Virtually Naked

The News of the World phonehacking saga has rumbled on and on for years. It has resulted in two men going to prison, and effectively cost Andy Coulson his job at No.10. Yet despite all this, it is only today that more than a select few have begun to take the issue seriously.

The allegations that a private investigator working for the paper hacked, and deleted messages from, the phone of missing Milly Dowler seems finally to have sufficiently rocked everyone into action. So it should. Although the right man has now gone to jail for her terrible murder, how much misplace hope and agony could her family have been spared, how many police resources could have been saved, if the News of the World had not behaved in the disgraceful manner they are being accused of?

It is pleasing to see some major companies making noises about withdrawing advertising from the News of the World, as ultimately being hit in the pocket is what will cause a cultural change at that rag. 

I would, however,T dispute whether either Rupert or James Murdoch directly commisioned activites such as phonehacking. The actions took place many levels below them, and it would be impossible for the bosses of a multi-national corporation to now exactly what was going in every part of the company. However, the privilege of owning media outlets should not be taken lightly, and the Murdoch’s, along with henchwoman Rebekaa Brooks, are entirely responsible for the culture within their company. It is surely the desperation from the top to get a scoop and be ahead of the game that has led to this depraved behaviour.

Furthermore, I have said thoughout (and I was in the Select Committee hearing when hacking of the Prince’s phones was revealed,) that I find it hard to believe editors did not know where their stories were coming from. If Coulson and Brooks didn’t know, it is because they didn’t want to know. Surely now Rebekah Brooks must be relieved of her role at News International, anything else seems to be a tacit endoresment of phonehacking. At best her presence is bringing the company into disrepute, at worst serious criminal behaviour has occured on her watch.

As a side note, yesterday, ironically as the new developments broke, I had a piece posted on the Total Politics blog saying that we should not fear the Foxification of a news channel in the UK. I still believe that markets and public taste will dictate what people will tolerate in terms of partisanship, and that counters to such developments will emerge. Arguably it is better that broadcasters openl air their bias, instead of the pseudo impartiality we often have now. Although in the current case the two companies involved are the same, the principle in my argument is not directly related to Murdoch or News International, and is more a general loo at partisan news coverage.

Breaking into the private communications of people has always been a serious thing, it is why we outlawed journalists sitting outside Buckingham Palace with a scanner. It is a sickening shame that it took the case of a murdered girl for it to be widely taken seriously.

Posted on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 3:38 pm in General   |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback URL