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| More Telegraph writers voice concern | More Telegraph writers voice concern |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Daily Telegraph journalists have said they felt discouraged from writing uncomfortable stories about a range of advertisers and commercial partners. | Daily Telegraph journalists have said they felt discouraged from writing uncomfortable stories about a range of advertisers and commercial partners. |
| These included the governments of Russia and China, a film distributor and RBS, BBC Newsnight has learned. | |
| Writer Peter Oborne said this week he left because he felt commercial matters were affecting editorial output. | Writer Peter Oborne said this week he left because he felt commercial matters were affecting editorial output. |
| The Telegraph refused to comment on the issues raised by Newsnight, but denied advertising had affected articles. | The Telegraph refused to comment on the issues raised by Newsnight, but denied advertising had affected articles. |
| More than a dozen current and recent Telegraph journalists have confirmed Mr Oborne's concerns that the newspaper has a particular problem maintaining the "Chinese walls" that most newspapers keep between their advertising departments and the work of their journalists. | More than a dozen current and recent Telegraph journalists have confirmed Mr Oborne's concerns that the newspaper has a particular problem maintaining the "Chinese walls" that most newspapers keep between their advertising departments and the work of their journalists. |
| In one bizarre case, the review for children's film Despicable Me 2 was bumped up from a two-star rating to three stars for commercial reasons. | In one bizarre case, the review for children's film Despicable Me 2 was bumped up from a two-star rating to three stars for commercial reasons. |
| The children's film's distributors had bought extensive advertising in the newspaper in the run-up to its launch. | The children's film's distributors had bought extensive advertising in the newspaper in the run-up to its launch. |
| More seriously, journalists gave examples to Newsnight of how commercial concerns affected coverage given to China and Russia. | More seriously, journalists gave examples to Newsnight of how commercial concerns affected coverage given to China and Russia. |
| In another case, on 11 December 2012, Jason Seiken, a senior editorial executive, responded to a story published that morning about turmoil within RBS by pointedly telling financial reporters that the bank was an important commercial partner for the newspaper. | In another case, on 11 December 2012, Jason Seiken, a senior editorial executive, responded to a story published that morning about turmoil within RBS by pointedly telling financial reporters that the bank was an important commercial partner for the newspaper. |
| Confidential data | Confidential data |
| There were also profound problems with mutual trust within the newspaper. | There were also profound problems with mutual trust within the newspaper. |
| In late 2012, it ran two big stories on HSBC's Jersey subsidiary. | In late 2012, it ran two big stories on HSBC's Jersey subsidiary. |
| In the discussions afterwards, HSBC sought the confidential data used by the newspaper. The Telegraph refused. | In the discussions afterwards, HSBC sought the confidential data used by the newspaper. The Telegraph refused. |
| Aidan Barclay, the chair of the Telegraph, subsequently asked for a copy of the confidential data to be passed from the Telegraph's lawyer to his own personal lawyer. | Aidan Barclay, the chair of the Telegraph, subsequently asked for a copy of the confidential data to be passed from the Telegraph's lawyer to his own personal lawyer. |
| Telegraph journalists prepared a redacted version of the information so they could give it to him without fear that their source might be identified from it. | Telegraph journalists prepared a redacted version of the information so they could give it to him without fear that their source might be identified from it. |
| Mr Oborne's decision to make his criticisms publicly was triggered by the newspaper's coverage of the recent controversy about HSBC's Swiss arm. | Mr Oborne's decision to make his criticisms publicly was triggered by the newspaper's coverage of the recent controversy about HSBC's Swiss arm. |
| Independent analysis of the newspaper's output by the Media Standards Trust has indicated that it took less interest in the story than any other major newspaper. | Independent analysis of the newspaper's output by the Media Standards Trust has indicated that it took less interest in the story than any other major newspaper. |
| Gordon Ramsay, who works at the trust, concluded: "The Telegraph devoted far fewer articles to the subject than comparable UK news sources. | Gordon Ramsay, who works at the trust, concluded: "The Telegraph devoted far fewer articles to the subject than comparable UK news sources. |
| "Those articles that it did publish contained little or no investigation into the allegations levelled at HSBC, instead framing the issue as a matter of embarrassment or conflict among politicians, political parties, or public bodies." | "Those articles that it did publish contained little or no investigation into the allegations levelled at HSBC, instead framing the issue as a matter of embarrassment or conflict among politicians, political parties, or public bodies." |
| 'Inaccuracy and innuendo' | 'Inaccuracy and innuendo' |
| The Telegraph declined to comment on the specific issues raised by Newsnight, instead reissuing a statement first released on Tuesday. | The Telegraph declined to comment on the specific issues raised by Newsnight, instead reissuing a statement first released on Tuesday. |
| A spokesperson said: "Like any other business, we never comment on individual commercial relationships, but our policy is absolutely clear. | A spokesperson said: "Like any other business, we never comment on individual commercial relationships, but our policy is absolutely clear. |
| "We aim to provide all our commercial partners with a range of advertising solutions, but the distinction between advertising and our award-winning editorial operation has always been fundamental to our business. | "We aim to provide all our commercial partners with a range of advertising solutions, but the distinction between advertising and our award-winning editorial operation has always been fundamental to our business. |
| "We utterly [deny] any allegation to the contrary. | "We utterly [deny] any allegation to the contrary. |
| "It is a matter of huge regret that Peter Oborne, for nearly five years a contributor to the Telegraph, should have launched such an astonishing and unfounded attack, full of inaccuracy and innuendo, on his own paper." | "It is a matter of huge regret that Peter Oborne, for nearly five years a contributor to the Telegraph, should have launched such an astonishing and unfounded attack, full of inaccuracy and innuendo, on his own paper." |