learned broadsheets make their living editorializing about the nation’s fall into moral turpitude. And who owns the respectable press? The same guys who own the gutter press. They all lie end to end and indulge in practices that would cause blushes even in Bangkok.’
The Japanese spoke next, slowly but distinctly. ‘You make it sound as if you are not a newspaper man at all, Mr Corsa.’
‘I’m not. At least, not like the rest. I understand my business better than any of them.’
‘In what way?’
‘Because I understand image, and because I control it. Hitler and Goering couldn’t destroy Winston Churchill, but I could have. Destroyed his reputation, his power, his place in history. The destiny of great people – and great companies – lies in the hands of the media. If the media say your new products are great, you’re a success. Yet every time they print a sensational front-page story about how you, all of you personally,’ – he pointed accusingly around the table – ‘about how you’re killing innocent kids through radiation leaks or tobacco smoke or drugs like thalidomide …’ His audience began to shift uneasily. ‘You spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year between you on advertising and corporate communications and lobbying to manufacture your images, your corporate truths. And practically every penny is wasted. Blown away by a single front-page exclusive branding you as no better than corporate child-killers.’
‘So what precisely is it you’re suggesting we do? Stop wasting our millions advertising in your newspapers?’ It was Diane Burston, the first time she had spoken.
‘Go direct. Buy the media. Buy the front pages, not just a couple of columns inside. Then use them. To sell your own industries – and, even more effectively, to bury your competition.’
‘That’s one hell of a sales pitch. Buy into an industry just when everyone else is selling.’ Tobacco’s tone indicated he was not taking the matter entirely seriously.
‘That’s the point. The Press Bill will force the biggest players to sell some of their titles. I’m suggesting we buy and take their place. Control your own fortunes. Buy the news coverage you want.’
‘But no one is going to be allowed more than twenty per cent …’ Tobacco objected.
‘No one. No one . But a private consortium made up of six or seven players, with the lines of ownership buried behind shell companies and investment trusts which no doubt you all have located in very private homes like Liechtenstein and Luxembourg …’
‘Or Switzerland.’
‘Precisely. Together we can control as much as we want without the authorities ever catching on. Newspaper shares are cheap anyway, and I’m offering you a means of increasing their value to you many times over. How much would it be worth to have free advertising? To poison the waters for your competitors?’
‘To hang the bloody pressure groups out to dry,’ Nuclear interjected with an edge of bitterness. He was catching on.
‘Dig away at their private lives, their finances,’ Corsa added. ‘They’re practically all deviants. And,’ his lips parted encouragingly, ‘the public has a right to know.’
Diane started laughing and the exchange began in earnest. ‘Someone would see through the scheme, bound to.’ – ‘Did they see through Maxwell?’ – ‘Safety in numbers. And in trusts.’ – ‘A consortium. A very private club. With our own club magazine.’ – ‘Might get the bloody Government off our backs.’– ‘Great.’ – ‘The majesty of the press. Think about it. Always fancied being a king.’ – ‘Or queen.’ – ‘Oh, to stuff Greenpeace.’ – ‘And we’d still have the value of the newspaper shares.’
Tobacco, however, remained concerned. ‘But that’s it. I know nothing about newspapers, nor do any of us.’
‘Except me,’ their host interrupted forcefully. ‘And I want what you should want: to be part of the mightiest media group in
The Japanese spoke next, slowly but distinctly. ‘You make it sound as if you are not a newspaper man at all, Mr Corsa.’
‘I’m not. At least, not like the rest. I understand my business better than any of them.’
‘In what way?’
‘Because I understand image, and because I control it. Hitler and Goering couldn’t destroy Winston Churchill, but I could have. Destroyed his reputation, his power, his place in history. The destiny of great people – and great companies – lies in the hands of the media. If the media say your new products are great, you’re a success. Yet every time they print a sensational front-page story about how you, all of you personally,’ – he pointed accusingly around the table – ‘about how you’re killing innocent kids through radiation leaks or tobacco smoke or drugs like thalidomide …’ His audience began to shift uneasily. ‘You spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year between you on advertising and corporate communications and lobbying to manufacture your images, your corporate truths. And practically every penny is wasted. Blown away by a single front-page exclusive branding you as no better than corporate child-killers.’
‘So what precisely is it you’re suggesting we do? Stop wasting our millions advertising in your newspapers?’ It was Diane Burston, the first time she had spoken.
‘Go direct. Buy the media. Buy the front pages, not just a couple of columns inside. Then use them. To sell your own industries – and, even more effectively, to bury your competition.’
‘That’s one hell of a sales pitch. Buy into an industry just when everyone else is selling.’ Tobacco’s tone indicated he was not taking the matter entirely seriously.
‘That’s the point. The Press Bill will force the biggest players to sell some of their titles. I’m suggesting we buy and take their place. Control your own fortunes. Buy the news coverage you want.’
‘But no one is going to be allowed more than twenty per cent …’ Tobacco objected.
‘No one. No one . But a private consortium made up of six or seven players, with the lines of ownership buried behind shell companies and investment trusts which no doubt you all have located in very private homes like Liechtenstein and Luxembourg …’
‘Or Switzerland.’
‘Precisely. Together we can control as much as we want without the authorities ever catching on. Newspaper shares are cheap anyway, and I’m offering you a means of increasing their value to you many times over. How much would it be worth to have free advertising? To poison the waters for your competitors?’
‘To hang the bloody pressure groups out to dry,’ Nuclear interjected with an edge of bitterness. He was catching on.
‘Dig away at their private lives, their finances,’ Corsa added. ‘They’re practically all deviants. And,’ his lips parted encouragingly, ‘the public has a right to know.’
Diane started laughing and the exchange began in earnest. ‘Someone would see through the scheme, bound to.’ – ‘Did they see through Maxwell?’ – ‘Safety in numbers. And in trusts.’ – ‘A consortium. A very private club. With our own club magazine.’ – ‘Might get the bloody Government off our backs.’– ‘Great.’ – ‘The majesty of the press. Think about it. Always fancied being a king.’ – ‘Or queen.’ – ‘Oh, to stuff Greenpeace.’ – ‘And we’d still have the value of the newspaper shares.’
Tobacco, however, remained concerned. ‘But that’s it. I know nothing about newspapers, nor do any of us.’
‘Except me,’ their host interrupted forcefully. ‘And I want what you should want: to be part of the mightiest media group in
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