The Death of News of the World —A tips of the iceberg By Frannie WU
The closing of a 168-year-old newspaper the News of the World, doesn’t mean it is the end of the story, but a tips of the iceberg.
News of the World published its last edition on July 10th. With the cover page that “Thank you and Goodbye.” It used to be the best selling newspaper with a 7.5 millions of royal readers around the world. ① ②It has a long proud history of fighting crime, exposing wrong-doing and setting the news agenda for the nation. How does such a famous newspaper come to this frustrated ending？
Everything starts from the knees of Prince William. Five years ago, News of the World is the first newspaper who exposed the injury of Prince William. ③Only few of prince’s trusted followers knew, how did the tabloid get this news? In 2007, its royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were both in jail for hacking. ④
The police found out a list which content with thousands of politicians’ private information from the investigator Glenn Mulcaire’s house. From the list of hacking the mobile shows that the potential victim has raised to 4,000.⑤ Not only are the Celebrities, the grassroots also included.
The private investigator had hacked and employed by the journalist of News of the world. He has deleted voicemail of one missing girl in spring 2002, but later found the girl had been murdered. ⑥That is the fuse of the whole event, people was worried about whether themselves would be the target of the tabloids one day. People were shocked and annoyed of the News of the World by this kind way of accessing information.
Here comes to the first conflict—The Right to know versus Privacy. People have the right to know. Media can protect theirs right. And the media is also the watchdog of the government, the mouthpiece of the common citizens. It was similar with U.S. \⑦, but it was not that simple. Nixon can't eavesdrop the political opponents, the government also can't tap to the public. What will be happening if the reporters abuse theirs power? Your private information might be invaded and be exposing to the public someday. Public interest is also an inducement. On issues of privacy and public interest, ⑧there is often no a clear-cut distinction between right and wrong.
“This is the most humble day of my life”, ⑨Rupert Murdoch told a House of Commons committee apologized for phone-hacking scandal. Really？
Rupert Murdoch might not be guilty for hacking into someone’s private information, but he is guilty for not knowing what is going on in his empire.
Follow up of the event shows the tabloid phone-hacking scandal has raised to a political storm.
Rebekah Brooks is the first News Corp executive resigns in 15th over phone-hacking scandal. Hours after Rebekah Brooks resigned, Les Hinton has resigned as chief executive of News Corp's Dow Jones unit. ⑩
Metropolitan Police has faced the charges of bribery and have the responsibility of the 2005 eavesdropping event by without enough investigation. The chief Paul Stephenson announced his resignation on 17th.11
According to BBC, Sean Hoare, the journalist who criticized and exposed the phone-hacking scandal has found dead at home in 19th 12
With more and more politicians and news media involved in this event, even the British Prime Minister Cameron is also facing the gravest crisis of his political career. Cameron has appointed the former tabloid editor, Andy Coulson, as his communications director.13 Who was suspected of conspiring to hack into people's phones and of bribing police officers for information and he was arrested last week. 14
Britain's politicians have sought close relations with Rupert Murdoch and his newspapers. 15Because Media have social and political implications16 that they can decided people what to think about.It also has the impact on the consequence of democratic election. They can accomplish the politicians but also make put their reputation in danger. Now matter how, the Britain’s politicians need Murdoch.
The death of News of the World is a big earthquake to the media. But it does not indicate the Murdoch’s empire has dismantled. Today, when the news media has been recognized as “the Fourth Estate”17.Which emphasizes the independence of the press. But suddenly a problem came out: The media is supervisor of the government, and then who will supervise the media?
世界新闻报的倒闭 the end of the news of the world
