Steam of Intuition

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http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/world/europe/%E2%80%98did-it-all-people-who-couldnt%E2%80%99-says-murdoch%E2%80%99s-foam-pie-thrower-059

July 21, 2011

ANI

London / DC.

A screen grab image taken in London, shows protestor Jonathan May-Bowles hitting News Corporation Chief Rupert Murdoch in the face with a plate of foam - AFP.

The activist who attempted to throw a shaving foam pie at News Corporation boss Rupert Murdoch has defended his action claiming that he was acting on ‘behalf of phone hacking victims’.

In a self-justifying article, comedian and activist Jonnie Marbles claimed he had carried out his ‘circus crusade’ for all those who could not.

“Simply put, I did it for all the people who couldn't,” Marbles wrote in an article in The Guardian.

Marbles, who infiltrated a Commons select committee session to throw a shaving-foam pie at Murdoch, also bragged about how easily he dodged at security at Westminster.

“Parliamentary security, with its machine-gun toting cops and scatter X-rays is apparently no match for a man with some shaving-foam covered plates in his bag,” he wrote.

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

ATTACK ON MURDOCH: Before Wendi Murdoch, this woman tried to protect Rupert!

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http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/before-wendi-murdoch-this-woman-tried-to-protect-rupert-121059

Graham Bowley, New York Times, NDTV / Updated: July 21, 2011 18:24 IST.

London: The heroics of Wendi Deng Murdoch drew gasps of awe when she lunged out of her seat in a committee room on Tuesday to protect her husband, Rupert Murdoch, from a protester wielding a shaving cream pie.

But there was another woman who actually intervened before Mrs. Murdoch did: Janet Nova, the News Corporation's interim group general counsel.

It may have gone unnoticed in the scuffle and in the media hype that ensued, but Ms. Nova was the first to react to the protester's approach. She leapt to her feet and, clutching her iPad, tried to block the man's reach toward her boss. Mrs. Murdoch followed right behind her, and she appeared to reach over Ms. Nova as she swung her arm in a great arc to deliver a sharp punch.

Ms. Nova, who is 46 and based in New York, is a graduate of Princeton and Columbia Law School who has been with the company since 1997. She was one of the troupe of lawyers and public-relationship advisers who prepared Mr. Murdoch for his appearance before a parliamentary committee looking into phone hacking by the company's British newspapers.

Through over two hours of questioning, Ms. Nova, wearing a gray suit, sat patiently a few feet behind and to the left of Mr. Murdoch. When the protester - identified in British news reports as Jonathan May-Bowles, a comedian who performs under the name Johnnie Marbles - stormed toward the witness table, Ms. Nova provided the first line of defense and Mrs. Murdoch the second, while James Murdoch, Rupert's 38-year-old son, seemed frozen in surprise.

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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

SHAME OF MEDIA: U.S. Could Prosecute Murdoch!

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/19/rupert-murdoch-s-american-lawbreaking-how-he-could-be-prosecuted.html

Michael Tomasky / thedailybeast.com / Jul 19, 2011 4:59 PM EDT.

With Rupert Murdoch in deep legal trouble in the U.K., Michael Tomasky looks at the American law that could be used to bring the mogul up on civil charges in the U.S.

We’ve seen many mentions these last few days of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.S. law under which some suggest Rupert Murdoch could be prosecuted. But is it really plausible that Murdoch and/or his News Corp. could be prosecuted in the United States for alleged bribes paid to British police officers by British employees of its British sister company? Yes, it is. So says the act, and so say two legal experts I spoke with Tuesday who have extensive experience in working with the law.

The FCPA became law in 1977 at a time, says New York attorney Roland Riopelle of Sercarz & Riopelle, of “rampant corporate corruption overseas.” It was designed to create a domestic remedy for misbehavior by U.S. corporations abroad. A typical FCPA prosecution might involve something like going after an official of a U.S.-based company for paying a bribe to an official in a foreign country to win a government contract. There are both civil and criminal jurisdictions to such prosecutions. The Securities & Exchange Commission often has jurisdiction over such prosecutions, in conjunction with the Department of Justice. Almost all such prosecutions are brought by the DOJ itself—and not, say, a local U.S. Attorney’s Office like the mighty Southern District of New York—because the cases “are felt to have international financial implications,” Riopelle says.

Riopelle, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District, says there is no doubt that bribes allegedly paid to British police officers would expose News Corp. to prosecution in America under the FCPA. He does think, however, that it would be somewhat abnormal. “Paying a police officer to get information about a pending investigation isn’t the typical FCPA prosecution,” he says. More typically, the United States brings a prosecution—for example, against an employee bribing a developing-world contracting official—because the host country lacks the will or resources to punish the official or the company.

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SHAME OF MEDIA: News International 'deliberately' blocked investigation!

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The full report's findings include:

Vikram Dodd / The Guardian,Wednesday 20 July 2011.

James and Rupert Murdoch testify before the culture, media and sport committee. Photograph: Press Association.

Rupert Murdoch's News International company has been found by a parliamentary committee to have "deliberately" tried to block a Scotland Yard criminal investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World.

The report from MPs on the all-party home affairs committee will be released on Wednesday morning. Its publication has been moved forward in time for a statement on the scandal by the prime minister, David Cameron.

The report's central finding comes a day after Rupert and James Murdoch testified before the culture, media and sport committee. The home affairs committee report marks an official damning judgment on News International's actions.

It finds the company "deliberately" tried to "thwart" the 2005-2006Metropolitan police investigation into phone hacking carried out by the News of the World.

The investigation came at a time when Andy Coulson was editor. Coulson went on to be chosen by Cameron to be his director of communications, before resigning.

• Police failed to examine a vast amount of material that could have identified others involved in the phone-hacking conspiracy and victims.

----------------------------------------------------------------

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/20/news-international-deliberately-blocked-investigation

SHAME OF MEDIA: Full text of Murdoch's statement to MPs!

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http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/phone-hacking-full-text-of-murdoch-s-statement-to-mps-120735

Associated Press, NDTV / Updated: July 20, 2011 14:34 IST.

London: Text of a prepared statement by Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corp., for the hearing Tuesday by the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee. He was permitted to read the statement toward the end of his appearance. The text was released by News Corp.

"Mr. Chairman. Select Committee Members:

"With your permission, I would like to read a short statement.

"My son and I have come here with great respect for all of you, for Parliament and for the people of Britain whom you represent.

"This is the most humble day of my career.

"After all that has happened, I know we need to be here today.

"Before going further, James and I would like to say how sorry we are for what has happened especially with regard to listening to the voicemail of victims of crime.

"My company has 52,000 employees. I have led it for 57 years and I have made my share of mistakes. I have lived in many countries, employed thousands of honest and hardworking journalists, owned nearly 200 newspapers and followed countless stories about people and families around the world.

"At no time do I remember being as sickened as when I heard what the Dowler family had to endure nor do I recall being as angry as when I was told that the News of the World could have compounded their distress. I want to thank the Dowlers for graciously giving me the opportunity to apologize in person.

"I would like all the victims of phone hacking to know how completely and deeply sorry I am. Apologizing cannot take back what has happened. Still, I want them to know the depth of my regret for the horrible invasions into their lives.

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

SHAME OF MEDIA:Murdoch refuses to take responsibility for hacking scam!

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article2259970.ece?homepage=true

HASAN SUROOR / The Hindu / LONDON, July 19, 2011.

James Murdoch, left, and Rupert Murdoch, give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on the News of the World phone-hacking scandal in this image taken from TV, in Portcullis House in central London, on Tuesday - AP.

Rupert Murdoch on Tuesday refused to take personal responsibility for the phone hacking scandal engulfing his media empire and said he was let down by “people I trusted.”

During his keenly-anticipated evidence before the House of Commons media committee, his answer to most of the questions from the MPs was “No.” He said he was not aware of the extent of phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World (NoW) until earlier this year when his media group News International discovered new evidence.

“I was absolutely shocked, appalled and ashamed when I heard about the Milly Dowler case two weeks ago,” he told MPs referring to the case of the murdered teenaged schoolgirl whose phone was hacked by NoW journalists.

Was he “misled” about what was going on in his company? Mr. Murdoch was asked:

“Clearly, yes,” he said.

In reply to a pointed question whether he felt responsible for the “fiasco,” he said: “No.”

Mr. Murdoch argued that he ran a global business of 53,000 people and NoW was “just 1%” of this and that was perhaps a reason why “I lost sight of it.”

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SHAME OF MEDIA: Rupert Murdoch’s Wife Wendi Wields Influence at NewsCorp.!

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http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/j6075/edit/Deng.html

November 2, 2000

By John Lippman, Leslie Chang and Robert Frank

WHEN NewsCorp officials gathered in the Hong Kong convention center last March to unveil their latest Chinese internet investment, a tall woman handed out a business card that read “News Corporation/Wendi Deng Murdoch.”

Deng is not a NewsCorp employee. Once a junior executive at the company’s Star TV in Hong Kong, Deng, 31, quit her post before marrying NewsCorp chairman Rupert Murdoch last year. Since then, she has been portrayed ¾ by Murdoch and the company ¾ as a traditional housewife who attends to decorating, her husband’s diet and the like.

But Deng is no homebody. Though she doesn’t have a formal position with her husband’s media empire, she has quickly asserted her influence over NewsCorp’s operations and investments in Asia, its most important growth market. Working with her stepson, James Murdoch, 27, Deng has initiated or advocated Chinese internet investments totaling between $35 million and $45 million, according to a top NewsCorp executive. With her advice, the company has also formed partnerships with cable companies in the region looking to upgrade their systems for high-speed video and internet access.

Murdoch, who is 69, has never hesitated to put family members to work in his businesses. Last month, he named his eldest son, Lachlan, 29, deputy chief operating officer, in a move partly aimed at clarifying that he is his father’s heir. James serves as chief executive of Star TV and has carved out Asia and the internet as his province. Even Murdoch’s ex-wife, Anna Mann, whom he divorced last year, has an office and assistant at NewsCorp’s New York offices, although she no longer has an active role with the company.

Now, Deng is rising to a place of prominence in the family business.

People within NewsCorp and outsiders involved in the Chinese internet and media industries say she identifies potential investments for her husband’s company and acts as his liaison and translator in China.

These people say Deng is well suited for this unusual role. The daughter of a factory director in Guangzhou, China, Deng came to the U.S. 12 years ago with the aid of a California couple. The husband in that couple later left his wife for Deng. She mastered English, climbed from a California college to Yale’s business school and eventually landed at Star TV in Hong Kong.

Having left China in obscurity as a teenager, Deng is now returning in grand style, as the wife and adviser of a global media baron.

“Wendi gives NewsCorp a Chinese face in China,’ says Joseph Ravitch, co-head of the global media practice at Goldman Sachs Group, which advises NewsCorp on its Asia strategy. “She represents not just the company but the owner, and that’s critical in a country where families are very important.’

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Monday, July 18, 2011

SHAME OF MEDIA: News of the World phone-hacking whistleblower found dead!

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/18/news-of-the-world-sean-hoare

Amelia Hill, James Robinson, Caroline Davies / guardian.co.uk, Monday 18 July 2011 18.04 BST.

Former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare has been found dead. Photograph: BBC.

Death of Sean Hoare – who was first named journalist to allege Andy Coulson knew of hacking – not being treated as suspicious.

Sean Hoare, the former News of the World showbiz reporter who was the first named journalist to allege Andy Coulson was aware of phone hacking by his staff, has been found dead, the Guardian has learned.

Hoare, who worked on the Sun and the News of the World with Coulson before being dismissed for drink and drugs problems, is said to have been found dead at his Watford home.

Hertfordshire police would not confirm his identity, but the force said in a statement: "At 10.40am today [Monday 18 July] police were called to Langley Road, Watford, following the concerns for the welfare of a man who lives at an address on the street. Upon police and ambulance arrival at a property, the body of a man was found. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing."

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SHAME OF MEDIA: Murdoch: The Parody, Watch the Viral Spoof!

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/videos/2011/07/18/murdoch-the-parody.html

July 18, 2011 8:05 AM EDT

It’s the Murdoch movie we’d like to see. With Hilary Swank as James Murdoch and Colin Firth as Hugh Grant, watch the funny spoof that’s gone viral.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Stain From Tabloids Rubs Off on a Cozy Scotland Yard!

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/world/europe/17police.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2

Published: July 16, 2011 / nytimes.com.

Interviews with current and former officials show that instead of examining all the evidence, investigators primarily limited their inquiry to 36 names that the private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, mentioned in one list.

As a result, Scotland Yard notified only a small number of the people whose phones were hacked by The News of the World. Other people who suspected foul play had to approach the police to see if their names were in Mr. Mulcaire’s files.

“It’s one thing to decide not to investigate,” said Jeremy Reed, one of the lawyers who represents numerous phone-hacking victims. “But it’s quite another thing not to tell the victims. That’s just mind-blowing.”

Among the possible victims was former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who asked the police last year to look into suspicions that his phones were hacked. In response, Scotland Yard sent him a form letter saying it was unclear whether the tabloid had eavesdropped on his conversations, people with knowledge of the request said.

The police assigned a new team to the hacking allegations in September after The New York Times published amagazine article that showed that the practice was far more widespread and which raised questions about Scotland Yard’s handling of the case.

Shortly after, the police finally reopened those “bin bags.” Now, the police are enduring the painstaking and humiliating exercise of notifying nearly 4,000 angry people listed in the documents that they may have been targets of what now appears to be industrial-strength hacking by The News of the World. The chore is likely to take years.

A Series of Inquiries

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SHAME OF MEDIA - Milly Dowler Cell Hacking Case: Stain From Tabloids Rubs Off on a Cozy Scotland Yard!!

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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/world/europe/17police.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2

Published: July 16, 2011 / http://www.nytimes.com.

The police assigned a new team to the hacking allegations in September after The New York Times published a magazine article that showed that the practice was far more widespread and which raised questions about Scotland Yard’s handling of the case.

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Friday, July 15, 2011

SHAME OF MEDIA: Brooks quits; Murdochs to apologise for phone hacking scandal!

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http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/world/europe/brooks-quits-murdochs-apologise-phone-hacking-scandal-868

July 15, 2011

AFP

London / DC.

Chief Executive of News International Rebekah Brooks - AFP.

Reeling under sustained criticism, media baron Rupert Murdoch and his family today went into damage-limitation mode by promising to 'apologise' to the nation, and accepted the resignation of News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks.

The Murdochs and their media empire have become the focus of criticism and inquiries in Britain as well as in the US and Australia, besides taking knocks on the stock exchange for indulging in dubious news gathering practices.

James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch, today listed the measures the company is taking to deal with the issue, including tendering an apology. The apology will be published in an advertisement in all national newspapers.

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SHAME OF MEDIA: In Interview, Murdoch Defends News Corp.!

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