A trip to Japan to meet the Financial Times’ new owners has persuaded the broadsheet’s editor that they won’t interfere in editorial matters, according to an email seen by Politico.
Alex Spence of Politico writes, “Lionel Barber, in a note to former employees, sought to reassure the FT ‘alums’ that there’s no need to worry about the media group Nikkei’s intentions.
“‘Having recently returned from a successful three-day trip to Tokyo, where I held talks with Nikkei’s top management, I can offer reassurances,’ Barber wrote.
“‘First, Nikkei’s president Kita-san, the driving force behind the deal, offered a personal commitment to long-term investment and declared unconditionally that Nikkei would respect the FT’s editorial independence.’
“‘Kita-san’ is a reference to Tsuneo Kita, Nikkei’s chairman.”
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