By Justin Schlosberg If part two of the Fox-Sky merger review is to learn anything from recent history, it must open the door to part two of the Leveson Inquiry. Last week Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN) admitted “vicarious liability” in illegal hacking that went far beyond mere interception of voicemails. The court was told about a spyware programme could … [Read more...]
The Daily Mail knows all about ‘hate’
Des Freedman argues for a full and open debate about concentrated media power. In light of the forthcoming consideration by the government of the two rival Royal Charters, this is the first of a series of pieces on press power we will be publishing. If any single article demonstrates the abuse of press power, the Daily Mail’s hatchet job on Ralph Miliband, the father of … [Read more...]
Miranda detention part two: who decides on the public interest?
Yesterday we wrote about why the detention of David Miranda under anti-terror legislation was so different from the arrest of British journalists on suspicion of unlawfully obtaining information. We were writing in response to various figures who accused the critics of press abuse of hypocrisy and double standards. One of them was Brendan O’Neill, who, who made a crack about … [Read more...]
Miranda detention, part 1: Why we should be concerned
The detention of a journalist under something called the Terrorism Act should raise eyebrows whatever the situation. It does not matter whether David Miranda was travelling as an ordinary man, a journalist, or a journalist’s ‘data mule’ – not unless you think that journalism is or can ever be ‘terrorism’. His nine hours at Heathrow are evidence of growing government antipathy … [Read more...]
When “measuring” is a substitute for action: the government’s consultation on media ownership
By Des Freedman Right in the middle of the summer, and without much fanfare, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published two documents that reveal its plans for the media and communication sectors. Perhaps it thought that no one would notice. The first is a ‘strategy document’, Connectivity, Content and Consumers, effectively a white paper on digital … [Read more...]
A tale of two British summers: phone hacking and a royal baby
This post by Des Freedman was originally published at Open Democracy, and is reprinted with their kind permission. The royal birth is set to be the face of the 2013 summer, but to what extent does this reveal how little the media has changed since the phone hacking scandal in 2011? What happened to media reform? Prepare for an avalanche of wild speculation, idle gossip, … [Read more...]
Two faces of Rupert Murdoch, presented without comment
Then: "I was shocked and appalled by recent allegations concerning the News of the World and I am deeply sorry for the hurt that was caused. "...I have never tolerated the kind of behaviour that has been described over these past few weeks. It has no place at News Corporation. "These serious allegations made about some of our former employees at the News of the World … [Read more...]