The News International saga and accusations of criminal activities continue to fill the British Media. Blame is being tossed like custard pies involving News International, the journalists involved and the Metropolitan Police Officers who helped to cover up the extent of the intrusions in the private lives of all the people concerned. It has also been the main topic in the political arena where past and present governments and ministers are being accused of inaction in the face of allegations and evidence that has been brought to their attention. Various actions are being proposed from wholesale police investigations to judicial and public inquiries. The Metropolitan Police Force are making inquiries to investigate, gather evidence and bring the culprit to bear the force of the judicial system. Unfortunately, although there is general agreement that abuse of power has taken place resulting in criminal activities and offences has likely been committed, there still does not seem to be an agreement on the necessary and appropriate action that needs to be taken. The approach continues to appear softly softly. Are we British soft on such issues compared to let's say the United States or Australia, for example? Can we be accused of dragging our feet rather than taking decisive action?
News International certainly has been decisive in axing the newspaper involved, namely, the News of the World. The paper will see it's last publication on Sunday, July the 10, 2011. However, credit to News International, phoenix like rising from the ashes of the demise of the News Of The World, another British News International's newspapers, The Sun will now have a Sunday issue. Decisive action or what? The question remain, however, that was it the newspaper that was to blame for the scandals or was it the personnel involved in bringing the newspaper and its journalistic approach into disrepute? The latter being the case, should the personnel concerned not be axed or sacked as the case may be and not the newspaper?
Keep you ears to the ground and your eyes open, there may yet be more episodes to this saga.
Good Bye and Good Luck until the next time.
Knight Owl.
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Telephone Hacking
The revelations concerning News International's involvement in telephone hacking continue to grow by the day. Initially, it was revealed that famous people such as celebrities and prominent political figures had their telephones hacked and a legal battle ensued. It has now become evident that many common people had their phones hacked as well. Among these people were victims of serious crimes, for example, the late Millie Dowler, and families and victims of the 7/7 bombing incidents among others. Where does this stop or how widely has this perpetration spread? How many other people in the United Kingdom had their phones hacked ? Is it endemic? Is it just a British problem or has it a wider international issue? Will the whole truth ever come out? It is also surprising that the British Police has been implicated to have participated in this practice by selling private telephone numbers to the hackers involved.
The matter is now in the hand of the police force who are investigating the seriousness of this "offensive" practice. The outcome and consequences will follow. Eminent legal professionals have suggested that serious criminal offences have been committed and criminal proceedings and appropriate actions should be taken. Offenders will be punished through imprisonment and fines. Members of the police force involved will be sacked and face imprisonment if found guilty of misconduct.
How will this affect the standing of News International as a powerful media and broadcasting corporation, and the strong influence it has on the political parties in the UK and elsewhere? News International may even be subjected to a hefty fine that they can easily recoup by putting the price of their newspapers up by one pence a copy. Will this, however, have an effect on press freedom? Will all this make a difference in the way the press and the media operate? If we look back to this infringement in ten years time, will the press and media, and News International in particular be a different and better behaved beast?
We shall just have to wait and see.
Good Bye and Good Luck until the next time.
Knight Owl.
The matter is now in the hand of the police force who are investigating the seriousness of this "offensive" practice. The outcome and consequences will follow. Eminent legal professionals have suggested that serious criminal offences have been committed and criminal proceedings and appropriate actions should be taken. Offenders will be punished through imprisonment and fines. Members of the police force involved will be sacked and face imprisonment if found guilty of misconduct.
How will this affect the standing of News International as a powerful media and broadcasting corporation, and the strong influence it has on the political parties in the UK and elsewhere? News International may even be subjected to a hefty fine that they can easily recoup by putting the price of their newspapers up by one pence a copy. Will this, however, have an effect on press freedom? Will all this make a difference in the way the press and the media operate? If we look back to this infringement in ten years time, will the press and media, and News International in particular be a different and better behaved beast?
We shall just have to wait and see.
Good Bye and Good Luck until the next time.
Knight Owl.
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