UPDATED: "Arrests within days" of newscorps staffers: fox news steps-up casey anthony coverage

UPDATE: Rupert Murdoch has suddenly closed down News of the World, the weekly tabloid at the center of the British phone hacking scandal after a final, ad-free Sunday edition this weekend. This development was sufficiently unavoidable that FoxNews.com finally acknowledged the scandal). 

Sometimes the practice of skeezy brilliance comes back to kick the practictioner. For brilliant billionaire skeezebags like Rupert Murdoch, not often enough.

But the hacking of murdered schoolgirl's cell phones voicemails and now those of terror bombing victims' relatives by the right-wing swine's News of the World has caused Prime Minister David Cameron to squirm in an appearance before British parliament Wednesday; advertisers are fleeing; the stock of parent company NewsCorp is plummeting, and a planned buyout of Sky News has been imperiled.

Arrests of up to five NewsCorps employees are expected within days.

So what are we hearing about all this on Fox News? That would be one great big fair & balanced herd of crickets. 

This shit has been going on for at least 5 years, but previously the public's known only about it as perpetrated on royals and other celebs. When it was revealed (broken by the Guardian) that the shit machine had been turned on regular people, a firestorm of real outrage ensued (not the phony kind practiced by such as Billo Reilly and Sean Hannity).

The so-called reporters even deleted phone messages to get more opportunities for stories, which gave a murdered girl's family false hopes she might be still alive.

It's going on in the US, too. Salon's Alex Pareene:

Here in the U.S., Murdoch's New York Post -- edited by Col Allen -- is currently being sued by the woman who accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of rape, because the Post -- relying solely on unnamed anonymous sources -- called her a "hooker." In huge, screaming, million-point text, on the front page last Saturday. The paper also repeatedly called the maid a "prostitute" and even accused her of "turning tricks on the taxpayer's dime," claiming she continued to act as a hotel prostitute while under the supervision of the District Attorney's office. While other newspapers have reported on the woman's "credibility" problems, not one has so definitively and matter-of-factly accused her of being a "hooker," let alone one whose union assigned her to the Sofitel in order to maximize their prostitution revenue.

What's big on Fox News? That would be Casey Anthony, Casey Anthony, and Casey Anthony.

It must be said: when the NY Times fucks up, there's much crying, head-chopping, and rending of garments; when MSNBC-ers get it wrong or say something untoward there are apoplogies, suspensions and firings. Murdoch? He's "declining further comment." 

Comments

[Coiler]

This is good news.

[Pete]

This isn't simply a Fox phenomenon. The same herd of crickets was featured on NBC when the news broke that parent GE didn't pay any taxes, for example. (Eventually, after the story blew up, NBC Nightly News did run a puff piece interview with GE's CEO defending their tax practices.) Except for an aside from O'Donnell, it also didn't get any attention from MSNBC.

Most Americans get their news from very, very large corporations. When those corporations' behavior becomes the story, they have no incentive to report it. That's a direct consequence of treating information like just another commodity sold solely on the basis of self-interest.

[joanie]

Well, I guess the slime at Fox News still isn't apparent to some people. I heard that advertisers were pulling out by the droves yesterday and thought this was something a little different. And it is a lucky incident considering Ailes' has been knocking at Britain's door to allow them more access. If the Brits go for more Murdoch/Ailes, they will deserve what they get.

I guess some people can't see the forest for the trees. Comparing a tax story to hacking into private voice mails? C'mon.

KUOW did talk about their behaviour and with the antagonist himself, O'Keefe, at

http://www.onthemedia.org/2011/mar/18/james-okeefe/transcript/

This is the transcript.

[Sarah]

Thank you Joanie you are always so thorough with your links and it's appreciated.

By the way I meant to post the Faux post on this thread sorry.

[Pete]

Joanie, I was not comparing the two stories in terms of import. (Although the tax story, while less sensational, does have more to do with actual governing policies. Not that that has anything to do any more with what's considered newsworthy - c.f. the Anthony idiocy.) I was comparing it for the behavior of media outlets in how they cover their parent companies' bad news, regardless of what the bad PR is about.

This really doesn't have anything to do with Fox's political bias - it's about their imperative of making a buck. Crassness (NOTW, the NY Post), staid establismentarianism (WSJ, The Times of London), naked political advocacy (Fox) - it's all the same to Murdoch; he wants to make the most money he can. And that's why nonprofit outlets like KUOW (or BBC), while not perfect, do generally hew to a higher standard on these types of things.

[star monson]

Thank you Joanie you are always so thorough with your links and it's appreciated.

By the way I meant to post the Faux post on this thread sorry.

Posted by: Sarah | July 07, 2011 at 10:51 AM

kind OF funny how Punget Blows is opsting as Sarah to fool Joanie.

brhaaaaaa

[joanie]

Yes, you were comparing them. That's the problem. And to conflate "governing policies" with Constitutional-supported privacy issues is another inaccurate comparison. Both are important but not the same.

Making a profit is the goal in business. There are limits, however. And there are methods for making the profit. When a corporation has become so corrupted that its employees think there are no limits to their behaviour, that corporation sets itself apart and deserves to be called out at least and criminally prosecuted at best. And it appears that criminal prosecution is indeed appropriate.

Your attampts a "even-handedness" suggest to me Fox News banner "Fair and Balanced." I think that's funny.

[joanie]

Take your meds, Gollem.

[Sarah]

Interesting how Gollum couldn't quite stay for the summer as he stated. Just like the other boys who make promises they can't keep. What fools.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

Joanie
if you're going to repeatedly cite to a character, take the time to get the spelling correct. It's 'Gollum' not 'Gollem.'

Probably yet another book you've never read. Scratch the surface and your faux education comes through.

[joanie]

More trivialization. My Andersen comment shut you up for a while, didn't it?

[joanie]

Thanks, Sarah, for the correct spelling. Puget Sound appreciates it and so do I.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

I actually enjoyed you displaying your ignorance.
'Sarah' spoiled the fun.

[joanie]

This is a radio blog, right? Ed Schultz if funnier than heck right now! "Can't raise taxes on the rich" over and over like a cult mantra. He's just fed up. I love it. He's got passion. That's the ingredient missing on the left. But, it's growing. Polls in Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri and several others show as much as 80% of the population want to RAISE TAXES ON THE RICH! Finally.

[joanie]

PS: who cares?

[Pete]

Joanie, don't tell me what I did or didn't say - I was quite clear. And I did not "conflate 'governing policies' with Constitution-supported privacy issues" - I compared the media coverage of them, but in terms of the actual content of the stories I contrasted a story of privacy violation (in Great Britain, which BTW does not have a "Constitution") with a story on tax loopholes. Both are immoral, both should be illegal, but only one affects either government policies or the services you or I can get for the taxes we pay. The only thing the two stories have in common is they put major media corporations in a bad light, and both were covered extensively by other US media networks but not by the affected corporations' media subsidiaries. I don't know how much clearer I can be.

Your "even-handed" comment is odd - it suggests you're seeing, and you think I'm seeing, the two stories through an ideological prism (Fox=right, MSNBC=left) when that's irrelevant. And I'm not particularly even-handed anyway - note I did tag Fox as naked political advocates, something a lot of people on the right and even center won't do. But I do try to be fair and respectful, let facts make my arguments, and not resort to name-calling every time someone posts something I don't like.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

Good post, Pete.

[joanie]

Oh, you didn't "compare" but did"contrast." You can't see the similarity?

Rationalize it every which way, you did exactly what I said.

And where did I call you a name?
It seems to me you're the one who is resorting to personalizing the issue.

[joanie]

Goldman just said what I've said as well: we should have voted for Hilary. Really big mistake.

[Buttercup]

Joanie, you have too much time on your hands. I liked it better when you had a job. Maybe you should take up golf or something.

[joanie]

Then post something yourself. I suppose I could use other names . . . would that be better?

[not joanie]

Hey, buttercup, what do you think about Grassley considering the option of the 14 Amendment? Perhaps Grassley doesn't really want to take away people's social security and medicare either. Some of these Republicans are in a no-win situation. Sounds like Grassley wants an out.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

Oh, you didn't "compare" but did"contrast." You can't see the similarity?

Rationalize it every which way, you did exactly what I said.

And where did I call you a name?
It seems to me you're the one who is resorting to personalizing the issue.

Posted by: joanie | July 07, 2011 at 03:01 PM

Then post something yourself. I suppose I could use other names . . . would that be better?

Posted by: joanie | July 07, 2011 at 04:00 PM

Holly Crap, this is going to be a long summer...

Be kind to Joanie, GG. She knows not what she does.

Anyway, back on topic: What's going on over in England is amazing. The conduct of the media is reprehensible. It makes Hard Copy look like pikers.
I hope those responsible such as Coulson get a taste of what they put those victims through.

Just a race to the bottom.

Kind of funny, the so called progressives on this blog have finally caught on to Pres Obama.

[excessive moderate]

I hope the Brits see this for what it is, ol’ Rupert is sacrificing an appalling tabloid rag in hopes to secure ownership of BskyB.

[not joanie]

Excessive Moderate, have you signed the petition at Bernie Sanders site to protect Social Security? If not, please do it: http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=36ab3bec-a656-4678-82d3-ca7c116b0ee6

[StarTheWonderDog]

Remember this is just a teeny weenie part of Murdoch's empire, he won't be phased by this in the least. This is no Air America situation where eggs are basically in one basket, so dream on you liberal phonies.

[excessive moderate]

The tabloid is going nowhere. It will be rebranded as the “The Sun”. Murdoch has replaced a handful of executives for phone hacking incidents at that paper for a while. And nothing has changed. But Murdoch likes to manage this way, he hires cut throat executives who want to make money by misleading fools.

[ProgBlogJunky]

To funny not to share.

Letter to Senator Patty Murray, Chair Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

[Newman]

oh wow, how will Patty EVER recover from such a career ending faux pax??????????

[excessive moderate]

Here’s a funny you don’t have to click on and it’s pertinent to the topic.

“For better or for worse, our company is a reflection of my thinking, my character, my values.”

Rupert Murdoch quote

[Puget Sound Blathers]

Looks like Fox News will have something other than Casey Anthony to fixate on.

Back in early 2009, the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Stimulus Bill found a 'shovel ready' project: Project Gun Runner. From the Stimulus Bill:

"For an additional amount for ‘‘State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance’’, $40,000,000, for competitive grants to provide assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the Southern border and in High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas to combat criminal narcotics activity stemming from the Southern border, of which $10,000,000 shall be transferred to ‘‘Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Salaries and Expenses’’ for the ATF Project Gunrunner."

[Johnny Sombrerro]

But Fox will not focus on it's own shit, much to your chagrin.

[excessive moderate]

Puget Sound Blathers

Yea, found that at Freerepublic. But I don’t trust the interpretation of the facts.

[joanie]

Looks like Pelosi is the one drawing a line in the sand on SS and medicare. If I thought Obama were that clever, I'd propose that this is a staged event to get people to vote Democratic in 2012.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/pelosi-medicare-and-social-security-cuts-will-compromise-vote-on-debt-limit-bill.php?ref=dcblt

There goes PS not posting sources again. Good for you, Excessive.

[excessive moderate]

Joanie

Not saying the verbiage is or isn’t there, just that I don’t agree with the overly conspiratorial interpretation. By the way, didn’t CBS news break this “Gun Runner” project? You know, the liberal leftist socialist comrades of Dan the man?

[excessive moderate]

By the way Puget, I couldn’t find the bill in question at the Government Printing Office. do you have a link to the text, notwithstanding the right wing crazy sites?

[joanie]

My comment referenced his lack of sourcing again. You referenced Free Republic. I think sources are important to credibility.

Yes, I heard it first in mainstream media but not sure where. You know, if I find a reference, I will usually follow it back to original source if possible. An example is a recent link I posted which I sourced back to Reuters which broke the story. That was the little house in Cheyenne story which I first read about on a blog. If I can't follow it back, I'll usually say or hotlink what I can.

There's usually more to the story.

That's all.

BTW, did you read that Boeing lost a very big contract to Airbus because Airbus has been including energy-saving devices in its products? Apparently that's a big deal. Wonder what that will do for Boeing stock. Airbus trounces Boeing...

[joanie]

Sorry, excessive, but I just googled ‘‘State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance’’, $40,000,000, for competitive grants to provide assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the Southern border to find out a possible source for Puget Sound and a zillion sites came back. It's another parroted talking point: same verbiage on every one. Funny.

[excessive moderate]

Yea, I appreciate your understanding of Puget’s posting. Though I will give him/her the opportunity to disclose the source.
As for Boeing, I worked there once. It doesn’t surprise me. They are out of the manufacturing business. It’s an engineering firm. It doesn’t look that way now but that’s the direction.

[KS]

To funny not to share.

Letter to Senator Patty Murray, Chair Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

Posted by: ProgBlogJunky | July 07, 2011 at 07:34 PM

That's pretty hilarious - typical Democrat Party. - they believe everyone else is stupid -like the Koch Brothers, the favorite boogeyman by the lib progs. One other thought, the DSCC is desperate for money. Patty Murray, who wrote this - is the one who thought the Koch Bros. were stupid after the ad hominem attacks on them by the left for financing the pols in WI- just shows how half witted and cynical she really is.

This is going to be an interesting election cycle.

[joanie]

KS, nobody thinks the Koch brothers are stupid. They think you are stupid and so far, they're right.

[joanie]

I better clarify that for you: the Koch brothers think you are stupid and they are using you. And they are right.

[Newman]

Oh KS do you really think Patty Murray sent that herself? Like she sat at a computer screen late into the night and thought "im gonna ask the Kochs for money cuz Im sure they will give me some" ??? Some idiot intern did a mass mailing and doesn't know about the Kochsuckers. Same for the pre-recorded voice mail. You will have to go fishing for something else, or maybe you just get a tingle from something as nonsensical as this?

[excessive moderate]

Let me get this straight, the cons are making fun of supposed democrat soliciting money from right wing money bags while the right is soliciting money from right wing money bags? This is as stupid as the cons making fun of the left listening to MSNBC while they listen to Fox and Ailes thinks of his viewers as ignoramuses. Murdoch has you right where you are KS.

[Monson hates the Coloreds]

Murdoch is an international terrorist intent on taking over "r- neeshin". He's white, so the righties don't care.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

I better clarify that for you: the Koch brothers think you are stupid and they are using you. And they are right.

Posted by: joanie | July 07, 2011 at 10:40 PM

Oh KS do you really think Patty Murray sent that herself? Like she sat at a computer screen late into the night and thought "im gonna ask the Kochs for money cuz Im sure they will give me some" ??? Some idiot intern did a mass mailing and doesn't know about the Kochsuckers. Same for the pre-recorded voice mail. You will have to go fishing for something else, or maybe you just get a tingle from something as nonsensical as this?

Posted by: Newman | July 07, 2011 at 10:42 PM

I guess that voicemail she left is also done by an intern, eh?

[Puget Sound Blathers facts as Usual Suspects scamper away]

what? you don't believe there is a voicemail?

here it is.

http://www.kochfacts.com/kf/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Voicemail-from-Sen-Patty-Murray.mp3

[Puget Sound Blathers facts as Usual Suspects scamper away]

sigh, go to the actual bill. page 16. project gunrunner.
thank you nancy pelosi and those shovel ready projects

http://readthestimulus.org/hr1_final.pdf

[sparky]

From Agence France Presse:

London - Shares of News Corp., Rupert Murdoch's Media empire, plummeted on Friday amid concern that the British phone-hacking scandal would thwart it's bid to take full control of pay-TV giant BskyB.
News Corp. Stock was down 4.1 percent on the NASDAQ stock exchange as of 1630 GMT. It has shed More than 7 percent since Tuesday, slashing the Company's market capitalization by more than three billion dollars.

USA Today is reporting that there are MORE REVELATIONS to come, including the allegation that News of the World deleted MILLIONS of emails in an effort to hinder Scotland Yard's investigation.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

I wonder if Sparkles prediction of the Murdoch Media demise will go the way of her prediction that Omaha would be lost due to a nuclear accident or that the Palin's would be getting a divorce.

I'm just saying you haven't been all that accurate.

Murdoch will take a hit but survive, Omaha will be around for a long time, and 'have you seen Todd!' LMAO