Former CNN chief Jeff Zucker is actively pursuing the acquisition of The Telegraph, a major U.K. media entity, despite facing criticism. He aims to establish a “center-right” media presence in the U.S. to balance the more liberal-leaning The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Zucker, leveraging the resources of RedBird IMI, backed by Abu Dhabi, is placing a bid on The Telegraph. He praised the publication in the Financial Times as an iconic brand synonymous with quality journalism and expressed his desire to introduce The Telegraph to the U.S. market as a counterbalance to the perceived liberal bias of the Times and the Post.
Zucker told the Financial Times of his vision to globalize The Telegraph, positioning it as a robust center-right media brand in the American market.
The potential foreign ownership of The Telegraph and the Spectator magazine, both resonating with the conservative party in the U.K., has raised concerns among the nation’s conservative lawmakers. They fear the influence of international entities like Zucker’s, especially given RedBird IMI’s funding from the United Arab Emirates.
Former Telegraph editor Charles Moore expressed his reservations to the Daily Mail, emphasizing the significance of these publications as British institutions and opposing foreign control.
Zucker, in his defense, told the Financial Times that he’s ready to make commitments to alleviate any concerns about the bid. He took a critical stance against other media companies, accusing them of trying to undermine his bid due to their own interests in acquiring these assets.
Donald Trump has often criticized Zucker, particularly during his tenure at CNN, for what Trump perceived as biased, anti-conservative reporting.
Despite the controversy, Zucker is determined to uphold the editorial independence of both The Telegraph and the Spectator. He plans to achieve this through the establishment of an advisory board and maintaining the current management and editorial teams.
Former editor Moore, however, remains skeptical, particularly about the UAE’s involvement through RedBird IMI and its connection to Sheikh Mansour, the UAE’s deputy prime minister. He expressed concerns about the impact on press freedom, especially given the UAE’s ties to countries like China that have restrictive press policies.
Moore highlighted the potential risks of such foreign ownership, emphasizing that it could lead to control and censorship inconsistent with the principles of a free press.
