Saturday 18 February 2012

Just when you thought the Murdoch era was over ...

... he reminds you just why you despise him so much.

Yesterday Murdoch launched a strong defence of The Sun, simultaneously announcing the long-suspected launch of the Sun on Sunday.

Murdoch closed the News of the World on the basis that some journalists had been involved in phone hacking. While the guilty parties deserve everything they get, a large staff of entirely innocent parties were disposed of at a whim when the newspaper closed.

Journalists at the Sun are being investigated for what would seem the far more serious crime of bribing the police. Yet those under suspicion are reinstated to their jobs on the basis of 'innocent until proven guilty', and their legal fees paid by News International. There is no question whatsoever that the Sun will ever be closed down. 'Innocent until proven guilty' is not a principal that the Sun has often been willing to extend to the targets of its journalism.

The - deliberately provocative - announcement of the launch of the Sun on Sunday gives the explanation for these different approaches. Murdoch was given an excuse, on a plate, to close the News of the World, and jumped on it.

No businessman wants to produce two identical products using all the expense and manpower of two separate companies. The News of the World in essence WAS the Sunday Sun - it's existence was to be made redundant by the new paper.

Phone hacking enabled Murdoch to close the News of the Screws and greatly increase the profitability of the Sun on Sunday from day one. Don't confuse a cold-hearted business decision with an ethical response to the phone hacking scandal.

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