Is this the end for the soar-away Sun

[prendrelemick]

Senior Sun journo's arrested this morning for suspected corruption. These are Generals not foot soldiers.

The News of the World was closed down for less than this. Could be very serious for them:party::party:


As one wag commented, soon there'll only be Becca 23 from Essex left there.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Let's hope so, close the rag down and throw them in prison.

[Sancho Panza]

Rupert Murdoch is once again in a tricky situation, but surely nothing will be done until a case is proven?

[prendrelemick]

They haven't been charged yet. But the Gutter press is being severely investigated, and they don't like it.

[Emil Miller]

Just been listening to the BBC News and it seems that those arrested were actually pointed to by a commitee set up by Rupe to clean up News International. If true, it coud get the Sun off the hook. So all you page three lovers, don't give up hope.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes they'll probably squirm out of it, shouldn't get our hopes up that they'll close the paper down, fingers crossed though.

Latest.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/12/murdoch-fresh-crisis-sun-arrests

[Emil Miller]

The Sun also Rises...on a Sunday.

Rupert Murdoch has told News International journalists that he will launch the Sun on Sunday "very soon".


In an email to staff shortly after his arrival at News International's headquarters in London on Friday, the News Corporation chairman and chief executive said: "We will build on the Sun's proud heritage by launching the Sun on Sunday very soon."

Don't all laugh at once.

[prendrelemick]

The Sun certainly has its share of knockers.








sorry.

[Emil Miller]

The Sun certainly has its share of knockers.








sorry.

I must resist the temptation to put a picture up.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes, about the only person happy about this, apart from the gutter rats, is Jo, 22 from Essex - who's "supporting the lads for 2012, wayy heyy."

Did you see Charlie Brooker's Sun poem by the way? It's here if not:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S49p4DuBfYE

I'm quite liberal on the matter and believe in a free press and all of that rhetoric, but can't we just throw them all in prison (apart from Jo) and lose the key forever?

So the head rat loses The News of the World and gains a Sunday Sun? So who's going to be the winner when the smoke has cleared in the end?

[Emil Miller]

So the head rat loses The News of the World and gains a Sunday Sun? So who's going to be the winner when the smoke has cleared in the end?

Agreed but, ultimately, it's down to the millions of thicko's who keep on buying Murdoch's trashy papers.
Incidentally, I was once part of a group that was taken on a tour of the Foreign Office and, spread out on a desk in the Foreign Secretary's office was a copy of all that mornings daily papers, including the Sun. I have often wondered since whether he turned to page three before reading anything else.

[YesNo]

Did you see Charlie Brooker's Sun poem by the way? It's here if not:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S49p4DuBfYE

Great poem! I guess they never did a witch hunt.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Agreed but, ultimately, it's down to the millions of thicko's who keep on buying Murdoch's trashy papers.
Incidentally, I was once part of a group that was taken on a tour of the Foreign Office and, spread out on a desk in the Foreign Secretary's office was a copy of all that mornings daily papers, including the Sun. I have often wondered since whether he turned to page three before reading anything else.

Ha, who knows, probably?

Oh yes the millions who buy it - is it still five million a day, jesus? That's another story altogether though and too big for me to respond to at this time of night, but point taken.


Great poem! I guess they never did a witch hunt.

Ha, ha!!! No!!! :crazy: The video missed off the last few seconds where he mentioned that they actually did do a witch hunt for real!! After all this is The Sun we are talking about!! :puke:
Unbelievable. I forgot to mention that!

[Emil Miller]

Of course, were the Sun to disappear altogether, we would miss the benefit of its diplomacy with regard to other countries.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5308/20071216upyoursdelors.jpg

[LitNetIsGreat]

:lol: They have such a way with words. We would also miss their campaign badges:

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01451/SUN_20120211-250__1451897a.jpg

[Emil Miller]

:lol: They have such a way with words. We would also miss their campaign badges:



Not to mention their 'investigative' journalism.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9145/itspaddypantsdown.jpg

[YesNo]

With front pages like that, no wonder it sells.

I'd have to do some investigative research myself to find out who Delors or Qatada are, but probably won't.

[LitNetIsGreat]

With front pages like that, no wonder it sells.

I'd have to do some investigative research myself to find out who Delors or Qatada are, but probably won't.

Oh Qatada one of those Islamic preachers, the papers say he's a bit like Darth Vader or Captain Hook or the child stealer from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He's a couple more headlines:

http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/files/2008/02/sun-bash-the-bishop.jpg

http://owen24.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-sun3.jpg?w=233&h=300

https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/ssl/spyblog/images/sun_headline_300.jpg
Musicology must have been working for The Sun at the time...

http://bluelozengebear.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/sun_1_05.jpg?w=250

And finally...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ThhguC97EdA/ST5-Lt8aDHI/AAAAAAAAATY/xmnzFZpYFrM/s400/STICK-IT-UP-YOUR-JUNTA.jpg

Oh dear...

[Emil Miller]

Yes it takes an Australian like Murdoch to completely dispense with British understatement, but I wish I hadn't read that about about secret X-ray cameras in lamp posts. I'm going to feel very self-conscious about going out now.

[prendrelemick]

it'sun-believable!

[Emil Miller]

it'sun-believable!

You're hired. You can start work tomorrow.

[prendrelemick]

Will I have to get my kit off ?

[Basil]

Ratface is free? WTF?

[Emil Miller]

Will I have to get my kit off ?

No we'll just stand you in front of a lamp post and print the result.

[prendrelemick]

:lol:

The stuff coming out of the Levison enquiry almost beggar's belief - even for an old cynic like me. Corruption, harassment , lying, cheating, comtempt for the law, purposefull and vicious character assasination. If it was concerned with anything other than the media, it would be plastered all over the front pages of the tabloids.

[Paulclem]

:lol:

The stuff coming out of the Levison enquiry almost beggar's belief - even for an old cynic like me. Corruption, harassment , lying, cheating, comtempt for the law, purposefull and vicious character assasination. If it was concerned with anything other than the media, it would be plastered all over the front pages of the tabloids.

Yet they've benn bigging up the launch of the Sunday Sun - particularly on the BBC. Is it really an unbiased and independant view.

I hope the Sun sets.

[YesNo]

I just realized you don't have to pay for a subscription or find a news stand in the UK, but you can get the Sun online unless I don't have the right paper.

Here's one of the pages about aliens that intrigued me:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article4152020.ece

[Emil Miller]

Yet they've benn bigging up the launch of the Sunday Sun - particularly on the BBC. Is it really an unbiased and independant view.

I hope the Sun sets.

From what I gather it's similar to the N.O.W without the choirboys and boy scouts.

[Darcy88]

I hear nothing about all this on the news. After Murdoch appeared before that parliamentary committee or whatever it was the story pretty much vanished from the American and Canadian media as far as I can tell.

[OrphanPip]

I hear nothing about all this on the news. After Murdoch appeared before that parliamentary committee or whatever it was the story pretty much vanished from the American and Canadian media as far as I can tell.

We have our own Murdoch with Pierre Peladeau (Quebecor Media) anyway, but he's a sadder less rich version, and nobody reads his crummy papers or watches his crummy Fox News knock off. Garbage mouthpieces for the Tories.

[prendrelemick]

There's very little about Levinson in the media over here either, unless a celeb is giving evidence. You have to find the website and read witness statements - pretty damning stuff.

STOP PRESS!! James Murdoch has stood down as Chairman of News International. His position has been untenable for a while, he has been caught bang to rights doing (or knowing about) illegal stuff.

[Darcy88]

We have our own Murdoch with Pierre Peladeau (Quebecor Media) anyway, but he's a sadder less rich version, and nobody reads his crummy papers or watches his crummy Fox News knock off. Garbage mouthpieces for the Tories.

Haha, I know. Sun News does nothing but vilify CBC, the ndp, environmentalists and the gays. The production standards are so low quality and the advertisers are all small time. Another correlative personality to Murdoch in Canada is Asper. He owns an obscene number of daily newspapers and is known to fire staff whose politics conflict with his.

[prendrelemick]

Conrad Black was a Canadian too I believe - your media barons seem a bit dodgy.

[OrphanPip]

Conrad Black was a Canadian too I believe - your media barons seem a bit dodgy.

He gave up his citizenship to sit in the House of Lords, he's yours now.

Edit: Ironically, Black is an actual Baron.

[Emil Miller]

Our very own Richard Desmond, former pornographer and now owner of the Daily Express and a TV channel, seems to be a bit quirky as well if this extract from a news article is anything to go by.

'His personal spending habits reflect a combination of natural subversiveness and a childish sense of humour – there are few other ways to explain his insistence on being served a banana at exactly 11am and 5pm each day by a liveried butler. '

[YesNo]

The Sun reminds me of the National Enquirer in the US. It is one of those publications you can pick up while standing in a supermarket checkout line.

So what did these guys get in trouble for in the UK? I heard it was bribing police and bugging phone calls, but I'm not sure anymore. Wouldn't it be cheaper and more entertaining to just make up the news. It wouldn't hurt much on the current credibility ratings.

[LitNetIsGreat]

The Sun reminds me of the National Enquirer in the US. It is one of those publications you can pick up while standing in a supermarket checkout line.

So what did these guys get in trouble for in the UK? I heard it was bribing police and bugging phone calls, but I'm not sure anymore. Wouldn't it be cheaper and more entertaining to just make up the news. It wouldn't hurt much on the current credibility ratings.

Bugging phone calls, bribing police, general abuse of power yes, but just existing really, that's the real crime. The making up the news is also part of The Sun's philosophy, don't worry about that, it's about as common as their obsession with dramatic adjectives! Oh and yes that's the Sun online you quoted earlier; the UFO story, you know, the cloud. :lol:

[MANICHAEAN]

Conrad Black is down as having written an autobiography of F.D.Roosevelt, which I found rather engaging.

I know he managed to purchase a large amount of the family documents relating to this, but have my doubts as to whether, ( prior to the nick), he wrote it himself, considering all his other engagements.

[prendrelemick]

On a darker note an Ex police woman described how she and her senior Police Officer husband were intimidated whilst investigating a murder that involved associates of NI.

Rebbecca Brookes later claimed it was to investigate their affair - when in fact they had been married for 4 years.

It is the stories from individuals giving evidence to Leveson that beggars belief. Their family, friends, colleagues would be hounded. Threats were openly given, some were blackmailed into giving interviews, which would then be sensationalised, distorted and shamelessly added to.

Much of what they were doing was simply illegal, but they were untouchable.

[LitNetIsGreat]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/03/police-blacklist-link-construction-workers
Police are linked to blacklist of construction workers

More police corruption. Nope it's not old soviet Russia either though you could be mistaken for it.

[prendrelemick]

Is every one enjoying the Horsegate episode, David Cameron (as a private citizen ) went hacking on Rebecca Brookes' horse! Think of the headlines The Sun could run on that! - if they weren't ignoring it.

It's not the fact, its the attempted denial/cover up that's stupid.

[LitNetIsGreat]

http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=310727

There was a NOTW reporter on That Sunday Night Programme above who got slaughtered by the panel. Near the end of the prog above. Scum. Watch Des O' Connor's face when the journalist says that anyone on TV deserves to be followed and harassed. Frank Skinner and Adrian Childes lay into him as well. :boxing_smiley:

[Paulclem]

http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=310727

There was a NOTW reporter on That Sunday Night Programme above who got slaughtered by the panel. Near the end of the prog above. Scum. Watch Des O' Connor's face when the journalist says that anyone on TV deserves to be followed and harassed. Frank Skinner and Adrian Childes lay into him as well. :boxing_smiley:

Savaged. Good old Frank Skinner.

[prendrelemick]

My broadband is so slow I can't get that. I wonder if it is the same bloke who has been savaged on many occasions on other channels.

Meanwhile Leveson really should be on primetime TV, so much more entertaining than those soap operas.

The latest wheeze, - find a policeman who is having an affair or involved in something embarrassing, then threaten him with exposure if he doesn't pass on information to you.

[prendrelemick]

Leveson should be fun today. After Murdoch Jnr swung the focus firmly back to the Political yesterday,(so I can't comment on it) it's Murdoch Snr's turn. The corridors of power are awash with sweaty palms this morning.

[MANICHAEAN]

Gripping stuff.

It was 7pm where I was, tucked up in bed. It was a much better drama than the usual blockbuster movie.

Loved the way the QC kept creeping up on Murdoch Senior in the most polite manner.

Mind you, for his age, Murdoch is a consummate, crafty old cove!

[prendrelemick]

Sooo, poor old Rupert was a VICTIM of a cover up, and so was his son James. It was the lawyers all the time!

[Jack of Hearts]

Dear god will somebody please speak ENGLISH?





J

[Emil Miller]

Today Rebekah Brooks has told the Leverson enquiry that David Cameron would sign off Emails with lol until she told him that it didn't mean 'lots of love' but 'laugh out loud'.

lol

[Scheherazade]

~

R e m i n d e r

Please note that discussion of current politics is not allowed on this Forum.

~

[prendrelemick]

^I know, I know. I can't mention anything thats going on at the moment.:nonod:

[LitNetIsGreat]

Ho, ho, ho...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/15/rebekah-brooks-charged-perverting-course-justice

This means a jail sentence right?

[Emil Miller]

Ho, ho, ho...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/15/rebekah-brooks-charged-perverting-course-justice

This means a jail sentence right?

Only if she's convicted of course and being found guilty of anything in an English court of law is not exactly a given to say the least.
I'm not too bothered about the charges as the fact that she was responsible for getting the Sun onto the news stands in the first place. Twenty years for perverting the course of human intelligence would seem a fitting sentence in my view.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Ha, ha. I just want her locked up because I can't stand the woman.

[Paulclem]

They've got the gall to complain that the police are wasting public money, when if they had actually come clean it could have saved a lot of bother. No sympathy.

[LitNetIsGreat]

They've got the gall to complain that the police are wasting public money, when if they had actually come clean it could have saved a lot of bother. No sympathy.

Yes good point I didn't think of that. Horrible people.

[prendrelemick]

"The Law" which she held in contempt and ignored when she was powerful, will probably allow her to walk free.

I wonder if she is aware of the irony of her statement.

"Whilst I have always respected the criminal justice system, you have to question whether this decision has been made on a proper impartial assessment of the evidence."

She then goes on to say how cross she is that people close to her are affected. - Welcome to the other side Rebekah!

[prendrelemick]

I've been waiting for months for Tom Watson to appear at Leveson, A man who more than any other knows what went on. Unfortunately he knew too much, and too much has been redacted from his statement.

Next up Jeremy Paxman and Andrew Marr.

[prendrelemick]

The Leveson inquiry has gone so political that if I even think of it on here I'll be in trouble.

[Emil Miller]

The Leveson inquiry has gone so political that if I even think of it on here I'll be in trouble.

I'm sure I am not the only one who thinks that the net is tightening. Some big fish must be wonderng when the hook, if not the gaff, is going to come their way.

[prendrelemick]

Incredible! Set up an inquiry (costing £56 million) , then ignore its central "essential" recommendation. What was the point then?

[Emil Miller]

Incredible! Set up an inquiry (costing £56 million) , then ignore its central "essential" recommendation. What was the point then?

The point was to get a certain person (no politics) temporarily off the hook, but he's back on it again.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Incredible! Set up an inquiry (costing £56 million) , then ignore its central "essential" recommendation. What was the point then?

Yep what a circus. The point maybe is to give the illusion that something had been done, just another facade. Plus if you drag something on for long enough most people get bored of it. Job done.

[Emil Miller]

Yep what a circus. The point maybe is to give the illusion that something had been done, just another facade. Plus if you drag something on for long enough most people get bored of it. Job done.

The fact is that Dave is caught between a rock and a hard place. If he refuses to back legal participation in press regulation, he risks the wrath of the general public and his Liberal coalition partners. If he goes along with the recommendation, he will upset the very press whose support he's going to need when election time comes round.

[prendrelemick]

Two radio DJ's make hoax call to a hospital, and are so pleased with themselves, they're so clever and cool to have fooled a duty nurse. The story goes worldwide -it's all great fun. The nurse kills herself.

The owners of the radio station say they've done nothing wrong. However when advertisers start withdrawing their custom in response to the disgust shown on social media, they come out with a more concillatory press release. Money is the only power they acknowledge. I can't help feeling that what those DJs did is is just another form of abuse, and to be honest we could do with losing many DJs before we lose one nurse.

This is not quite within the Leveson inquiry's remit, but it shows that money (through fines or compensation or loss of revenue) is the only way of keeping the Media honest.

[OrphanPip]

Two radio DJ's make hoax call to a hospital, and are so pleased with themselves, they're so clever and cool to have fooled a duty nurse. The story goes worldwide -it's all great fun. The nurse kills herself.

The owners of the radio station say they've done nothing wrong. However when advertisers start withdrawing their custom in response to the disgust shown on social media, they come out with a more concillatory press release. Money is the only power they acknowledge. I can't help feeling that what those DJs did is is just another form of abuse, and to be honest we could do with losing many DJs before we lose one nurse.

This is not quite within the Leveson inquiry's remit, but it shows that money (through fines or compensation or loss of revenue) is the only way of keeping the Media honest.

I can't help but feel though that much of the media reporting the hoax were far more responsible than the two instigators. After all, a short prank phone call is really hardly a big deal, it was the fact that it got picked up as an international media sensation that likely made it so stressful for the nurse.

[Volya]

Nobody can be blamed for the nurses death except herself.

[prendrelemick]

You are right of course,

[OrphanPip]

Nobody can be blamed for the nurses death except herself.

True, but that doesn't mean there is no implication for media ethics and how individuals should be treated in these kinds of situations. The media amplifies controversy for its own benefit at the expense of individual's lives, and there is good reason to use such situations to put pressure on media outlets to modulate their behavior. Is this kind of sensationalism good for society? If not, how can we make things better?

[Emil Miller]

We don't know exactly why this death happened, it's possible that the nurse had some other reason to kill herself but it's reasonable to assume that the hoax call was responsible. That being the case, in the first instance the idiots who made the call are to blame and secondly, but incidentally, the media reporting of the incident. Incidentally because as everyone knows the media will ballyhoo the royals as long as the dimwitted public want them to.
So what it comes down to is childish irresponsibility on the part of the hoaxers and the slavish adulation of the Royal family who, by any objective standard, are personally unknown to the masses but used by the media as a form of group celebrity for their own advantage. I just wish that people would get real and grow up.

[prendrelemick]

You are both right.


Those idiots were raising their profile by humiliating others. For them it was about personal ambition. For the radio station it was free publicity. For the rest of the Media it was a couple of days of headline Royal scandal. And somewhere in the whole jamboree a nurse got dead.

The question is, is there anything that can be done to prevent this kind of thing from happening. I don't think anything illegal went on, and I don't think the Leveson recommendations if adopted in full would've made any difference, but something "Wrong" happened.