UK Considers Barring Foreign Newspaper Ownership

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Facts

• A UAE-led consortium is expected to shortly attempt to buy the British newspapers The Daily Telegraph and the Spectator. In response, the UK government said on Wednesday that it would support a law banning newspaper and magazine ownership from foreign entities.¹
• Such legislation is expected to derail the planned £600M ($763M) sale of the Telegraph and the Spectator to RedBird IMI — a collaboration led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of UAE, and a privately owned US investment corporation.²
• The Digital Markets Act is currently in its third reading in Parliament. The legislation would give the Parliament veto power over foreign governments assuming control of British media companies.³
• In response to the move, the consortium's spokesperson emphasized its unwavering dedication to investing in international media. Redbird IMI said it would assess the situation before continuing to invest in the UK's media environment.⁴
• Parkinson stated that the law would be debated in Parliament next week and could come into force immediately with royal approval. The minister said the ban would only be pertinent to print media, not broadcasters.⁵
• The government would submit any relevant media merger to the Competition and Markets Authority. Should that entity conclude that a merger would lead to foreign influence or control over a newspaper, the government would be legally obliged to stop the move.⁶

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Guardian, ³Sky News, ⁴BBC News, ⁵France 24 and ⁶Voice of America.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Telegraph. An autocratic state controlling two influential newspapers is utterly untenable on principle. In a democracy, newspaper editorial independence must be guaranteed. Worse, if the purchase goes through, the newspapers' new UAE owners may attempt to influence public opinion on UK foreign policy, particularly its complicated relations with China. This merger is inappropriate because it poses a significant security threat. The government must put a stop to it.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Arab News. RedBird IMI's offer to acquire the Telegraph and the Spectator demonstrates a commitment to preserving the publications' heritage while also protecting their distinct editorial focus and fearless journalism. Editorial independence and integrity must endure in a society where post-truth and alternative facts are rampant. The consortium demonstrates significant financial backing and can offer unrivaled investments to the newspapers, ensuring the newspapers' survival and jobs.