The next day was an away match in the FA Cup, and Richard didnât bother attending. He had more pressing matters to deal withâsitting across from him was the man he had been expecting:
Piers Morgan.
Morgan was in Richardâs office, papers and files scattered around, as he leaned forward slightly.
"Release the news?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Richardâs pen tapped rhythmically against the desk. "Itâs a pity that the news hasnât been confirmed yet, but I think I need to prepare for it," he said.
Morgan frowned, racking his head, wondering what kind of news it could be. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldnât figure it out.
"What about the thing I asked about previously? Any suggestions?" Richard pressed.
Morgan hesitated for a moment before replying, "As for your request yesterday... regarding national newspapers, I have met with the editors of both The Daily Telegraph and The Independent. However, I suggest meeting the editor of The Daily Telegraph first."
"Why?"
"As far as I know, The Independent hasnât been doing very well in recent years. Its sales have been declining. Although itâs still holding up, there has always been some speculation about its future..."
With that, Richard knew the next media company he needed to acquire. Piers Morganâs introduction, Richard understood why he had said that.
In the British newspaper industry, there is a distinction between broadsheets and tabloids.
Broadsheets generally have larger pages and carry more serious news, represented by The Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, and The Guardian.
Tabloids, on the other hand, generally have smaller pages and focus mainly on "sensational news." Their main representatives include The Sun, The Mirror, The Daily Star, and The Daily Express.
By "sensational news," we mean gossip, social features, celebrity exposés, political scandals, and other topics that particularly attract public attention.
The Independent is the youngest of the national newspapers. Since its founding in 1986, it has used "independence" as its sloganâunlike other newspapers with a fixed political leaning.
The newspaper was once popular among intellectuals and white-collar workers, with a daily circulation of 400,000 copies at its peak. However, in recent years, The Independent has become the most struggling of the four major British newspapers, with year-on-year sales often falling by more than 10%.
Over the past few years, the newspaper has tried various strategies, such as changing editors-in-chief and raising prices, but none have reversed the decline. Rumors frequently circulate that the newspaper will close, be sold, or even be converted into a tabloid.
Its parent company, INM Group, survived a crisis last year through a debt-for-equity financial restructuring, but the newspaperâs decline has continued.
Compared to other newspapers such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and The Guardian, The Independent has a much smaller circulation. That is why Chris did not recommend Richard publish his story there.
Realistically, Richard understood the stakes. Releasing his news through a smaller, struggling paper like The Independent could limit its reach and impact. He needed a platform with credibility, circulation, and influenceâa place where his narrative would resonate with the right audience and command attention. Choosing the wrong outlet could bury his efforts before they even began.
Richard leaned back in his chair, weighing his options.
"I can help you contact Mr. Thornton, the editor of The Daily Telegraph. I believe he will be interested in your offer," Piers said.
"Are they even interested in selling?" Richard asked cautiously.
"I donât know, but at least we can try," Piers shrugged.
Richard paused for a moment, noticing Piers reach for his cell phone. He quickly raised a hand."Wait a minute," he said firmly. "I want to talk to the editor of The Independent first. Can you arrange that?"
"The Independent?"
"Yes," Richard replied calmly. "Although its circulation is slightly lower right now, The Independent is still known for its independent journalism."
It may attracts intellectuals, trendsetters, and opinion leaderspeople who can amplify the story socially and give it a kind of credibility that mass-market papers often canât. Sometimes, being published in a paper that isnât mass-market can actually make a story feel exclusive or specially curated. It appeals to a discerning audienceâand that kind of perception is worth more than raw numbers.
After all, Richard wasnât focused on boosting salesâwhat he hoped for was attention.
If he could acquire
The Independent
, all eyes would be on the paper the moment the acquisition was announced. Using that attention, he would drop the bombâusing the acquisition news as the catalyst. If sales happened to rise because of it, that would only be a bonus. The true goal was impact: drawing public focus to the "bomb" and forcing the FA into a corner.
"Well," Piers said cautiously, "although I donât think this is the best choice, if you insist, I can call Mr. Whitney, the editor-in-chief of
The Independent
, and proceed with your request."
"Thank you so much, Piers," Richard replied, his voice calm but firm.
At that moment, Piers picked up his phone. "Hello, Mr. Whitney? This is Piers Morgan, senior editor from the
Daily Mirror
. Long time no see..."
As Piers spoke, he glanced toward Richard, but Richard wasnât paying attention. His eyes were fixed on the television screen.
A misplaced pass from a Burnley player falls perfectly to Lampard in midfield. He doesnât hesitateâturning sharply before sending a precise forward ball to Nakata.
Nakata, having already scanned the pitch, instantly spots the opportunity. With a deft touch, he controls the ball and launches a long, measured pass toward Dejan StankoviÄ.
StankoviÄ times his diagonal run flawlessly, darting behind the left-back. He nudges the ball slightly to the left, preparing the perfect cross.
Into the box charges Trezeguet, soaring like Superman.
"Trezeguet rises... heads it... AND ITâS IN! What a header! Absolutely unstoppable! Manchester City take the lead!"
He meets the ball with a powerful, well-placed header. Burnley goalkeeper barely reactsâfrozen for a split second too long. The ball smashes into the back of the net, thudding against the mesh.
GOAL!
"Lampard started it... Nakata spotted the chance... StankoviÄ with the clever run... and Trezeguet finishes it like a pro. Brilliant goal from City!"
For a brief moment, a smile flickered across Richardâs face.
On the phone, Piers listened intently, nodding slowly as Mr. Whitney replied.
"Alright... I understand. Thank you," he said before ending the call.
Richard didnât even notice. His mind was already racing ahead, plotting how to use the attention and timing of the acquisition to full effect.
The FA would have no idea what was coming.