman. Seven employees at the paper and affiliated companies are also under investigation, Xinhua reported. The move appears to be part of the spring cleaning process taken up to give the party a cleaner image ahead of it 18th Congress to elect the president and the PM.