Who owns the outlets covering UK Politics

Share of each outlet's articles about a community that frame it, in the outlet's own voice, as a threat, as criminals, as a burden or as an invasion. 30 outlets and 1,144 articles over the last 90 days.

About these scores

Ranks outlets by the share of their articles about a community (Muslims, migrants, trans people, Travellers, Jewish or Black people) that frame it, in the outlet's own voice, as a threat, as criminals, as a burden or as an invasion. Reporting what someone else said does not count.

Every article from the last 90 days is scored on the same checks. Samples under 25 articles are marked as limited, because the share can move on a few pieces. Updated 22 Oct, 18:41 UTC. How it works

Outlet type
How the ownership score works

53 of 57 panel outlets mapped to verified owners or governing organisations. 4 unresolved, excluded from ranks. Research reviewed 14 Oct 2026.

Current ownership applied to the last 90 days of coverage. Earlier articles may predate a recent acquisition.

Each qualifying outlet gets equal weight: the group figure is the arithmetic mean of its outlets' shares of articles about a community that vilify it in the last 90 days. It is not a pooled share of all group articles, an audience share or a measure of the owner's personal politics.

An outlet needs at least 10 articles about a community on this topic. Only qualifying outlets contribute to the score and article count. A group can rank with one outlet; the coverage count shows how much of its panel portfolio is represented. Limited samples are the same as on the outlet leaderboard.

This is a current-ownership snapshot applied to the whole coverage window. Where ownership changed, earlier articles may predate the current owner. It does not reconstruct ownership on each publication date. Proposed acquisitions are not treated as completed.

Groups follow documented corporate ownership or shared voting control. Public broadcasters, cooperatives and nonprofits retain their own governing organisations. A common country, donor or political position alone does not combine them.

Financial figures retain their source date and type. Personal net worth, company revenue and endowments are different measures and are not comparable. No financial figure is estimated from the Watchdog scores.

19 ranked groups. Most to least vilification of communities. Figure: equal-weight average of outlet shares.

  1. 1All Perspectives / Marshall and Legatum interestsPrivate ownership59%average outlet shareGB News1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 559 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    GB News' controlling parent is All Perspectives. Its current register gives Paul Marshall more than 25% and no more than 50% of shares and votes, alongside Christopher Chandler, Richard Douglas and Philip Vassiliou with influence over trust trustees. Legatum and Marshall are the main investor blocs; this is not Marshall's sole-owned Spectator structure.

    Politics and editorial record

    The Week describes the channel's right-oriented audience and its investors' conservative projects. Its own Ofcom submission emphasises communities outside London and challenging conventional coverage; broadcast news still has due-impartiality obligations.

    Documented priorities and interests

    GB News' stated priorities include underserved regional communities and investigations into grooming gangs and visa abuse. Marshall and Legatum also back the conservative Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, according to The Week.

    Organisation revenue

    £26.2 million GB News revenue for the year to May 2025, reported by Press Gazette. This is company turnover, not the combined personal wealth of Marshall, Chandler or other investors.

    Figure dated 2025.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  2. 2Sir Paul Marshall / Old Queen Street VenturesPrivate ownership47%average outlet shareThe Spectator1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 49 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    Marshall bought the Spectator for £100 million in September 2024 through Old Queen Street Ventures. His shared GB News investment is listed separately because it has additional controlling interests.

    Politics and editorial record

    The Spectator has a documented Conservative tradition. Marshall donated £100,000 to the 2016 Leave campaign; these are distinct facts about publication and proprietor.

    Documented priorities and interests

    Marshall's investments include conservative media; the Spectator acquisition added to UnHerd and his GB News stake. He also supports education philanthropy through ARK.

    Personal net worth

    £875 million personal wealth estimate in the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List, as reported by the Independent. Historical estimate, not a current valuation of his media holdings.

    Figure dated 2024. Estimates can change.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  3. 3Lachlan Murdoch / News Corp and FoxListed company41%average outlet shareThe Times (London), New York Post, The Sun, Fox News2 of 4 panel outlets in the score, 369 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    News Corp and Fox are separate listed companies, grouped here for common Murdoch voting influence. The September 2025 settlement put the family's remaining stakes in LGC Holdco, with sole voting direction by Lachlan through 2050. News Corp's 2026 filing confirms this structure and LGC's 34.52% of Class B shares at 30 June 2026. Voting influence is not outright majority equity ownership.

    Politics and editorial record

    Fox has a documented conservative audience and political role. The New York Post backed Trump in 2024; in the UK, the Sun backed Labour in 2024 while The Times made no party endorsement, according to Loughborough. These positions differ within the ownership group.

    Documented priorities and interests

    The Sun's 2016 referendum editorial advocated leaving the EU, restricting immigration and restoring national legislative control. This records that newspaper's published campaign, rather than a uniform position across the group.

    Also on the record

    News Corp's commercial interests include news and financial information, books and digital property services. Fox's portfolio spans news, sports, entertainment, television stations and streaming.

    Personal net worth

    Forbes estimated Rupert Murdoch and family's net worth at US$24.8 billion on 14 October 2026. This family estimate is not Lachlan's individual wealth or the valuation of News Corp plus Fox.

    Figure dated 14 Oct 2026. Estimates can change.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  4. 4Friede Springer and Mathias Döpfner / Axel SpringerPrivate ownership32%average outlet shareThe Telegraph1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 50 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    Axel Springer completed the Telegraph purchase on 30 June 2026 after regulatory approvals. Springer and Döpfner together hold about 95% of the media company following its 2025 restructuring; KKR's former media ownership is not current.

    Politics and editorial record

    The company's published principles support Israel's existence, transatlantic cooperation and a free-market economy. The Telegraph endorsed the Conservatives in 2024, before this acquisition.

    Documented priorities and interests

    Axel Springer says it will expand the Telegraph in the US, develop AI-supported digital publishing, and grow subscriptions, events and premium products while preserving its editorial independence.

    Personal net worth

    Forbes estimated Friede Springer's personal net worth at US$4.3 billion on 14 October 2026. This covers one co-owner, not their combined wealth or Axel Springer's valuation.

    Figure dated 14 Oct 2026. Estimates can change.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  5. 5Rothermere family / DMGTPrivate ownership27%average outlet shareMetro, Daily Mail2 of 2 panel outlets in the score, 431 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    DMGT is wholly owned by Rothermere Continuation Limited after its 2022 delisting. Jonathan Harmsworth, Viscount Rothermere, is the family proprietor; DMGT's current investor page also records the new DMGT Holdings parent added in October 2025.

    Politics and editorial record

    Loughborough recorded the Daily Mail's Conservative endorsement in 2024. Metro's 2025 advertiser pack calls Metro politically neutral, so the Mail's party position should not be assigned to every group title.

    Documented priorities and interests

    The Daily Mail backed Brexit in 2016; its Sunday sister title supported remaining in the EU.

    Also on the record

    Alongside consumer journalism, DMGT has businesses in property information, events and venture investment.

    Organisation revenue

    £1.092 billion group gross revenue for the financial year ended September 2025, recorded in Fitch's January 2026 rating report. This is company turnover, not Rothermere's personal net worth.

    Figure dated 30 Sept 2025.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  6. 6Reach plcListed company26%average outlet shareDaily Star, Daily Mirror, Daily Express3 of 3 panel outlets in the score, 746 articles, 1 limited sampleProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    Listed publisher Reach groups the Mirror, Express and Daily Star among its national brands. It is a shareholder-owned company rather than a single identified billionaire's newspaper group.

    Politics and editorial record

    The brands take different political positions: Loughborough recorded Labour endorsements by the Mirror and Daily Star, and a Conservative endorsement by the Express, in 2024.

    Documented priorities and interests

    Reach's business relies on print circulation and advertising alongside digital advertising, subscriptions, affiliates and commercial partnerships; its 2025 results emphasise adapting to reduced search referrals.

    Organisation revenue

    £518.4 million group revenue for the year ended 31 December 2025. Company turnover, not shareholders' personal wealth.

    Figure dated 2025.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  7. 7Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed / International Media InvestmentsPrivate ownership21%average outlet shareThe National1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 14 articles, 1 limited sampleProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    The National says International Media Investments acquired and relaunched it in 2017. IMI describes itself as privately owned; Financial Times reporting identifies Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed as its controller. His public office does not turn personal holdings into a sovereign-wealth total.

    Politics and editorial record

    Mansour is a senior UAE officeholder. State Media Monitor assesses The National's posture as broadly aligned with UAE official positions; The National itself describes a UAE community focus and an international perspective.

    Documented priorities and interests

    IMI's portfolio includes The National, Al Ain News, CNN Business Arabic and interests in international broadcasters, giving it commercial distribution and international media influence.

    Wealth not established

    No verified dated personal net-worth estimate used here. Abu Dhabi sovereign funds and ruling-family aggregate assets are not Mansour's personal fortune.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  8. 8The Scott Trust / Guardian Media GroupTrust or foundation12%average outlet shareThe Guardian1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 211 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    The Scott Trust owns Guardian Media Group. Its shareholders receive no dividends.

    Politics and editorial record

    The endowment describes its purpose as sustaining independent, progressive journalism. Loughborough recorded a qualified Labour endorsement by the Guardian in 2024.

    Documented priorities and interests

    The endowment pursues financial sustainability alongside climate solutions, biodiversity, human rights and diversity objectives.

    Endowment

    £1,344.3 million endowment value at 31 March 2026, as reported by its investment advisers. This is an institutional fund, not personal wealth; the financial-statements valuation is £1,346.1 million.

    Figure dated 31 Mar 2026.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  9. 9ITV plcListed company11%average outlet shareITV News1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 72 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    ITV plc remains the broadcaster owner. Its agreed July 2026 sale of Media & Entertainment to Sky is subject to approvals; the CMA's current page describes an anticipated acquisition and remains open. News production by ITN is a contractual arrangement, not ownership of the broadcaster.

    Politics and editorial record

    ITV News is subject to Ofcom's accuracy and due-impartiality rules. ITV describes its news ambition as trusted, unbiased national, international and regional coverage.

    Documented priorities and interests

    ITV combines advertising-funded broadcasting and streaming with international programme production. Its news production agreement with ITN was renewed for five years in 2025.

    Organisation revenue

    £3.511 billion group external revenue in 2025. This excludes internal group revenue and is company turnover, not personal wealth or the value of ITV News.

    Figure dated 2025.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

  10. 10Independent Digital News and Media shareholdersPrivate ownership10%average outlet shareThe Independent1 of 1 panel outlet in the score, 249 articlesProfile and evidence

    Who owns or controls it

    The current register lists Sovereignty Media, Sultan Mohamed Abuljadayel and Justin Byam Shaw, each with more than 25% and no more than 50% of shares. Sovereignty replaced Evgeny Lebedev directly in January 2026; he controls at least 75% of Sovereignty. No sole majority owner is established by these ranges.

    Politics and editorial record

    The Independent endorsed Labour in the 2024 election. This documents the publication's position, not the politics of every shareholder.

    Documented priorities and interests

    The publisher's stated growth areas include US expansion, branded video, e-commerce and its AI-assisted Bulletin product.

    Also on the record

    Its 2017 investment announcement said a shareholder agreement protected editorial independence.

    Organisation revenue

    £55 million publisher revenue for 2025, reported by Press Gazette from published accounts. This company turnover is not the personal net worth of its shareholders.

    Figure dated 2025.

    Outlets in the Watchdog panel

    Ownership and sources reviewed 14 Oct 2026. These records describe ownership, stated positions and documented actions. They do not establish that an owner directed any particular article.

30 profiles without a group score

No qualifying outlet on this topic, or ownership is unresolved. These profiles are not ranked.

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