Category Archives: Old media

“Jeremy Hunt ran secret backchannel for News Corporation

4:36pm Tue April 24th
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Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt is fighting for his political life this afternoon, after Leveson inquiry testimony from James Murdoch. Rupert’s chosen son revealed that Hunt was closely co-operating with NewsCorp when he was supposedly acting in a quasi-judicial capacity in respect of Murdoch’s bid for BSkyB.

Hunt asked NewsCorp to “work with his team” on an official statement and even acted as a go-fer for NewsCorp, checking facts on a BBC blog post on their behalf:

On 20 January 2011 Hunt tweeted:

With Number 10 now refusing to back the BSkyB process, it is doubtful that Hunt is looking forward to PMQs tomorrow.

We somehow suspect there will be more questions on BSkyB then too.

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Dial M for Murdoch revelations: Rebekah Brooks’ office was bugged

10:42am Thu April 19th
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Today sees the publication of Tom Watson and Martin Hickman’s book Dial M for Murdoch, which seems full to the brim with secrets of the darker side of News International. Among the biggest news so far is that Rebekah Brooks’ office was bugged by the Murdoch empire.

Other revelations include:

  • Neville Thurlbeck told Watson that in 2009 the News of the World targeted members of the Culture Media and Sport select committee, resulting in members deciding not to summon Rebekah Brooks to the inquiry.
  • A News International insider told Watson of a second email server at Wapping, where emails deleted from the main server would be preserved.
  • Watson was “offered” Andy Coulson, as long as Rebekah Brooks could remain “sacred” and untouched.
  • When released from prison, Glen Mulcaire went to work for former Met commissioner John Stevens.
  • The DPP regularly dined with NI executives both before and after the criminal investigation.
  • Tommy Sheridan told Watson that “They are bullies, and as with any bully running away only invites them to become more aggressive“.
  • Max Mosley described the Murdoch empire as “a really sinister presence undermining the whole of our democracy“

Murdoch’s troubles seem to be just beginning.

 

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The Times: Cameron’s most senior civil servant murdered in China

9:35am Wed April 11th
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Sub-editors at The Times covered themselves in glory this morning, confusing murdered expatriate – and alleged former MI6 spook – Neil Heywood with the prime minister’s most senior civil servant.

The paper’s picture splash of murder suspect Gu Kailai alongside her husband, the (now earthbound) Communist Party rising star Bo Xilai was captioned:

“She is a suspect in the death of British businessman Jeremy Heywood”

Reports of the cabinet secretary’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

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Obsessed? Andrew Gilligan churns out 27 attacks on Ken in one month

5:32pm Wed April 4th
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With the Daily Telegraph’s Andrew Gilligan pouring derision on Ken Livingstone for trying to move the mayoral race away from negative campaigning, does the “journalist” protest too much?

As noted by the blog Gilligan Watch, who have surveyed all of his ramblings, the number of attack posts Gilligan produces is frankly staggering. Andy has churned out 27 hatchet jobs in the last month – comprising 75% of his blogging output.

This includes:

  • 27 posts attacking Ken
  • 2 posts praising Boris
  • 1 declaring Brian Paddick the winner of a debate (so he didn’t have to say it was Ken)

The animated GIF below relates a pretty accurate metaphor.

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Laurie Penny saved from speeding New York taxi — by Ryan Gosling

3:52pm Wed April 4th
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Laurie Penny has been gallivanting around America for a few months now — but still hasn’t noticed that they drive on the other side of the road. Things could have turned nasty if it weren’t for a celebrity superhero:

Whilst strolling through New York City yesterday Penny nearly ended up underneath a taxi whilst crossing the road — but Ryan Gosling pulled her out of the way just in time. Penny needn’t have worried about the traffic; the driver should have noticed her considering her fluorescent attire:

Gosling has a history of impressing women — but not with his life-saving skills. The meme above works on his reputation as something of a feminist icon. As The Guardian puts it:

“He was raised by a single mother to whom he’s close, and he waxes lyrical about his female co-stars and ex-girlfriends. He loves his dog, is self-deprecatingly funny … On top of all this, he’s a good actor. Basically, he’s perfect.”

The future of ostentatious posturing might never have been the same.

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The Sun are giving out free Gregg’s pasties in Parliament Square

12:54pm Thu March 29th
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It’s getting to the point of mockery now.

Pictures: former Scrapbooker Matt Zarb

More pics: The Sun’s pasty distribution team »

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Pies and pasties: newspaper front pages slam “Number 10 shambles”

9:38am Thu March 29th
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And you thought the budget headlines were bad.

Posted in Old media | 1 Comment
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Did Murdoch kill Monkey? News International ‘hacked ITV Digital’

9:33pm Mon March 26th
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  • Claims rival TV system hacked by Murdoch company
  • James Murdoch was non-executive director
  • Piracy led to demise of British rival ITV Digital

While The Guardian published the claims of TV smartcard hacking last September, Panorama has a former TV pirate on record pointing the finger at News Corporation.

Lee Gibling, who ran a hacking website, said he received illegal codes used to break encryption from Murdoch company NDS:

“We wanted people to be able to update these cards themselves, we didn’t want them buying a single card and then finding they couldn’t get channels. We wanted them to stay and keep with [ITV Digital], flogging it until it broke.”

No wonder James Murdoch scarpered to New York.

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