News International under fire and under pressure

Hacked off over the hacking!

Rupert Murdoch let his minions do what they wanted mostly. In the newspaper world if it sold papers then it didn't matter how the story was obtained. If it was largely untrue, so what. The News of the World started out by being a reasonably good read for gossipy news. Then Murdoch got his hands on it and the content became far more than gossip. It contained half-truths, innuendo and malice even. Now they are embroiled in a phone-hacking scandal that they cannot control or contain.

Max Clifford, the ubiquitous publicist, claimed his phone was hacked. As he puts it, "they listened to me!", and he got a £1 million plus settlement. Then others came forward and then two journalists got sent to jail and then.....it just goes on. We hear it's not just News International but the whole of Fleet Street involved.

Now News International has admitted there were at least eight victims and has put aside £20m for compensation. This after all their protestations that there was only one rogue reporter on the loose. Either they are incompetent at managing a newspaper business or they are actively involved in a cover-up and this is onion peeling time.

All types are involved. Tessa Jowell, former culture secretary, Andy Gray, erstwhile Sky Sports pundit, the designer Kelly Hoppen and actress Sienna Miller. More are emerging, no doubt emboldened by the revelations and believing that the authorities are taking their claims seriously.

Max Clifford said one good thing today. Journalism should be about exposing wrongdoing and hypocrisy. It most certainly is not about employing wrongdoing in order to obtain tittle-tattle and private conversations.

This is going to roll on until Murdoch rolls over.

News Of The World in new phone hacking scandal

The BBC is reporting that The News of the World has suspended its news editor Ian Edmondson over allegations of phone-hacking at the paper in 2005-06. As this rag knows only too well, if you dig deep enough you'll find out where the real secrets are hidden.

Murdoch's red tops are a sorry excuse for journalism. This latest piece of news may be the tip of the iceberg or just an ice cube in the sea. It relates to allegations made by actress Sienna Miller that her phone was hacked. I hope she carries on because it is very much more than a whiff that the NOTW has not behaved impeccably. I suppose it's too much to expect impeccable behaviour in this quarter. But this story won't go away. Simply because most of us don't believe a word they say when they deny they knew about phonehacking.

A sign of The Times

The Times is no longer available online for free. Murdoch's minions have decided to use the pay-as-you-read method. There is a free period but you still have to "register". Do I want Murdoch knowing my business? I think I'll give him a miss for now, but as they say, never say never. But the thought of helping this anti-British mogul is never appealing. "You British can be such...." and so on!

Murdoch says "I shape the agenda!"

Rupert Murdoch is a man who doesn't often fail in getting his own way. An Australian masquerading as an American, with a penchant for having a bash at Brits he despises "You British can be such...." and so on. He may be OK with his friends, but the rest of us have to make do with him manipulating his own media so that he can, in his own words, SHAPE THE AGENDA. He's shaped it big time with Fox News. He freely admits he followed the Bush policy detail. Even though he acknowledges that some are against the War in Iraq, I bet it doesn't bother him that much.

This little video shows he's still keen on manipulation. Shaping the agenda, indeed!!