Sale of the Daily Telegraph and Spectator - Tories up in arms

Germanshepherdsmum

So you think online newspapers will cease to exist Grantanow?

No, GSM. I meant media printed on paper. I think online newspapers will continue but there is a risk they will be replaced over time by social media like X/Twitter, Facebook, etc. It depends on advertising income and subscriptions. The online Guardian is currently free access but I doubt that can be maintained for ever; other papers may be in a similar position. Looking at radio and TV it's possible all transmitted channels could move to broadband so we wouldn't need TV aerials or conventional receivers.

DrWatson

For Maizie, and Dinah, any others concerned by a supposed Middle Eastern editorial desk on one of our (allegedly) more influential newspapers, Ronib has the correct angle, the circulation is on the decline, as it has been for years, and so is the strong trend for all print media. The last time I looked, the Metro (given away on buses), had the biggest daily circulation.

Every election I like to correct people who start squawking about the nasty Tory Press (if they're Lab voters), or how the biased Lefty Mirror and Guardian are telling lies about Tory policies (etc). Those few people who still buy a paper (or these days shell out for a digital version) invariably choose their paper because it ALREADY does what THEY like. People who buy Telegraphs, the Mail and Express are hardly likely to be about to flip to Labour. Those buying Guardians and Mirrors aren't likely to be swayed into getting Blue rosettes anytime soon? I'm informed that for serious sports fans, the Telegraph has by far the best sports section, with a host of (mostly) male readers looking at that, not any right-leaning editorials in the earlier pages.

Anyone buying a paper has to consider giving its remaining readers what THEY want, not what YOU want to sell them, else they'll desert it and your investment looks worse. Maybe check out who owns the Express, the same group as own the Mirror (& others), but the Express still churns out the same stuff, what THOSE readers want to see.

As Ronib said, the overall circulation has plummeted in the last 20 years, the Press has had far less influence than people realise, and for quite some time.

Yes. My partner used to buy the Telegraph because of their sports section. We used to buy The Observer until it got very expensive and their sports section dwindled away into virtually nothing. The Telegraph keep trying to entice him back with all sorts of offers but he keeps telling them to tell their bosses that unless they change politically there’s no chance of him ever buying their paper again. It might have been on The Rest is Politics but someone said, although it looks as though Murdoch influences people politically, he’s very astute and tends to veer towards where things are going.

Influence isn't all about affecting voters it's about affecting policy and giving access and credibility to those who are the decision makers. These people are more likely to read the Telegraph and Spectator than engage with social media. Social media is for mass manipulation often of the "undecided".

I dont think she has at all Maizie. I like the Spectator, it has rather unbelievably been quite a voice for women lately, and am concerned about this but the fact that the power is held elsewhere now is quite important.

Extraordinary my dear Watson.
You have made my day.
Any thoughts on how much political parties spent on Instagram and Twitter in last election? Also influence of Lynton Crosby ?

Thank you for the lecture, DrWatson. There is nothing like missing the point.. 😆

I agree completely Drwatson, it's not where people in general go for their news/information.

For Maizie, and Dinah, any others concerned by a supposed Middle Eastern editorial desk on one of our (allegedly) more influential newspapers, Ronib has the correct angle, the circulation is on the decline, as it has been for years, and so is the strong trend for all print media. The last time I looked, the Metro (given away on buses), had the biggest daily circulation.

Every election I like to correct people who start squawking about the nasty Tory Press (if they're Lab voters), or how the biased Lefty Mirror and Guardian are telling lies about Tory policies (etc). Those few people who still buy a paper (or these days shell out for a digital version) invariably choose their paper because it ALREADY does what THEY like. People who buy Telegraphs, the Mail and Express are hardly likely to be about to flip to Labour. Those buying Guardians and Mirrors aren't likely to be swayed into getting Blue rosettes anytime soon? I'm informed that for serious sports fans, the Telegraph has by far the best sports section, with a host of (mostly) male readers looking at that, not any right-leaning editorials in the earlier pages.

Anyone buying a paper has to consider giving its remaining readers what THEY want, not what YOU want to sell them, else they'll desert it and your investment looks worse. Maybe check out who owns the Express, the same group as own the Mirror (& others), but the Express still churns out the same stuff, what THOSE readers want to see.

As Ronib said, the overall circulation has plummeted in the last 20 years, the Press has had far less influence than people realise, and for quite some time.

I think its very suspect that the Saudi's want to buy our press, for years billionaires have accepted a loss in the circulation of these papers because they influence people to vote Tory and the Tories let tax loopholes remain. Hopefully that's less the case now cos of other sources of info and people can see what the Tories have done with all our public services, rivers etc.
I still don't want anyone else running our press

I find it very suspect that the Saudis want to buy these titles. Just as I do with many of our utilities being foreign owned which has done us no favours whatsoever! The DT, which I read regularly, contains some useful journalism, although of course these days it is essential to get the full picture from a wide variety of media outlets. I would prefer it if our domestic news was not skewed by foreign ownership as I suspect it might be in this case should this deal go through. Some things are too important to the national interest to apply the usual free market rules, a lesson we should have learned by now. Newswise, we have enough to contend with already by having a far from impartial national broadcaster!

Abu Dhabi has a poor human rights record and suppression of news it does not like. This is a question of a free press. I subscribe to The Daily Telegraph and The Times. The Times is concerned - one of its columnists wrote recently about how undesirable this purchase would be.

I'd be opposed to it too, I'd rather they were both closed completely than let any other country control them. We have enough things owned in this country by Arabs and Russians and Americans it is dangerous.

Yet another step in the Islamification of the UK.

Dinahmo

You're right. I could have sworn it was after Blair. I didn't check my facts this time but just relied upon my memory. Silly me.

You're not the only person who associates that headline with 1997. I've just googled and found a number of sites doing the same.

In fact, it appears that in 1997 the Sun headline was 'The Sun backs Blair'

NO! They should not be sold to a gulf state.

I'm very cynical, mind you....the COP 28 meeting starts today, and I think that has, in effect, already been sold to the oil magnates.

You're right. I could have sworn it was after Blair. I didn't check my facts this time but just relied upon my memory. Silly me.

I think in fact that quote was from a Sun headline after the 1992 election, which was won by John Major and the Conservatives

Those who want influence purchase Twitter.

Interesting section on the media show (radio 4) about why very rich people want to own high profile newspapers. Influence, power and status. It was ever thus and continues to be so.

That was a completely different time though, newspapers dont hold that kind of influence now.

Dinahmo Remember Lynton Crosby?

Germanshepherdsmum

Nevertheless with an election looming there is an opportunity to influence the vote.

You're absolutely right.

Remember when Labour won under Blair and Murdoch said "It was the Sun wot did it"

MaizieD yes that’s very true. My husband thinks that the Abu Dhabi bunch are more interested ‘influencing’ public opinion on using oil rather than green energy. It’s possible that the outcome of the next general election is not in the sights of the oil producing nations?
I think that the next election will be won by the guff that is churned out by the political ‘consultants’ who are doubtless paid substantial amounts to dream up new ideas which never happen once the election is won.

However the opinions of the elderly DT readers are not so highly respected in the UK I suggest.

Well, I'm very much hoping that the next GE bucks the trend, but it is well known that the 'elderly' demographic (which is very large) is most likely to to be right wing and to vote, so there is the real prospect that influencing them can swing the result... if not to a tory victory then at least to them gaining more seats than they deserve.

GSM well in a way maybe - but I doubt that a Telegraph reader will vote Labour- maybe Reform? And Guardian readership is presumably Green or Labour with a few Liberals. I think it’s unlikely that newspaper headlines will make much difference to voting behaviour.