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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Rupert Murdoch deeply damaged by death of News of the World

Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 03:06 PM

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The death of a newspaper at any time is an event full of tragedy for all those concerned but in the case of The News of the World it is hard to feel any sympathy.

The newspaper simply crossed the line between tabloid journalism and criminal behavior and it had to go.

Known universally as 'The News of the Screws' for its focus on sex scandals and the like, it was a classic Murdoch newspaper, full of tits and tattle masquerading as the conscience of British society.

It was an immensely powerful vehicle for Murdoch. Margaret Thatcher was the first British Prime Minister to pay homage and all others who followed her subsequently did.

David Cameron's press officer until the scandal broke was a former News of the World editor, Andrew Coulson

It was a powerful but the criminal activities it involved itself in are truly astonishing.

It was known that it had hacked the phones of celebrities which no one took all that seriously as it turned out.

But dogged journalism by The Guardian uncovered far more dark secrets.

The paper had hacked into the cell phone of a missing young girl and caused the parents untold anguish when they deleted messages which led the parents to think their murdered daughter was still alive.

They also hacked into the phones of families of 7/7 victims, killed in the Al Qaeda massacre on London trains.

They also pursued a policeman who was investigating a murder involving a close associate of the newspaper.

God knows what else they got up to. A former journalist with them admitted such hacking had taken place in Ireland too.

Putting the paper out of business seemed the only logical step and who knows what other tabloid newspapers were up too.

This is a scandal that will run and run, a clear indication that Murdoch, drunk with power, had allowed his editors free rein to a ridiculous extent and didn't care as long as they boosted sales.

Not since William Randolph Hearst caused the Spanish American war in 1898 has a greater press scandal ensued.

Now he is getting his answer in a very real way and his empire is surely threatened and his own reputation is suddenly in tatters.

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themurphia | Jul 09, 2011, 11:06 AM EDT

It's a shame the Final Edition has not been pulped and produced on a perforated roll...How dumb do they think the public are..? giving the takings of the final issue to Charity like that will redeem them in any way...that and the Dunkirk spirit going in to get the FINAL (HALLELUJAH) issue out today...Perhaps now these journalists will experience what it's like to live on the the breadline having done Murdoch and Maggie's dirty work for them...however I somehow think this is unlikely...The 'News of the World' is Dead long live the 'Sun (aka the Scum)on Sunday'...The time has come for proper regulation of Journalism...that time is NOW...!

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tullyallen | Jul 09, 2011, 03:05 AM EDT

filthy rag no loss

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McNamara31 | Jul 08, 2011, 09:45 PM EDT

Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes: Media Scum

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themurphia | Jul 08, 2011, 02:35 PM EDT

One of Murdoch's hacks on'The Times' has just appeared on TV blaming 'yummy mummies' for the closure of the NoTW...What planet are these people on...?

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themurphia | Jul 08, 2011, 08:52 AM EDT

I know that you know that I meant Marshal McLuhan...whoops...!

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themurphia | Jul 08, 2011, 06:32 AM EDT

'Crossed the line between tabloid journalism and criminal behavour'...Hmmm...!

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themurphia | Jul 08, 2011, 05:55 AM EDT

I wouldn't wipe my Aras with the NOTW...or any other Tabloid for that matter...the gutter press at it's worst aimed at the lowest common denominator vulgarity of the basest kind...I never bought it I wouldn't read it on principle..or any other of Murdoch's rags....as Marshal McLahan said the medium is the message...someone elase recommended an online paper that does not have any advertising I haven't checked it yet it's about time we had an ETHICAL press..

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marsman | Jul 08, 2011, 04:55 AM EDT

News about the media are often far more interesting than what is in them. I could recommend, among others, "Newspaper Death Watch", a US site, very casual, but informative about the newspaper business. Or use the searchword: "newspaper revenue" and go for NEWS at Google. This also yield some information on an ongoing bases. And there is of course at present the Guardian.co.uk.

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pmunited | Jul 07, 2011, 10:30 PM EDT

To call the News of the World a newspaper is a bit of an exaggeration. I accept that there there is a market for tabloid newspapers, but really no one read NOTW for news. It will not be missed.

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seanomelbourne | Jul 07, 2011, 08:14 PM EDT

The fall of a despot, Fox/GOP"be afraid" fair and balanced like your tabloid "news of the world".

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Towngate | Jul 07, 2011, 07:41 PM EDT

"Let heeeeee whoooo is without Sin caaaast the first stoooooooooooone!" .... Careful, everyone: There is no stench quite like the Odour of Sanctity! .... But Niall, you're quite right,it did "... masquerade as the conscience of British Society" ... but the British; and readers of the popular Irish edition (which you notably fail to mention) never thought of it as any such thing!It was just a welcome stimulous to the British Sunday morning National Pastime of practising - or actually - 'baby-making'! In its 169 year long and successful life it has helped keep the spirits of many generations of ordinary common working people up during many dark days and helped them keep their old periscopes in good working order!

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antoman | Jul 07, 2011, 07:01 PM EDT

Mad dogs and englishmen.Did you know that the fox is not indigenous to Australia and they are prevailent there now because Rupert imported them in so that his butler would have something to chase of a Sunday afternoon.He noted how the butler never caught the fox and thus Fox news was born.

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WalterEllis | Jul 07, 2011, 03:25 PM EDT

Niall: 100 per cent spot-on. But could I suggest that you slow down when writing your blogs? Another two minutes and you could have avoided several needless errors. On the other hand, maybe you were writing in hot blood, which sometimes does the trick.

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Slatey1 | Jul 07, 2011, 03:11 PM EDT

I can only hope that the shock waves make it across the pond to the USA. Here its tabloid news on TV (Fox news)but presented as fact and so many here eat it up with a spoon and fork.

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