Matters of Murdoch

The phone hacking scandal, brewing since 2006, after Clive Goodman and his asscoiates were charged with hacking the phones of the royal household has taken, even more of a downturn. Lately, the number of high profile victims is on the increase. Sarah Ferguson and John Prescott have both been informed that there is evidence that they have been targeted by phone hackers working with Rupert Murdoch's paper the News of the World.

Prescott said (no doubt as eloquently as possible) that the new Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the Met, Sue Akers, had expressed her dissatisfaction with the initial investigation. Unsurprising, since, as this debacle has progressed, one story after another has unravelled like a roll of toilet paper being chewed on by Labrador puppy.

I do take issue with Murdoch over this business. I don't particularly want to move into a profession which has gained a dodgy, untrustworthy reputation. I'm fully aware that this is by no means the first time journalists have earned us all a bad repute, and it certainly won't be the last. But, as my teachers used to tell me: "You're not just letting yourself down..."

Though it seems likely Murdoch will hardly be touched by the ongoing investigation (he can spare at least one of the skeletons that not doubt litter his septic tank), it will be interesting to see how this may affect his plans to increase his media monopoly into the UK. Though he probably doesn't need much help on that front. In fact, News Corp is set to buy television company Shine Productions (the company behind the likes of Masterchef and The Tudors) the majority share of which belongs to... Rupert's daughter Elisabeth (I guess the old maxim about keeping it in the family really does ring true occasionally). She stands to make at least £400m from the deal, and speculation is also rife over whether she will become more involved in the running of News Corp. And if so, whether she, or her brother, James, will succeed their father.

Let's at least hope that they don't become as bad as the Borgia, I'm not sure if Rupert's obsidian heart would be able handle the excitement...


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/feb/10/phone-hacking-john-prescott-named
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cd4f972a-344c-11e0-993f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1DgS4AscP