Written By:
Mike Smith - Date published:
2:56 pm, July 10th, 2011 - 9 comments
Categories: Media, uk politics -
Tags:
Murdoch-watchers have long known there’s something rotten in the Newscorp media empire. The extent and reach of the phone hacking scandal in Britain has finally seen the biter bit by its own corruption. Murdoch sought power over governments around the world to entrench his extreme right-wing ideology. In Britain, Thatcher was an enthusiastic agreer, Blair a sycophantic follower, and Cameron too bent the knee. All were supported by Murdoch’s tabloid papers into Parliament, albeit Cameron only as a minority leader. The Observer sums up how he has operated and why this must come to an end.
While shouldn’t expect an early or an easy end, this post from UK blogger John Ward sums up what is at stake for Murdoch as the rot spreads. Ed Miliband, criticised only recently for weak leadership, now proposes to introduce a motion to Parliament to stop the deal. LibDems and some Conservatices may well support it.
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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You mean Ed Miliband, Mike.
I did enjoy the headline in The Times re NOTW – ‘Hacked to death’ – it’s a headline you’d expect from a tabloid, not from a crusty Newscorp broadsheet.
You are right, but unfortunately this is merely indicative of the further descent of “The Times” from a once respected, quality, balanced and informative newspaper to a cheap ‘our readers can’t manage anything more than a soundbite” rag – under the ownership of News International, of course.
Murdoch has provided a role model for Berlusconi in Italy I think. He’s spread himself over the media like a Darth Vader with a big black cape. If he went into politics like the Busy Bee from Italy I wonder in which country he would have eligibility. I think he was originally Canadian but has he got USA citizenship now? Or is that a Packer? I can’t keep up with the machinations.
Both Packer and Murdoch are Aussies. Murdoch’s nickname, the Dirty Digger, refers to both his background and also his enthusiastic endorsement of the Page 3 Girl.
Terrific podcast in the Guardian which lays the whole thing open.
Eeeww. That makes one reinterpret the BBC’s headline:
“Murdoch says chief Rebekah Brooks is his first priority”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14100053
Toad – thanks, I do mean Ed Miliband. Have amended post.
Anyone who watched the Mervyn Bragg interview with the dying Dennis Potter would have been forwarned regarding the sly dangerous man Murdoch is . I never thought he would ever be exposed . Lets all be thankfull that at last he has ./
Cameron and his band of Murdoch spin doctors giving Key advice on what spin to undermine the opposition