BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A Beijing journalist and another man have been charged with extortion after allegedly seeking money from a city firm in exchange for withholding publication of unfavorable news.

Prosecutors have lodged the charges against Xiong Chuan, 30, a journalist with the Beijing-based China Business Post, and unemployed Mao Yining, 34, at the city's Chaoyang District People's Court.

Xiong and Mao are accused of extorting 150,000 yuan (19,500 U.S. dollars) from Beijing Xiangguo Trade Co. Ltd. on July 7 last year in exchange for not writing negative news about the company.

Xiong and Mao were arrested on July 27 when they tried to collect another 250,000 yuan (32,500 U.S. dollars) from the planning manager of the company.

A date for the court hearing is yet to be set.

Earlier this year, Lan Chengzhang, a reporter with the Beijing-based China Trade News, was beaten to death by a gang of people allegedly organized by a coal mine owner in north China's Shanxi Province.

The case has been complicated by allegations that Lan and his colleague Cheng Hanwen were not officially accredited journalists, and that they were trying to extort money from mine owner Hou Zhenrun in exchange for not writing articles about the mine.

Seven people have gone on trial in connection with Lan's killing at Linfen city Intermediate People's Court, but the court was yet to announce a judgment.