by Adam McCullochSo, News of the World journalists, and reporters from other papers, have resorted, en masse, it is said, to phone hacking via private detectives. I don't want to be accused of making tenuous links just to get a few web hits, but as every social worker in the UK knows, The Sun and the News of the World, have often laid into the profession. So the question must be asked: have only celebrities, royalty, politicians and sports people been the target of this? What about professional people involved in cases that have attracted tabloid attention?
And does anyone else sense in all this a real fear among the
establishment of upsetting News International? The weak response of the
Press Complaints Commission, David Cameron's "second chance" for
ex-News of the World editor and current Conservative communications
director Andy Coulson, the decision of the Metropolitan Police to rule
out a fresh investigation and its failure to publicise what it knew of
phone hacking of public figures... the reaction of various institutions
has appeared lethargic.
This led Michael Portillo on last night's This Week programme on BBC1 to describe the hold of News International over the establishment as reminiscent of Stalinism and Newsnight ran a fabulous piece on the subservient stance taken by politicians to the whims of Rebekah Wade and Rupert Murdoch. The show also featured Max Clifford, who took a very stern view of tabloid practices.
One thing is certain though, The Guardian's revelations cap off a good week for Community Care's Stand Up Now For Social Work campaign in that they will add to public scepticism over how the press operates and perhaps give people pause for thought before they join in the condemnation of figures who are suddenly made public.
This led Michael Portillo on last night's This Week programme on BBC1 to describe the hold of News International over the establishment as reminiscent of Stalinism and Newsnight ran a fabulous piece on the subservient stance taken by politicians to the whims of Rebekah Wade and Rupert Murdoch. The show also featured Max Clifford, who took a very stern view of tabloid practices.
One thing is certain though, The Guardian's revelations cap off a good week for Community Care's Stand Up Now For Social Work campaign in that they will add to public scepticism over how the press operates and perhaps give people pause for thought before they join in the condemnation of figures who are suddenly made public.
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