Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIGA365
2009-07-07 13:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
Latvia's Leading Newspaper Sold
how-toVZCZCXRO6168 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHRA #0365 1881320 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071320Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5938 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS RIGA 000365
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KPAO PGOV ECON LG
SUBJECT: Latvia's Leading Newspaper Sold
UNCLAS RIGA 000365
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KPAO PGOV ECON LG
SUBJECT: Latvia's Leading Newspaper Sold
1. Diena, Latvia's leading daily newspaper was sold on July 3. The
new owners have promised no editorial changes, but some observers
are skeptical of these claims. With circulation of close to 80,000,
Diena is the preferred newspaper among opinion-makers in Latvia, and
is considered the county's most influential newspaper. The company
also publishes a business daily, Dienas Bizness, and several
regional newspapers.
2. Bonnier Group, a privately-held Swedish firm, sold the
publishing house to Nedela S.A, which is owned by a former Diena
director, Aleksandrs Tralmaks. Tralmaks is the sole owner of Nedela
S.A, but the deal was fully financed by Luxembourg Financial
Services (LSF). The amount of the deal is being kept confidential
but it is estimated around 45 million lats (90 million USD).
According to press reports, LSF is owned by a group of Estonian
entrepreneurs, but the actual source of funding remains a topic of
speculation. Some have reported that the owners are Russian
businessmen, prompting concerns about the future of the paper.
3. There is some uncertainty among observers about the effect that
the sale will have on the high journalistic standards of the
newspaper. In a statement to the press, Tralmaks insisted that the
paper would continue the traditions of independent journalism and
freedom of speech that "have always been the core values of the
newspapers Diena and Dienas Bizness". That sentiment was echoed in
an editorial by Diena editor-in-chief Anita Brauna. Anda Rozukalne,
a noted journalism professor, expressed skepticism that the new
ownership would not affect the paper's editorial standards.
Current and former employees, including a former editor-in-chief,
have told Embassy officers that they remain optimistic that the sale
will not affect the paper's independence.
4. Comment: Diena is Latvia's best source for objective
investigation and political analysis. While there is no immediate
indication that Diena's place as an independent voice is in
jeopardy, the sale of the paper is cause to watch the situation
carefully as the sources of funding for the sale become clearer. In
the end, the core of Diena's writers and editors are hard-charging
and principled journalists. If the new owners make changes
affecting the editorial freedom of the paper, it is unlikely that
they would stay.
Rogers
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SCUL KPAO PGOV ECON LG
SUBJECT: Latvia's Leading Newspaper Sold
1. Diena, Latvia's leading daily newspaper was sold on July 3. The
new owners have promised no editorial changes, but some observers
are skeptical of these claims. With circulation of close to 80,000,
Diena is the preferred newspaper among opinion-makers in Latvia, and
is considered the county's most influential newspaper. The company
also publishes a business daily, Dienas Bizness, and several
regional newspapers.
2. Bonnier Group, a privately-held Swedish firm, sold the
publishing house to Nedela S.A, which is owned by a former Diena
director, Aleksandrs Tralmaks. Tralmaks is the sole owner of Nedela
S.A, but the deal was fully financed by Luxembourg Financial
Services (LSF). The amount of the deal is being kept confidential
but it is estimated around 45 million lats (90 million USD).
According to press reports, LSF is owned by a group of Estonian
entrepreneurs, but the actual source of funding remains a topic of
speculation. Some have reported that the owners are Russian
businessmen, prompting concerns about the future of the paper.
3. There is some uncertainty among observers about the effect that
the sale will have on the high journalistic standards of the
newspaper. In a statement to the press, Tralmaks insisted that the
paper would continue the traditions of independent journalism and
freedom of speech that "have always been the core values of the
newspapers Diena and Dienas Bizness". That sentiment was echoed in
an editorial by Diena editor-in-chief Anita Brauna. Anda Rozukalne,
a noted journalism professor, expressed skepticism that the new
ownership would not affect the paper's editorial standards.
Current and former employees, including a former editor-in-chief,
have told Embassy officers that they remain optimistic that the sale
will not affect the paper's independence.
4. Comment: Diena is Latvia's best source for objective
investigation and political analysis. While there is no immediate
indication that Diena's place as an independent voice is in
jeopardy, the sale of the paper is cause to watch the situation
carefully as the sources of funding for the sale become clearer. In
the end, the core of Diena's writers and editors are hard-charging
and principled journalists. If the new owners make changes
affecting the editorial freedom of the paper, it is unlikely that
they would stay.
Rogers