Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
I've been trying to learn more about the News of the World scandal, where the paper hacked into private people's voicemails to get stories. The best story I read about it was the one where actor Hugh Grant secretly recorded someone admitting this. But I'd never heard about NotW even though I do read British tabloids at times.
Well, the paper has been shuttered and its former executive was arrested yesterday, albeit not charged with anything. The story is interesting, but is it front-page, above-the-fold interesting? Well, The New York Times and Washington Post both thought so. And it's not because British tabloids, much less NotW, are household concerns here in the States. The reason is because NotW is owned by the same man who owns FOX News. And they really don't like him.
Today the Wall Street Journal, also owned by Murdoch, against charges that its reputation is harmed by another publication's scandal. And it does so well, I think:
We also trust that readers can see through the commercial and ideological motives of our competitor-critics. The Schadenfreude is so thick you can't cut it with a chainsaw. Especially redolent are lectures about journalistic standards from publications that give Julian Assange and WikiLeaks their moral imprimatur. They want their readers to believe, based on no evidence, that the tabloid excesses of one publication somehow tarnish thousands of other News Corp. journalists across the world.
I think the story is worth covering. And I wouldn't mind if it scared American journalists off of British-style reporting, too. I can't quite imagine how the scandal would be brought stateside but I'm sure all possible avenues will be investigated by very excited competitors and Murdoch's political opponents.
But the partisan media critics I follow on Twitter could not be more upset about being called out as partisans. The editorial so thoroughly nailed liberal journalism professor Jeff Jarvis that his Twitter stream is sometimes just a stream of cuss words. Jay Rosen, known for thinking the media isn't liberal enough, is similarly outraged.
One thing they're not doing, however, is responding to the substance of the piece. How much coverage of the NotW hacking scandal is appropriate? Are you as interested in it as the mainstream media is? Do you think this hacking scandal is worse than Wikileaks?
- Comment (8)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
Nov '10
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
I'm not particularly interested in the NotW scandal, other than knowing it was done, and hoping the perpetrators get some jail time. Respecting other people's privacy is important for maintaining a civil society. On the other hand, those that leaked sensitive documents in Wikileaks - particularly when they put Americans and their allies at risk, really ought to be shot.
Dec '10
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
I'm more concerned with how the left will use this as a bludgeon against Murdock via the FCC.
Mar '11
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
As Joe Biden would say, this is a big ...... deal. Murdoch executives and London police chiefs are falling on their swords like flies, and there is a parliamentary hearing Tuesday, to which the Murdochs, including Rupert, have been "invited" to attend - there is no formal subpoena procedure for this in the UK, but some ancient law was dragged out, and they were threatened with being arrested by the parliamentary police and locked up in a cell in Westminster which hasn't been used for a few hundred years.
So try and catch the hearing - it is being billed as the showtrial of the Century.
There are a couple of ways the fiasco may move Stateside - the obnoxious Barbara Boxer was on the BBC explaining that if a US Corporation breaks the laws of other countries they can be in trouble in the US (not being a lawyer, I have no idea how true this). The second is rumored hacking of 9-11 victims and their families - the rumors are pretty thin but, if true, it could be the end of the Murdoch empire, worldwide.
If I were Ricochet management, I'd think about declaring independence from Rupert.
Edited on Jul 18, 2011 at 7:41amRe: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
For those interested in a more reasonable argument against the WSJ editorial, you can check out Ed Morrissey at Hot Air. He thought they buried the lede in a pile of non-sequiturs.
Mar '11
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
Yes, of course the Left in both the UK and US are going to use this to try to bring down the Murdoch empire - especially the hated Fox News and WSJ (hopefully not Ricochet). But the fact remains that something illegal happened in the UK, with consequences in the US.
Feb '11
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
" But I'd never heard about NotW"
That's how lefties refer to Obama; it's actually the executive summary of his resume
Oct '10
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
David Williamson... Yes, of course the Left in both the UK and US are going to use this to try to bring down the Murdoch empire - especially the hated Fox News and WSJ (hopefully not Ricochet). But the fact remains that something illegal happened in the UK, with consequences in the US.
Where there many laws, you can be found guilty any time it is necessary. Your fear is unfounded. Lotsa noise will be made, but there are two points two note.
1) Murdoch buys ink by the barrel.
2) Murdoch is extremely rich and influential.
Until now, Murdoch has been rather non-partisan in his business pursuits. Perhaps the left piling on will be what it takes for Murdoch to actually take the side of the right for real.
Edited on Jul 18, 2011 at 9:47amMar '11
Re: Some Hacks Are Better Than Other Hacks
raycon: Your fear is unfounded. Lotsa noise will be made, but there are two points to note.
1) Murdoch buys ink by the barrel.
2) Murdoch is extremely rich and influential.
I hope you are right, but the same could be said of Conrad Black (admittedly, he is smaller fry) - the special prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich, if he is so inclined.
I think this is just starting in the US, so it will be interesting to watch if and when a grand jury is appointed.