Chapter 289: The Fermentation of Public Opinion
After returning, Huang Xizhao wasted no time and immediately began executing Xia Yu's orders, organizing the situation within the company.
Additionally, the next day, Huang Xizhao quickly gathered all the high-level executives for another meeting.
At the meeting, Huang Xizhao directly announced that he had met with the new boss. Although everyone was eager to know who the new boss was, Huang Xizhao remained tight-lipped and refused to divulge any details. Instead, he repeatedly emphasized that everyone should be reassured that the new boss was very capable.
As a result, all the high-level executives had to suppress their intense curiosity.
However, since they were familiar with Huang Xizhao, they were also influenced by his confident demeanor. The previous feeling of unease and anxiety was swept away, and everyone felt more settled.
Next, Huang Xizhao outlined the plan for poaching talents from Jiayi TV, using grand rhetoric to declare that this poaching plan was extremely important and was an assessment from the new boss. He instructed everyone to be well-prepared while keeping everything confidential.
The meeting clarified the specific execution steps, and immediately after, the actions began.
Lide TV, which had been dormant for a long time, suddenly became vibrant, like a beached giant ship slowly starting up and heading towards the vast blue ocean.
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**Different Paths, Different Fates**
As Xia Yu was busy with his career, the scandal about the "Sing Tao Daily" sales fraud, as Xia Yu had anticipated, did not die down. Instead, it continued to ferment.
At the top floor of the Sing Tao News Group building in Hong Kong, Hu Xian, a middle-aged woman with a haggard face and a menacing aura, was unable to conceal her inner panic.
In front of Hu Xian, the head of the distribution department, Yu Hang, was trembling and kept his head bowed, afraid to look at Hu Xian. He even tried to breathe as lightly as possible.
The other senior executives around the meeting table, feeling the gravity of the situation, also kept their heads bowed, fearful of drawing Hu Xian's wrath toward themselves.
"Bang!"
"Yu Hang, didn't you say it was impossible to be discovered? Even if it was discovered, it's fine. I asked you to suppress the matter, and it's just a third-rate tabloid. How could you not handle it? Now the situation has escalated. From yesterday to now, I've already received fifteen calls from advertisers. What do you propose we do about this?"
Hu Xian slammed the table, making a loud noise. The pain from her hand was overridden by her anger as she roared.
---
After scolding Yu Hang and venting her frustration, Hu Xian seemed to have exhausted all her strength and slumped into her chair.
This time, Hu Xian was genuinely terrified.
Even the previous setbacks caused by the Jiuding Newspaper Company were not as severe, as they were merely injuries that could still be endured.
But the current situation was entirely different. This crisis was life-threatening!
Credibility was fundamental to the survival of media outlets.
Once the sales fraud was exposed, the most severe impact would be on credibility.
The exposure of a newspaper's sales fraud would have extremely serious consequences. On one hand, it would lose readers' trust, and on the other hand, it would provoke retaliation from advertisers.
After all, no one's money comes easily, and advertisers pay to promote their products. Advertising is integral to each company's marketing strategy.
When the advertising aspect is compromised, it's not just a matter of wasting money for advertisers; the impact on product marketing is crucial.
So, after the "Sing Tao Daily" sales fraud scandal broke, advertisers immediately started calling to inquire. Hu Xian naturally could not admit to the fraud, stubbornly denying any involvement.
Subsequently, more advertisers called to inquire, but Hu Xian continued to deny it.
Meanwhile, Hu Xian acted quickly, instructing Yu Hang to investigate where the problem lay and also trying to bribe the third-rate tabloid to suppress the issue.
However, the third-rate tabloid proved to be a tough nut to crack, and neither inducements nor threats were effective.
Hu Xian had no choice but to hope that the matter would fizzle out. She dared not use her own media influence to attack the tabloid, as it would only add fuel to the fire and accelerate the fermentation of public opinion.
Reality, however, often defies expectations. What you don't want to happen tends to happen in the direction you least want.
More and more newspapers joined in, collectively stirring up the controversy. Their goal was simple: to seize the opportunity to take down the Sing Tao News Group and grab the market originally belonging to them.
It wasn't that these newspapers were particularly daring, but this crisis was indeed severe. A single misstep could lead to the Sing Tao News Group facing bankruptcy.
After all, the Sing Tao News Group had contracts with major advertisers. If the fraud was confirmed, the compensation alone could spell disaster for the company.
Moreover, the Sing Tao News Group was already struggling, with significant debts to banks, making their situation perilous.
Even worse, they could be charged with commercial fraud and face legal penalties, leading to imprisonment!
Because of this, not only was Hu Xian troubled, but all the senior executives present were also deeply concerned. The company was at a critical juncture of life and death!
"What do you think we should do? This is a dangerous moment, and I hope everyone can work together to get through this crisis!"
Hu Xian gathered some strength and asked with a hoarse voice, her bloodshot eyes scanning the faces of those present.
"Chairman, the situation has already escalated and can't be suppressed anymore. But we absolutely cannot admit to it. We need to know if Director Yu has discovered where the problem is?"
A senior executive spoke solemnly, his gaze fixed on Yu Hang.
The key was still with Yu Hang. Only by finding out where the problem lay could they think of a solution.
Feeling all eyes on him, Yu Hang felt a heavy burden. He looked at everyone and then at Hu Xian, reporting, "After the incident, I have thoroughly investigated. It was an employee responsible for destroying newspapers who made a mistake. He got drunk the day before yesterday and let the matter slip. This employee has now been controlled by me."
Upon hearing Yu Hang's words, everyone frowned, not expecting the problem to be with just one employee. They all felt an urge to curse, especially Hu Xian, who even felt like killing the employee. She was like an enraged she-wolf, lashing out again.
After calming down, she said to Yu Hang, "Since he was drunk, we should issue a statement claiming it was his drunken rant and shift all the blame onto him. Can we handle that?"
"Yes!"
Yu Hang immediately gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Director Yu, are there any other issues?"
Hearing a concerned query from a senior executive, although Yu Hang felt uneasy, he honestly replied, "There shouldn't be any other issues. I personally went to destroy the previously hidden newspapers. As long as no evidence is found, the matter should die down."
---
"This is a crucial period. I hope everyone can work together to get through this crisis. After the meeting, make sure to comfort your subordinates. We cannot afford any more internal issues!"
After discussing the plan, Hu Xian finally let out a sigh of relief. She advised the other executives, who also looked somewhat relieved.
"Understood!"
Everyone responded in unison.
"Good, the meeting is adjourned!"