Les tricoteuses

[ThisIsANiceCage]

New thread to continue from God those NoW journos were utter scum weren't they?

spartacus I think there are deep rumblings from within BskyB about the Murdochs and what they're doing to the company.

right! BBC says they are for MPs to gather evidence to present reports to the House of Commons on changes to policy/legislation.

So, serving the government, not the people in effect.

Read somewhere select committees are already coordinating with police to avoid precisely this Eldritch. But I agree, will be tricky.

On the other hand, there's nothing like giving people rope.

Parliamentary privilege means that the committees can cast their nets widely and ask whatever questions they like. Then publish reports. What witnesses tell them could certainly used in any ensuing trial (though not their conclusions) by the prosecution or defence.

If they go overboard, you can imagine the DPP or a judge deciding that someone who might otherwise have been prosecuted now cannot expect to get a fair trial after being denounced as guilty by a committee of Parliament.

Ha ha, headfairy that link is the best summary I've seen yet.

cameron is publishing all his meetings with NOTW since he became PM. First one is that in March 2011, two months after Coulson resigned, Cameron had him as a guest at Chequers.

Now, before anything else, that's plain stupid. The circumstances of his resignation were that he may have been involved in or knowledgeable of criminal activities, so why associate further with him? In addition, it also says to me that Cameron thought nothing would ever come of this. That is a staggering piece of either naievity or worse, cockiness that he could keep this whole subject out of the public eye or criminal cases.

Been away for a while. Blimey! Much knitting :o

Did anyone listen to the Profile of Murdoch on R4 on Saturday?

I heard some of it, Spartacus - including a comment that when he was interviewed about his fit-and-properness to take over the Times, he seemed a very cultured & pleasant chap

What went wrong.....?

oh, hang on, it hasn't been on yet - what did I hear then?

No Ponders I'm getting myself overexcited confused - it is on this Saturday but there has been loads on R4 already.

Murdoch has finished meeting with the Dowlers this afternoon in a central London hotel. Christ I don't know how I'd keep my dignity if I were them. In fact I think I'd be so furious I think I wouldn't want to give him the chance of a personal face to face apology - leave him to take out some more adverts

spin

it seems the only media not schmoozing with Dave are the BBC

Another great link, headfairy.

Thing is, given the physical and social proximity of Chipping Norton set, it's extremely unlikely that list covers all meetings between Cameron and Rebekah, Matthew Freud, etc (although the Xmas socialising makes it onto the list, being already public knowledge).

Unlike, say , Lebedev, who might have to make an actual appointment.

Of course, I bet they're always bumping in to each other at the Daylesford cafe

Teej - to answer your question further back. atmosphere not too bad - there's no real feeling of 'we'll be next' - but lots of memos being issues about accuracy and operating within codes and checking and double checking facts

I am stateside and the New York Times has really gone to town on this story. News Corp owns Fox News and the Wall Street Journal over here and support Republicians. This is huge for 2012 because Fox News is the only news channel that is openly critical of Obama.

As mentioned on here by others, I am not surprised by the actions of 'British' journalists. Very few of the journalists that I meet on a worldwide basis are honest and have integrity. Their job is to write a story that people will buy. Sometimes they have to do a lot of digging to get a story they can write about. To vilify Wade seems rather pointless. The problem is with the whole industry.

Les Hinton
Click clack schlunk!

Want2b, Fox News is a complete joke here - is it not over there too?

hinton's resignation letter is the first that i actually want to believe. he does sound contrite and brought low.

and yes, fox is a joke, but a very powerful one.

why do i have the impression that US media is predominantly right wing, if what want2b is correct?

"I have watched with sorrow from New York as the News of the World story has unfolded. I have seen hundreds of news reports of both actual and alleged misconduct during the time I was executive chairman of News International and responsible for the company.

The pain caused to innocent people is unimaginable. That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant and in the circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corp. and apologize to those hurt by the actions of News of the World."

When I left News International in December 2007, I believed that the rotten element at the News of the World had been eliminated; that important lessons had been learned; and that journalistic integrity was restored.

My testimonies before the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee were given honestly. When I appeared before the Committee in March 2007, I expressed the belief that Clive Goodman had acted alone, but made clear our investigation was continuing.

In September 2009, I told the Committee there had never been any evidence delivered to me that suggested the conduct had spread beyond one journalist. If others had evidence that wrongdoing went further, I was not told about it.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Rupert for a wonderful working life. My admiration and respect for him are unbounded.

He has built a magnificent business since I first joined 52 years ago and it has been an honor making my contribution."

He obviously praises Murdoch, who I believe is a good friend, but the tone is right (at least reading it in my head).

Now, whether he is guilty too is another question, but it's markedly more appropriate than RB's self-piteous dribble.

In his resignation letter to Mr. Murdoch, Mr. Hinton wrote:

Dear Rupert,

I have watched with sorrow from New York as the News of the World story has unfolded. I have seen hundreds of news reports of both actual and alleged misconduct during the time I was executive chairman of News International and responsible for the company. The pain caused to innocent people is unimaginable. That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant and in the circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corp, and apologize to those hurt by the actions of the News of the World.

When I left News International in December 2007, I believed that the rotten element at the News of the World had been eliminated; that important lessons had been learned; and that journalistic integrity was restored.

My testimonies before the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee were given honestly. When I appeared before the Committee in March 2007, I expressed the belief that Clive Goodman had acted alone, but made clear our investigation was continuing.

In September 2009, I told the Committee there had never been any evidence delivered to me that suggested the conduct had spread beyond one journalist. If others had evidence that wrongdoing went further, I was not told about it.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to you for a wonderful working life. My admiration and respect for you are unbounded. You have built a magnificent business since I first joined 52 years ago and it has been an honor making my contribution.

With my warmest best wishes,

Les

In a letter to the staff of the Wall Street Journal, he said:

Dear all,

Many of you will be aware by now that I resigned today from Dow Jones and News Corp. I attach below my resignation letter to Rupert Murdoch.

It is a deeply, deeply sad day for me.

I want you all to know the pride and pleasure I have taken working at Dow Jones for the past three-and-a-half years. I have never been with better, more dedicated people, or had more fun in a job.

News Corp under Rupert?s brilliant leadership has proved a fitting parent of Dow Jones, allowing us to invest and expand as other media companies slashed costs. This support enabled us together to strengthen the company during a brutal economic downturn, developing fine new products ? not to mention one of the world?s great newspapers led by one of the world?s great editors, my dear friend and colleague Robert Thomson.

However difficult this moment is for me, I depart with the certain knowledge that we have built the momentum to take Dow Jones on to ever greater things.

Good luck to you all and thank you.

Les

yeah. good letters imo.

Do you think JM is privately being blamed for this? He was in charge of the newspapers wasn't he? I was reading in the Guardian today that he hasn't made many friends in business...

Also did you read the fantastic Marina Hyde on Reveal magazine? Marie Claire, Heat involved too in 2007

Will find link

Sob,sob...my heart is breaking...all these top ruthless executives getting caught then resigning....the agony.