Words: Mark EG.
As you may or may not know, News International announced this week that they were to shut down one of their flagship publications, the News of the World newspaper, after a huge scandal involving (amongst others) hacked phone conversations during the Milly Dowler investigation. As a musician, what has this got to do with me? Well, I have been involved in journalism for a long time, albeit through my love of and passion for music, since I started DJing. A few years ago I became the editor of a 132-page full colour magazine called Core (www.coremagonline.com), now published online to reflect the changing ways of media. Anyway, this isn’t just about me… I have a serious problem with what’s happened here. Let’s begin.
Following the scandal politician Ed Miliband was quick to call on Rebekah Brooks to resign. I don’t really care what politicians think or say, but first of all I do feel I have to step in and defend editors everywhere. What do these politicians know about how editors work? OK, in an ideal world an editor would question every journalists methods, but to be honest they have more important jobs to get on with – like organizing the WHOLE GODDAMN PUBLICATION!!! Imagine doing a 100-page newspaper every day - organising it all, correcting and proofing etc! Then imagine having to delve into how each journalist (for 100 pages) got each of his or her stories. I wish it was possible, but it’s not. The head of the organisation should have someone in place for stuff like this.
As an editor, the best you can do is instill morals into the journalist that writes for you or the editors underneath you. I always tell my journalists to write about subject matter with honesty and integrity. Perhaps Rebekah Brooks didn’t do this, focused on the next ‘big story’. But you can't blame her totally for the problem.
OK, so that's in the world of me. But let's imagine Miss Brooks was telling everyone to hack into phones daily. Let's imagine she was blatantly giving out hacking instructions. Well then I agree she should be sacked. But we need evidence first before we start to accuse, surely? We have ZIP!
Then there is the whole reason why Murdoch shut the News of the World down so quickly. After nearly 200 years of publication! That was a huge decision! Or was it? Perhaps it might have been for you or me, but do you think Murdoch, sitting at the top of his 10 bazillion pound fortune, really cared about this small crappy UK paper that he bought in 1969 as a means to an end? No way. Same as Myspace..
MUSICIANS TAKE NOTE!
I imagine the exchange that might have taken place would have gone something like this:
'Hey Rupert, a few problems with News of the World, what do we do?'
Replying whilst trotting around in his buggy on the golf course in Vegas stroking his cock:
'Shut it down, buddy!'
So who is the problem here? Is it the £40,000 per annum editor, the £20,000 journalist or the TEN MILLION PA knob jockey who doesn't give a crap about those trying to scrimp a living working for his organization in good faith or the common person he controls (you and me)?
Isn’t it pretty obvious where the problem lies?
And the irony is that UK TV is feeding us this story making us blame the News of the World editors and employees. Yes, some of them are obviously guilty but don’t we need to look further or higher than that?
I have to be honest. The main reason why I’m writing this is that I’m scared this guy and people like him will run all our media in the end. BSKYB domination. This is not just about journalism and newspapers – it’s about all forms of the media we read, watch, and listen to, and it ultimately affects everyone on the planet.
PS Dont forget to subscribe to my newsletter on the right :) ---->
