When I first heard briefly of Rupert Murdoch's troubles in Great Britain, I paid little attention to it. While this may have been the man who spearheaded Fox News, gave Glen Beck a voice, and anointed Roger Ailes as the mastermind behind the scenes at Fox News, his troubles were across the pond. Why should I care about what is happening on the land of fish & chips, and extreme politeness?
Watching The Daily Show last night (a more common theme for me these days), John Oliver joined host Jon Stewart to ease Stewart's disgust in regards to American news. While America's plight in overall decency and well-to-do-ness is dramatically low, Oliver highlighted the English media and it's future descent into the depths below:
- America = Funded/Glamorized the Casey Anthony trial
- England = News of the World (owned by Murdoch) accused of hacking voicemails of Britain soldiers killed in Iraq/Afghanistan, as well as victims of 9-11.
- England = Discovered that journalists and private investigator from News of the World had hacked into Milly Dowler's voicemail (Dowler had missing since 2002). Discovered that some messages - potential evidence - in Dowler's voicemail box had been deleted because it was full, freeing up space for new messages for them to listen to. Deletions misled family into believing she was still alive. She was later found murdered.
- England = Scotland Yard, the lead investigator in the case, had members routinely paid off by members of News of the World.
- England = Prime Minister David Cameron appointed former News of the World Editor Andy Coulson in 2007 as his Director of Communications. The same Andy Coulson in trouble for phone hacking. Coulson resigned from his position in January due to the controversy surrounding him.
- England = Hugh Grant (that Hugh Grant) brought justice by wearing a wire while conversing with a journalist at News of the World in regards to phone hacking.
So if I count that right (at least in the realm of The Daily Show), that's England: 4; America: 1; Hugh Grant: -1; we're playing golf.
The steady decline in the media is nothing new. It has been slowly occurring and evolving as the technology has advanced. While it is true that complete and utter objectivity in the news has never, and will never exist, as long as there are people involved, an emotional tie will be evident.
On top of emotional partialness, exists a fiscal bond; politicians being swayed by money in favor of policies. There is a lot to be said and researched as far as that goes, but the fact that politicians from both sides have been "endorsed" by networks such as Fox and MSNBC ilegitimises what is taking place in the U.S. I just never noticed it growing up, partially because all I cared about was riding my bike, and partially because the 90's were pure gravy.
Now, former Britain Prime Minister Gordon Brown is among the latest to accuse Murdoch's News International Corp. of hacking into his phone. Among Brown's accusations includes private information concerning his bank account, as well as his terminally ill son.
Nothing is sacred and everything is wrong in today's society. People act like zombies, immersed in their iPhone and Facebook status', while the scum of the earth continues to act in accordance. In a society in which politicians can't settle a simple debt, a country takes a day off for a wedding, and a child murderer is given fame, at least the NFL and NBA will have an upcoming season...Shit!
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