Steven Barnett talks to the Guardian about the potential Telegraph takeover by Dovid Efune

Prof. Steven Barnett has recently spoken to the Guardian about the potential takeover of the Telegraph by Dovid Efune.

Barnett warns that Efune’s ownership could significantly skew the Telegraph’s news agenda towards a pro-Israel perspective. He points out that newspaper proprietors often impose their own agendas on editorial output, citing examples like Rupert Murdoch and Lord Rothermere.

Barnett believes that regulators are unlikely to block Efune’s purchase due to the current regulations focusing on ownership and plurality rather than political leanings. This means that Efune could potentially exert significant influence over the Telegraph’s editorial content without facing regulatory hurdles.

“For owners of media properties these days there are no constraints on them in terms of independence and impartiality…I think we can expect if Efune does buy the Telegraph that we will see his world vision, his perspective, particularly on the Middle East, on every page. You can see that the news agenda would become significantly skewed in his direction, I would expect a much more pro-Israel perspective.”

Barnett’s analysis frames the media landscape as one where ownership and control deeply affect the ideological direction and editorial independence of influential outlets like The Telegraph and The Spectator.

The full article can be read on the Guardian Website.

Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash.