Wednesday, July 08, 2009

The Guardian Exposes the"Screws"

Want to know why Nick Davies couldn't come and speak on Tuesday? This story in tomorrow's Guardian is why. A great bit of investigative journalism from the man who brought us "Flat Earth News", exposing the corrupt practices behind Murdoch's News Corp, and in particular the "News of the World" - once christened by Private Eye as "News of the Screws" for its salacious content.

Media as powerful as that of Rupert Murdoch's possessions should certainly be subject to investigative journalism itself, but too many in the old Fleet Street world are either afraid, or too much part of the system, to want to take it on. When a newspaper resorts to the bankrupt measures of the most corrupt sort of government agency to 'get' their stories, they deserve the same level of opprobrium that we heap upon crooked politicians. The two editors at the heart of Davies' story have made significant moves. The News' Andy Coulson is now David Cameron's much trusted Communications Director, while Rebekah Wade of the Sun is about to become Murdoch's British chief executive. Fine characters both.

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