19 replies to this topic

[A Pair Of Flabby Wings]

Let me begin by saying that I hate Murdoch and News International for their views and their overbearing influence. However, that said, I don't feel that I - nor most other individuals - have the right to get on any moral high horse.

For many years most people have blithely enjoyed the reams of tittle tattle that such investigative journalism has uncovered over the years, so I find it at least mildly hypocritical on their part that they are suddenly horrified by the methods used. Do people think that most stories appear ready-written on a journalist's desk? And don't they also realise that most politicians have only jumped on the bandwagon of criticism to add to further their own political career?

Yes, I'm as happy as anyone to lambast News International for the reasons given in the first paragraph above; but I think for their powers of investigation they should still be applauded. For example, what if they'd found an incriminating message on Millie Dowler's phone. Wouldn't that have been useful? . . .

Yes, most journalists are loathsome, but at least their intention is to bring the "dirty" facts out into the open. Whereas most of those figures making the most noise about this would appear to have an interest in keeping things hidden.

Also, don't we find the double-standards apparent from the fact that those who hacked the royals' phones were imprisoned fairly promptly several years ago, whereas since then the investigations have proceeded at a snail's pace positively loathsome? Surprise, surprise, I do.

Is this not a price we pay for freedom of the press? And isn't the alternative silence worse?

[Paul_S]

There's absolutely no applauding from me. I'm sure (or at least I really hope) the Police were already tracking the messages on missing peoples mobile phones. The hackers just confused the issue and made investigations worse.

What surprises me is that people are shocked at how low the gutter press will go.

You are right with double standards. The people who did this broke the law and should be treated the same whoever's phone they hacked - be it a Royal or any average Joe. I am a true believer that if you break the law you should be punished. If the law is 'wrong' then the law should be changed. The rich and 'celebrities' are the worse. Bang them up I say. I don't care if some 'pop star' drunk/drug driver has a concert to do. Treat them the same as you would anyone else who did the same.

I too hate the Murdock. That's one other reason I'm with Virgin Media and not the evil Sky corporation.

Right, I'm off for a lie down in a dark room

[WoREoD]

The masses dont care - if they did they wouldnt buy the papers.

[A Pair Of Flabby Wings]

That is very true. Whe I was out yesterday I noticed just as many copies of The Sun being sold as ever.

However, if it throws a spanner in the works of their takeover of Sky, then I won't grumble. I bet Vince Cable is smiling more now than he has for several months.

[Tuatha]

Hacking into anyone's private data, be it email, phone message storage systems or private paperwork is a crime (several actually) and should be punished to whatever level a judge decides appropriate.

Interfering with police investigation should also be punishable by law (unsure of the statutes in this regard but I'm sure they can throw something at them).

Upsetting grieving parents & servicemen/women's families is regrettable but unlikely to be punishable (less civil suits here than in the US, for better or worse).

Financial impact of people not buying papers is real but likely only short lived as the same stupid/shallow people will return to trash like the NotW, Sun after just a few days. Sad but true.

Adverse financial impact of losing advertisers thru not wanting to be associated to these 'news' companies will hit harder & last a bit longer but ultimately they sell more papers & get more from Ad revenue then these things costs them. They are in the business to make money not to help/inform people.

[ajpac]

Well I for one will not be buying the Sunday Times from this week. Not much else an individual can do as a protest, but perhaps the effect of so many major companies withdrawing their advertising spend will make Murdoch and his bunch of cronies sit up and take notice.

[ldn-j]

Well no-one can buy the NotW after this w/e ... until the following week the new Sunday Sun comes out

Edited by ldn-j, 07 July 2011 - 04:30 PM.

[ajpac]

News of the World to close, Sun 7 days a week? Didn't see that coming. Start of a major PR exercise from the Murdoch bunch. Has enough mud stuck? Only time will tell.

[ldn-j]

If they can manage a successful relaunch without tainting the Sun brand it's likely to become a marketing course case study... the other media will have a field day if/when they relaunch. Same old, same old. Interesting to see what they try and do.

[Paul_S]

Tuatha, on 7 Jul 2011, 12:36, said:

<snip>
They are in the business to make money not to help/inform people.

...and to influence you politically...

I think this is quite appropriate:

[ldn-j]

Guess what, thesunonsunday.co.uk was registered but two days ago. To be fair, doesn't mean it is them could be someone opportunistic.

[Paul_S]

ldn-j, on 7 Jul 2011, 19:02, said:

Guess what, thesunonsunday.co.uk was registered but two days ago. To be fair, doesn't mean it is them could be someone opportunistic.

[A Pair Of Flabby Wings]

I'm actually surprised thesunonsunday.co.uk wasn't registered long ago, considering that is effectively what the NotW was.

Also, considering the plight of Sunday papers in general in recent years, I'm not surprised they've embraced the opportunity to shake up their offering. I bet they're secretly welcoming the opportunity. It could almost have been planned.

I'm not in any way disputing the fact that hacking and interfering with police investigations are crimes, which should be investigated and punished in the usual way. However, the public hysteria and particularly that of the victims does annoy me somewhat. How many of the "victims" have previously welcomed and indeed invited publicity and press attention? Most of them. So to start crying foul play to me smacks of hypocrisy. Just because they've not been in control is hard luck as far as I'm concerned, they've just reaped the whirlwind they once sowed.

I notice that victim's lawyers are getting involved. No surprise there, as I fear most of the victims are simply crying out for money. Nothing more, nothing less, as ever.

[Paul_S]

So now is the time to bring out the Sun on Sunday huh?

[A Pair Of Flabby Wings]

I bet they're kicking themselves that they didn't do it earlier.

Although to be honest, other than the arrests it's been a fairly quiet week on this front. I see the staff are up in arms about their management's co-operation with the police, but that to me seems easy to quieten. All the management need say is that if they hadn't been co-operative the police would probably have knocked (agrresively and untimely) on more doors, which is probably what they did say - if a halfwit like me can see that, then surely those whose lives revolve around that game can see it.

[Paul_S]

A Pair Of Flabby Wings, on 17 February 2012 - 09:50 PM, said:

I bet they're kicking themselves that they didn't do it earlier.

Damn right!

My heart bleeds

[A Pair Of Flabby Wings]

The good thing is it might actually delay the first issue.

I am still surprised, and disappointed, at the public's naivety as to how the really surprising stories come to light though. Do they think they fall off the trees in Wapping or wherever? It seems so. If only . . .

[Paul_S]

Indeed. I'll stick to Viz

[WoREoD]

I wonder where all those disgraced News of the World journailsits are now, or soon will be, working......

So predictable, right from day one.

[A Pair Of Flabby Wings]

That said, one man's or or one newspaper's disgraced journalist is another man's or another newspaper's very effective journalist, which has always been my point.