Wow, what a week!
Tabloid drama of a mucky level that has arrested any and all news broadcasting both Television and Broadsheet. Finally, Rupert Murdoch and his mafioso have been outed and the public have risen and shown their displeasure at the style of corrupt culture that permeates his organisations.
In reality, what has happened is that Jnr. Murdoch has closed a sleazy grubby little tabloid (albeit one with the largest readership also renowned for outing dirty secrets internationally) because the name and reputation were unsalvageable - Oh, and also to pave the way for a new Sunday tabloid style replacement! 200 journalists and other "untarnished" staff have lost their livelihoods in a typical Murdoch style viciousness! "Off with her head" except in this case, the body...... salvage the head!
And in weigh the heavies!
Politicians clambering over each other to point fingers and demand "justice for the people" "save and rescue the British press with a sense of morals" "public inquiry!" blah blah blah. Max Clifford, mr sleaze personified, sputtering indignantly on television, bashing the Press Complaints Commission and it's lack of independence, using word like TITI-VATION (is that even allowed?) the Police, part of the dirt and part of the solution? etc. etc.
Personally, I dislike the idea of politicians getting involved at all - the press should definitely remain free from interference by political regulation and rhetoric but I do agree that a clean out and a public display of heads on stakes is much needed. Self-regulation needs to be vigorously re-examined and strongly defended here and the truth must out.
I love the public boycotting News International publications, galvanising to sign petitions to stop the buy out of BSkyB and halt Murdoch's megalomanic world domination strategy, forcing major brands to stop advertising with NI. Cynically I wonder if long-term, this outrage will last and whether Sunday's last and final NoTW edition won't be the largest ever edition of a tabloid sold in history. Wether we won't all go back to our dismay at the weather and irritation at public strikes and the business of belt tightening to forget about this dirty nasty expose as we get on with the business of living?
I hope the police enquiry outs the creeps, ALL of them and that journalism gets back on its high horse, clean and purified and trustworthy again.
Mostly I wonder what Rebekah Brooks (nee Wade) has on the Murdoch's; both generations, that she's this publicly ass-kissed by them for this long! Perhaps the Guardian should start digging here. Seems to me, there's a lot more to this story that we can begin to imagine!
Over and out ....... and sticking to reading fiction for a while!
NBB
