PR agency Freud’s, the Independent, Vice and Tony Blair Institute for Global Change among those with linksLondon has become a hub for global Saudi public relations and media influence campaigns, with British firms earning millions of pounds from efforts to improve the image of the kingdom and its regional allies in recent years, a Guardian investigation has found.The reputation of Saudi Arabia, always controversial due to its record on human rights and involvement in the ongoing Yemeni war, has taken a battering in the past fortnight following the apparent murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Related: Independent’s deal with Saudi publisher back under spotlight Major PR agency Freud’s, which has worked with Saudi Arabia, is now distancing itself from the kingdom.There are fresh concerns over the Independent’s decision to establish a partnership with a Saudi publisher with close links to the Saudi government.The London office of online publisher Vice has been working on a series of films to promote Saudi Arabia.A Saudi publishing company that is signing partnerships with western media firms has donated to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in return for his advice to the country.A company largely staffed by former employees of the collapsed PR firm Bell Pottinger has advised the Saudi state on communications strategy. Related: As pressure on Saudi Arabia grows, Jamal Khashoggi has achieved his life’s mission | Jonathan Freedland Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]