[Update] The News Corp scandal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/...00/8167512.stm

[denphone]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...-senator-bribe

Australian police are investigating a former senator's allegations that an executive from Rupert Murdoch's News Limited offered him favourable newspaper coverage and "a special relationship" in return for voting against government legislation.

The newspapers reported that an unnamed executive of News Ltd asked O'Chee during a lunch on 13 June 1998 to vote against his conservative government's legislation on the creation of digital TV in Australia. The news group stood to profit from the legislation failing.

The McCanns are giving are giving evidence.

[chris9991]

James Murdoch gives up (apparently)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/23/james_murdoch/

Originally Posted by chris9991

James Murdoch gives up (apparently)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/23/james_murdoch/

So he resigned on the 29th of September? Why the secrecy?

[chris9991]

That's the document date - the effective date (on the document) is the 19th September. My feeling is that they are looking to either close or sell off their newspaper division. Newspaper golden age is behind it and I think it is only the Sun that is actually profitable. They might take as much money as possible now, and then it may make taking over the rest of BSkyB easier

Originally Posted by chris9991

That's the document date - the effective date (on the document) is the 19th September. My feeling is that they are looking to either close or sell off their newspaper division. Newspaper golden age is behind it and I think it is only the Sun that is actually profitable. They might take as much money as possible now, and then it may make taking over the rest of BSkyB easier

It won't..there is going to be some long hard looks at them if they apply again and it may be decided that in view of what happened at NOTW they are not fit to be in charge of Bskyb.I think with the Leveson Inquiry the whole industry, papers and broadcasters are going to get their wings clipped.Once that happens I think our government may grow a pair and not allow themselves to be bullied into allowing the takeover.

[chris9991]

If the Murdochs can distance themselves enough form the scandal, the BSkyB could I think be resurrected. They are pally with the PM and others of the Government. When James Murdoch was being quizzed the other week, it felt like there was an emphasis on it being others at fault. Make it seem like the Murdochs were innocent and they can get away with it.

Originally Posted by chris9991

If the Murdochs can distance themselves enough form the scandal, the BSkyB could I think be resurrected. They are pally with the PM and others of the Government. When James Murdoch was being quizzed the other week, it felt like there was an emphasis on it being others at fault. Make it seem like the Murdochs were innocent and they can get away with it.

Oh I think the Leveson Inquiry will put a stop to the pals act.I've been watching it and it's damning.The Murdochs have been presiding over a very ill run industry and it is going to make life very hard for them in that mud will stick.

[chris9991]

I quite agree that what went on at News International is quite damning but there seems to be a lack of mud that directly stick to the Murdochs. I imagine they knew more than they've been saying they knew but there appears to be a lack of prima facie evidence to prove it

Originally Posted by chris9991

I quite agree that what went on at News International is quite damning but there seems to be a lack of mud that directly stick to the Murdochs. I imagine they knew more than they've been saying they knew but there appears to be a lack of prima facie evidence to prove it

They can still be accused of not being fit to own more of BSkyb because they showed insufficient control of the running of their papers.

You can be as sceptical as you like but I'm certain the hold that the Murdochs held over the Government is at an end and that the industry will be brought to heel after any court cases and when the Leveson Inquiry reaches a conclusion about what should be done to regulate the media industry.I suspect self regulation is out of the question.

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by chris9991

James Murdoch gives up (apparently)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/23/james_murdoch/

He is still Chairman of British Sky Broadcasting plc and News Corporation (Europe and Asia)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15932368

The former Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, is understood to have been warned by police that his computer may have been hacked.
According to the Guardian newspaper, it is thought that any hacking may have been carried out by private detectives working for News International.
Computers belonging to other senior Northern Ireland civil servants may also have been compromised.
A spokesman for Mr Hain said the matter is a "matter of national security".
Mr Hain was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2007, was involved in peace negotiations and as a result would have had access to sensitive security data.

Not surprised after yesterday's revelations in the Leveson Inquiry yesterday.

Listening to Paul McMullen at the Leveson Inquiry and trying not to vomit. What a truly unpleasant excuse for a human he is..

However the finger has been pointed by him.

Editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks knew about phone hacking, a former News of the World journalist tells the Leveson Inquiry.

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Listening to Paul McMullen at the Leveson Inquiry and trying not to vomit. What a truly unpleasant excuse for a human he is..

His guy is brilliant. I am pretty sure he is being deliberately antagonistic to help forge a media career as an bad guy.

A few choice moments:

I felt slightly proud that I had written something that created a riot and got a paediatrician beaten up.

When asked to explain his comments he said he meant them as a sort of joke.

Later on:

In 21 years of invading people's privacy I've never actually come across anyone who's been doing any good. Privacy is the space bad people need to do bad things in.

Privacy is evil; it brings out the worst qualities in people.

Privacy is for paedos; fundamentally nobody else needs it.