Quite often I have a fairly opinionated comment to make on some of the happenings and people in the news. The hacking scandal is as big a news story about the news media as has broken in my lifetime. The photo is of someone who seems to just have taken the blinkers off and discovered what has been happening – or maybe they are sunglasses behind which to hide behind – I know about the double adverb, but there has been so much hiding behind going on already.
Victims of the London bombings 5 years ago, and their families; relatives of soldiers killed in action; a young woman found murdered; countless significant figures in politics, show business and other areas of public life; and around 4,000 others. Privacy invaded to sell the news product.
A paper editor gives evidence in a showcase Scottish contempt of court trial, and compromises the judicial process by being directly involved in the goings on of the News of the World. Questioned by Parliament, police and the Scottish Court, innocence was maintained. More difficult to maintain after recent revelations. The same person was communications director for our Prime Minister until earlier pressures of this case forced a resignation 'to clear his name'. Right.
Journalists and police officers set up an information exchange mart! Evidence can be bought, obtained by illegal hacking, exchange hands for upwards of £100,000 pounds over 5 years, and thus the criminal justice system is compromised.
The same institution (the police) believed to be independent of vested interests, carries out an investigation into hacking allegations – 5 years ago – identifies three or four culprits but gives the News of the World otherwise a clean bill ot ethical and legal health. Then the revelations of this week.
The paper is shut down, the CEO keeps her job, hundreds of innocent people lose their jobs on the strength of a mobile phone call from somewhere high up, maybe the chief priest of the current worshippers of the ruthless Gods of money, media, image and information technology. And this will make it all ok then? Right.
I am not qualified to comment on such a convoluted, systemic, chronic,illegal, immoral and repulsive culture of mocking indifference to human rights, human feelings, human suffering and humane standards of respect and justice in the treatment of people.
Another case of comment is superfluous. Why? Because we are not stupid – it doesn't need spelt out. This is evil – unambiguously, and without qualification as wrong as media power, invasive journalism and ruthless news gathering can get.
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