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Messages from the archive of Rutherford Hall, critical communications strategist
WhatsApp to Stephen: Greetings from Riyadh — where, yes, I am still stuck because of the weight of business I am securing for us. Money’s no issue here; we just need to keep feeding them ideas for prestige acquisitions. Interestingly, they are talking about buying a British newspaper. They have seen the UAE snaffling The Telegraph group and now they want The Times.
WhatsApp to Stephen: So Telegraph deal is still in limbo? You have to respect the paper’s commitment to kicking Sunak while their fate is in his hands. I’m sure the UAE would be more supportive. Authoritarian monarchies favour incumbency. Of course they haven’t got a prayer of being allowed The Times, but they have got a big budget for our work, so let the chase begin.
WhatsApp to Alex: Need to pick your sports brain. What sports could I be pitching the Saudis that they aren’t buying up already. Was thinking tennis — it fits the profile of highly paid stars, global footprint and complacent leadership. Any others?
WhatsApp to Alex. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to suggest that.
From: [email protected]
Dear Turqi, It was a great pleasure to talk with you. The plan to buy The Times of London is daring and visionary. I have to be frank — it will be a fight, but we’re up for it. I have heard nothing to suggest Murdoch is interested in selling but I imagine there must be a price at which they would agree. Lachlan Murdoch is officially in charge for now. You may find him a bit conservative.
But there will be a backlash. The UAE has a watertight bid for The Telegraph group, no competition issues and a deal structure that allows it to claim the real owners are a separate investment fund. And yet there is a serious chance the bid will be blocked. Conservative MPs especially are arguing against allowing a foreign government to own the paper that chooses their next leader. So we might want to move slowly until we see what happens there. If they win, we have precedent. But if both bids are live at the same time it may embolden the authorities to block both “to safeguard the media sector”. Downing Street will find it easier to offend two countries than one since it looks less targeted.
There will be those who point to your treatment of journalists as a bit of a red flag. If we’re moving forward with this, I recommend just cracking down on expenses instead.
Are you absolutely set on The Times? The Express could be a lot easier because no one remembers it still exists. It’s very old-fashioned but I’m sure you could modernise it.
One last thing. We’ve been looking at options for building further on your sporting footprint and see real opportunities in world tennis. Keen to discuss. Best Rutherford.
Are you ready to take your place in The Line?
Find me on Strava, KoM Sydenham Hill, PR Al Jubailah/Bawdah Loop — 42 mins
From: [email protected]
Dear Turqi,
Great, we’ll greenlight our action plan and fair enough on the Express. But if we are going to land The Times I will need to spend a bit more time in London working on key players.
You’ll need to work through an arm’s length investment vehicle, ideally US or UK based to act as cut-out and be the notional acquirer, albeit with your money. Deniability of any direct involvement is essential. We need a gilt-edged editorial board, that we can credibly claim is there to guarantee editorial independence. It will need to be people with impeccable credentials, by which I mean good enough to survive scrutiny but not so impeccable that they are always making a fuss or can’t read a signal from here. That kind of quality doesn’t come cheap but you don’t want it to be the kind of role that people can afford to give up on principle.
Incidentally, have you given any thought to the tennis idea? It really fits the profile of what you are trying to achieve. The Riyadh Open as the fifth grand slam? Or even The Neom Open? The world’s biggest tennis prize? I’d be happy to work on an outline. Best Rutherford
Are you ready to take your place in The Line?
Find me on Strava . . .
WhatsApp to Stephen: Flying back tonight to start work on this Times effort. Let’s hope it runs and runs.
WhatsApp to Stephen: Damn! Murdoch has said no and they’ve bloody done the tennis deal with someone else.
WhatsApp to Turqi: That’s a great shame but things change. Are you sure you don’t want the Express? No one will care. Congrats on the tennis deal. Can I talk to you about darts — we think it’s the next global breakout sport.
Messages recovered by Robert Shrimsley
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