The relationship between the political parties and the newspaper editors has always been something I have been very uncomfortable with. A healthy democracy needs a strong Fourth Estate but our bloated newspaper media has got completely out of control. The media is not above the law but recent events at the News of the World give the impression that they thought otherwise. It is also becoming clear that it’s not just the News of the World as other newspapers are now believed to have acted illegally.
We all know that Rupert Murdoch’s New International and the other powerful newspaper groups have been polluting British politics for far too long. The influence they have held over our political leaders has been damaging to our democracy. The media must be able to practice freedom of speech but they must remain within the law and show real political neutrality. Can anyone honestly say that The Daily Mail, The Sun or The Daily Mirror are politically neutral?
The reaction of the Metropolitan Police (MET) in regards to phone hacking and other issues in relation to the activities of newspapers is one of the most shocking aspects of the whole affair. The MET have been reluctant to investigate the accusations of illegal activity being carried out by newspapers. James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks have admitted that payments (bribes) were paid to members of the Met. I think it is clear that this is the reason the MET have been so frightened of digging too deeply. I also believe there has been political pressure on them to turn a blind eye to much of what’s gone on. If it’s proved that senior members of the MET were in the pockets of News International it would simply prove what many of us have believed for years. The rich are indeed powerful and hold influence over the people who should be protecting us.
It is a shame that a Newspaper that has been on the market since 1843 has been ruined by the crooks at News International. The News of the World brand may well return under new owners but under Murdoch it was doomed. I’m not shedding any tears for the type of right wing hack that worked on the paper but it doesn’t seem fair that they all lose their jobs but James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks carry on regardless. The people losing their jobs will be ok because it’s easy to claim at least £250,000 a year in benefits and get a big house from the Council. Isn’t that what they used to tell us in the News of the World and The Sun? I also had to laugh at the idea of journalists at The Sun threatening industrial action! Or as they would usually describe it, “Union Neanderthals threaten to drag Britain back to the 1970’s”.
So what will the future be for our newspaper media? Will anything actually change? I think things can change this time because for the first time in years our politicians are in a position of strength. The fear of upsetting the Murdochs has always meant politicians had to keep them sweet and suck up to them. Now the public have turned against the Tabloids, especially Murdoch, the politicians can make a stand. The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has been a complete failure as it has no power and self regulation has been an unmitigated disaster. So we need a new independent PCC that has genuine powers of investigation and regulation.
This is an opportunity we can’t miss. The bent MET police, James Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks and any other newspaper owner, editor or journalist who is charged with breaking the law should face trial and if found guilty sent to prison. This will make all current and future editors and journalists think twice before lying about people, phone hacking and forcing political agendas. It will also make bent Police officers think twice before accepting bribes. This has been a dark week for our newspapers but it could also be bright new dawn and a return to the glory days of the past. It would be nice to have a media that reports the facts and uncovers injustice. A media that is constructive rather than destructive would be a like a breath of fresh air. I’ve got my fingers crossed.
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