The British government announced today, Thursday, its intention to allow investors affiliated with foreign governments to possess up to 15% of British newspapers publishing institutions, in the context of media reforms that could end a long -standing fog for the ownership of the Telegraph newspaper.
The government will also expand its powers with regard to auditing the integrations between the media to include news websites and news magazines.
“These important reforms aim to protect media pluralism, and reflects the changing means through which individuals get the news,” said British Minister of Culture Lisa Nandi.
“We fully adhere to the need to protect our news media from the control of foreign countries, while realizing at the same time the need for news institutions to be able to collect the very necessary financing,” she added.
The ownership of the Telegraph (one of the most famous British newspapers) had raised questions about the independence of the media and the purchase of foreign countries, political influence.
The government stated that the specific exceptions that allow some sovereign wealth funds or pension funds to invest up to 15% in British newspapers and patrols will help support institutions while reducing any foreign influence on the media.
Last year, the former conservative government in Britain banned foreign governments investments in British newspapers, and prevented the company “Ridberd IMI” – which is run by the former CNN president, Jeff Zucker, whose financing comes from Abu Dhabi – from owning the Telegraph newspaper.
Abu Dhabi -backed “Ridberd EI” had dominated the Telegraph and The Spector magazine in 2023, when it helped pay the debts of the Barclay family of 1.2 billion pounds ($ 1.6 billion) to Lloyd Bank.
The company released them for sale about a year ago, and the “Specator” was sold to the founder of the hedge fund Paul Marshall in September, but the telegraph did not find a buyer.
The maximum of 15% will allow Abu Dhabi to keep part of the newspaper’s ownership.
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