I guess you probably wouldn't, however reading this report on the Sun's website, it appears that Sun journalist who just like their former colleagues at the News of the World have bills to pay, have struck lucky finding someone who seems to hold an honest belief that celebrities have hijacked the Leveson Inquiry into the press which focuses in part on some of the criminality of the popular press.
Certainly casual observers like myself of the inquiry, so far, would have noted the appearance of celebrities, but then equally powerful images, have been those of the mother of Milly Dowler, the McCanns, or Mary-Ellen Field personal adviser of Elle Macpherson sacked from her job because nobody realised that newspapers publishers were routinely involved in criminal activities to get stories.
Celebrities perhaps are fair game for newspapers but phone hacking, stalking etc are unreasonable, clearly the Sun is looking after, what it sees as its interests, although its difficult to view the story I mentioned as anything else other than an attempt to sway opinion.
As for celebrities what are we actually talking about, normal people who've got a talent, done something extraordinary or worked hard, maybe people like author J K Rowling, who's had protect her children from "journalist" who've stalked her and her children, a clear of abuse.
For myself I'd like to know when if ever the police will be interviewing senior executives of News International such as the Murdoch's I know its difficult to imagine major shareholder holders would show any interest in how their flagship business the now defunct News of the World beat the competition to some many stories. but who knows.
It's no surprise that a business that has show such a blatant disregard for decency and respect for individuals will cluch at an angle it can to support what I guess most of us see as a sleazy and dirty business.
Just what the answer is to dealing with the slimy rascals who pervert normal standards of decency in the pursuit of titillating the public with stories of human frailty, is something I don't know but if recent history is anythng is to go by cetainly, publishers and journalists are the last people to be trusted or regulate bent news media.
Finally when are we to see politicians in the dock over their relationships with newspaper owners, perhaps Blair, Cameron, Brown have some explaining to do, I understand that John Major was one of the few senior political figures not to jump when Rupert was in town, still look what happened to him.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article2183915.ece
ReplyDeleteAnd when it suits to trivialize and guide public opinion (guised as news) rely on the Sun.
Can you imagine telling Winston Churchill "By the way the consultant on your cabinet bunker security is a con man whose only military experience was as a schholboy Army cadet. The ex copper who manages cabinet security is a business associate of the consultant. They are involved in an organisation called "International Law Enforcement Training Agency" (ILETA) and it still acts as an accrediting body for security courses taught at Mid Kent College. ILETA was founded by claiming their use of Deal Barracks recreational facilities was as Combat Training Team Royal Marines with a group studying law enforcement methods. They were first reported to MI5 by Brigadier Harvey some 25 years ago but nothing was done about them by Kent Police. Bet you pleased they got as far as heading up cabinet bunker security eh Winnie ?"
Do you think Winston Churchill would be asking helpful press to write the fiasco off as a Walter Mitty who got lucky in what he got away with ?
Shortty off the hook thanks Sun
ReplyDeletegive us a break rick
ReplyDelete“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” ~Joseph Goebbels
ReplyDeletethis says it all
No, no, a thousand times NO! Not the dreaded Rick with his Deal Barracks conspiracy all over again. Thought you had kicked him into touch, Tony, but he keeps bouncing back.
ReplyDeleteOn the press issue, this is dangerous ground. Investigative journalism has exposed much over the years, perhaps most importantly in recent times, the MPs expenses scandal. Sometimes they go a bit far and encroach on people's privacy, but those people mainly seek the limelight anyway.
The danger of suppression of a free press is that a privileged minority in power can therafter get away with murder.
"The danger of suppression of a free press is that a privileged minority in power can therafter get away with murder."
ReplyDeleteWhich is exactly what they are doing often covered up or not reported by the media.
Most of what they put out is useless mind numbing fodder best avoided if you want any truth.
It seems that Murdoch can also use his influence to keep sensitive news suppressed, when instructed.
ReplyDeleteA clue to whose hand feeds newscorp, perhaps?