#PhoneHackingScandal
The Fall of a British Tabloid
#PhoneHackingScandal
The Fall of a British Tabloid
The News of the World phone hacking scandal was a major media and political controversy in the United Kingdom that came to light in the early 2000s and peaked in 2011. Journalists and private investigators working for the British tabloid were found to have illegally accessed the voicemails of celebrities, politicians, members of the royal family, and even victims of crime, most notably murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The revelation that the tabloid had deleted voicemails from Dowler’s phone sparked public outrage and led to the closure of the 168-year-old newspaper in July 2011. The scandal prompted multiple police investigations, high-profile arrests, and the Leveson Inquiry—a public investigation into press ethics and regulation. It exposed deep ethical failures within parts of the British press and raised serious concerns about media power and accountability.
Blair Calls for Inquiry into Press Influence Amid Phone Hacking Scandal
- Thursday, 14 July 2011
Tony Blair has called for an inquiry into the influence of the press on politics, stating that the current relationship between politicians and the media is "uncomfortable" and needs to be re-examined. He believes that both sides need to have an open and frank discussion about their relationship, citing recent events and technological changes that have revolutionized news gathering and reporting. Blair has been accused of being too close to News International during his time as prime minister, but declined to comment on his own relationship with the company.
Sun Denies Hacking Gordon Brown's Family Medical Records
- Wednesday, 13 July 2011
The Sun newspaper has denied accessing former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s family medical records without his knowledge. The paper claims that a story in 2006 about Mr. Brown's son Fraser having cystic fibrosis came from an unnamed member of the public who wanted to raise awareness for the condition. A written affidavit from the source confirms this, and the Sun says it did not access any medical records or commission anyone to do so.
Dowler Family Meets Cameron Amid Phone Hacking Outrage
- Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Milly Dowler’s family met with Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street to discuss claims that her phone was hacked by the News of the World. The meeting, arranged by the Hacked Off campaign, was described as "constructive" by Downing Street. Milly's parents and sister met with Cameron, who listened to their concerns about the hacking scandal, which has led to widespread public outcry.
MURDOCH EMPIRE TAKES A HIT: News Corp Abandons Bid for BSkyB Amid Phone Hacking Scandal
- Wednesday, 13 July 2011
News Corp announced it was withdrawing its bid to take full ownership of BSkyB due to the phone hacking scandal at News Corp's UK newspaper group. The decision came just before MPs debated a motion calling on Rupert Murdoch to scrap the bid, which was approved without a vote. As a result, BSkyB's share price briefly dropped 4% before recovering to close 2% up.
