HBG

A perfect summary. I've got one reservation about all of it, which I regard as a malaise in our British society.

The British stiff upper lip has gone, to be replaced by blubbering whistle blowers and dirty grasses. This is all about 'royal' bungs, never mind some daft copper copping a few quid from the Press.

Of course it's wrong, but you can take the transparency aspect too far. I hate grasses and always will. They do far more damage to our society than some Royal copping a few quid from the Saudis.

(Two ginger haired ladies could blow the lid on all of this. I don't think the Royal one will, but the other one appears a bit flaky).

Dick Dasterdly

According to regulations a company and its owners should be considered fit and proper ppl. to control a major media organisation.
Anyone less fit and proper than the Murdochs is difficult to imagine, yet despite all the recriminations I'd bet my last euro that not only will they go ahead with a new publication but also get the nod on their BskyB takeover.
Supposedly the whole deal is to be checked out by Offcom to ensure there is no further monopoly situation created, yet I wonder why I get this strange feeling that it's already a done deal, with more wheels within wheels working overtime to ensure it only goes one way.

Domino

whilst a company is deemed to be a living and breathing entity in its own right it can only move in the direction(s) dictated by its directors. Its the directors and their quality which makes for a good company.

Murdoch has been allowed to have too much power across the world. Perhaps he may have been responsible for Maxwell's death as the only person who may have been able to stop his rise.

now "people power" has shown up all the cracks in the walls of power we are finding out that
...Wade must have known what was happening on her watch - she will have overseen the printing of the stories and approved payments
...Wade has admitted to a parliamentary committee the paper made payments to the police, although forced by counsel to say it was all legal and above board
...the last enquiry of the police was a whitewash and appears to have been carried out by someone who may have been in receipt of payments himself
...there has been a cosy relationship between the police and certain elements of the media over a number of years, based on the cheque book
...Jame Murdoch has said he made dodgy payments due to lack of information
...A NoW exec has deleted swathes of files prior to investigation by police

The Yanks are starting to look at goings-on on their patch which is going to make the Conrad Black affair look like a teddy bears picnic

Now the run has started in the open it is unlikely that this will stop rumbling inside 2 years let alone september when the BSkyB matter is resolved.

bil

No-one likes a grass, but whistle blowing is a different kettle of fish.

kimilseung

Isn't it the same thing, like terrorist-freedom fighter?

criminals hate a grass, and victims love whistle blowers

Ka Ora!

Class divide, Chavs hate a Grass, But the Nouveau Middle Class like a Whistle blower. Doesn't matter who is doing the shouting it's all down to the twat that is listening. Which is the same rule when classifying Terrorist vs Freedom Fighter it's a matter of perspective.

jimenato

Are you calling HBG and bil chavs?

bricwood

If you concerned about big brother they can track your phone, they can watch what you pay for and where you are with credit cards , if you are on facebook you are asking for it, plus everything wants to link up now, skype belongs to Microsoft and now links to facebook, and of course they can listen to your calls, they can profile you in seconds, I think facebook is worse than a virus it stores stuff on your PC only a reformat cures but then google knows all your business anyhow and knows your facebook ID , I am glad there is no phone signal where I live sometimes

kimilseung

Please expand on this.

rugbymatt

They do them in such funky styles now don't they?

HBG

I don't know who to blame for it, or who to thank for it, but somehow I emerged with principles of loyalty and a hatred for grasses and whistle blowers. Maybe it goes back all the way to the playground and the little bastard who grassed me up for something quite innocent.

Later on in life I joined at least one organisation which reinforced my beliefs in loyalty to a common cause. That belief is now embedded in my bones, and I'm happy with it.

If that makes me a Chav, then so be it, but from what little I know of them I doubt if they would want me as a member. I did have some of that Burberry stuff years ago, and so did my wife.

rugbymatt

What I find funny is that I have yet to meet someone who hasn't jumped for joy that its closing yet it managed to sell over 8 million copies a week...

kimilseung

part social milieu; part gulty pleasure.

anonimouse

another part of British culture gone

steviedeluxe

They're expecting a lot of sales tomorrow. Doubling the print run:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14081705