As the Leveson enquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press here in the UK including in the second part, 'The Phone Hacking Scandal' of 2006 ploughed on, ex News Of the World Editor Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, the youngest ever Editor of a British national newspaper at News Of the World, first female Editor of the Sun, have been becoming increasingly embroiled in hot water.
Back in 2006-2007 ex-News Of the World royal correspondent, Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were charged with intercepting voicemail messages left for members of the royal family and subsequently jailed. This sparked widespread public interest, not to be confused with 'of' interest to the public, into how deep and how wide-spread phone hacking was.
In a recent interview it was commented that out of a readership figure of almost 15,000000 of our national and regional newspaper read every day in the UK, it was only one or two newspapers this 'scandal' centred around. The disbanded News Of the World sold some 2.8 million copies every week, and was one of our oldest newspapers. After the phone hacking revelations Rupert Murdoch, the owner of the paper as part of his News Corporation Group, disbanded it in 2011, in the aftermath of the Milly Dowler murder of 2002 and revelations her mobile phone had also been hacked.
Also in 2011 the Metropolitan Police in London launched Operation Weeting. A new phone hacking investigation including looking at the previous 2006 investigation and eventually widening to include 'improper payments to public officials and computer hacking' allegations.
In 2007 then opposition leader David Cameron, with a big C, hired Andy Coulson with a small c, the recently disbanded Editor of the News Of the World - Editor between 2000- 2006 - as his Communications Director. A decision Cameron has come under due scrutiny for over the last few day's. I mean, would you, really? Bring a man of this disrepute, under this intense scrutiny, innocent or otherwise, into the folds of the globally revered British Houses of Parliaments inner sanctum? Words escape me. Or do they? The relationship between the British Press and Politicians has been a historically close one. In certain circles.
Interestingly it was between the years 1926, specifically May 1926, when most newspapers were suspended during the 'General Strike,' our British Government publishes the British Gazette and the TUC publishes British Worker, and 1930, when British Government and the Trade Unions started printing newspapers and pamphlets to promote their 'own' agendas on a large scale. The British Worker latterly became Morning Star in 1966. Kelvin MacKenzie, ex-editor of the Sun newspaper (a Murdoch paper) recounted a key moment in every board meeting was always "who's going to ring Rupert then?"
Renowned for micro-managing his papers it is clear a relationship between Murdoch, Brook, Coulson and indeed some politicians was inextricably linked. Tony Blair is of course Godfather to Murdoch's daughter. And 'The Lady,' Margaret Thatcher, famously stated: "I do not want to be loved. I am not interested in the media." And then promptly 'courted' Rupert Murdoch.
2010: Outside of this the UK had just come out of a tumultuous final season of a Labour led Government, Prime Minister Tony Blair was and is continuously under scrutiny for his role in taking the UK to war in Iraq. The cheeky grin of his comrade in arms, or is that rival enemy? Gordon Brown, had been chomping at the bit to get his long awaited promise to lead his party as Prime Minister, and us mere electorate stroke British citizens were encapsulated by a growing sense of doom, deep within a financial meltdown and a first hung-parliament since 1974 leading us into a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
On the 6th September 2010 ITV launched a new breakfast news programme called Daybreak which replaced the flailing GMTV. So Eamonn Holmes was now 'otherwise engaged.'
The price of a loaf of bread was set to jump up as wheat prices rose after a 'scorching July in Russia and a calamitous flooding in Pakistan.'
And, in hindsight rather fittingly, top of the Top 100 UK singles charts for 2010 was Alicia Keys Empire State of Mind(part II) Broke Down.
So the frame within which we lived was if nothing else, a strenuous one.
Back to the present day. As Coulson and Rebekah Brooks faced charges of conspiring to hack phone calls, for which, rather unsurprisingly to this writers mind, Rebekah Brooks, Murdoch's 'key to British Politicians' - Brooks was Murdoch's chief executive officer of his News International Group between 2009- 2011, was cleared of all charges. Whilst Andy Coulson with a small c was found guilty and may also be facing two other subsequent charges should the jury be re-formed. Mhh . . . Inner Sanctum.
I strayed slightly from the point. As usual. Apologies.
As we read today of both Brooks and Coulson (who enjoyed a six year love affair) both receiving cautions in a corporate prosecution based on ongoing investigations originally instigated in 2012 into Murdoch's UK media empire for hacking and bribing offences. When asked about a romantic text message Brooks sent to Coulson during their affair Brooks reportedly originally remarked' I might have had a couple of glasses of wine.' Mhh . . .
So, here we are, Thursday, 26th June, 2014. I think immediately of comments made during a BBC radio 4 debate entitled 'Post-Hackgate Debate' of Sunday, 09th, October, 2011. Within which Richard Caseby ,once Managing Director of Murdoch's Sun newspaper commented:
"The biggest issue at the moment for press is the Human Rights Act Articles 8 and 10" Freedom of Speech and Privacy.
Perhaps as we continue to read, watch and hear of developments in this turning-point moment in time for the British Press and Government, we should take a moment to rejoice in the democratic free press we enjoy for the better not the worse. The rights of all UK citizens to freedom of speech and that oh so fine line between privacy and exposition.Sparing a thought for those countries who do not have free press but a censored Government controlled 'media-state,' and just cherish the democratically 'free' lives we are privileged to lead. We enjoy many world-class newspapers, we are privileged to read these and many other regional newspapers, online or otherwise,at our disposal for our information and leisure, any time, anywhere.
Perhaps this perspective will inform perspectives over the recent scandals and revelations. It is but a small minority of newspapers and individuals that have tarnished for what is in fact a mere blip in time, what is an historically excellent, respectable and admirable UK printed news network.
Let the words speak for the man.
'What is of public interest not what is of interest to the public'
As ever and always, it is my primary concern this inspires, engages, challenges and stimulates your mind one way or the other. Offering some small pleasure to any who care to read
Until we meet again through the page,
Warmly yours
R J Wardle
Ps:
No comments:
Post a Comment