There was a moment at the Leveson inquiry on Thursday when Rupert Murdoch actually sounded contrite. Appearing before the British inquiry into media ethics for the second day in a row, he apologized to the “innocent staff” of …
Phone Hacking
After Months of Arrests, British Prosecutors Consider Charges Related To Phone-Hacking
For many in the U.K., remembering a time before the phone-hacking scandal inundated the country seems difficult. This is, after all, a scandal that’s dominated headlines, inspired two major official inquiries, shuttered one of …
After James Murdoch Jumps Ship, Sky News Admits to E-Mail Hacking
For a seasoned businessman like James Murdoch, timing is everything. As TIME pointed out yesterday, his decision to resign as chairman of British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) comes just weeks before a parliamentary committee …
The Sun Rises, and the Son Quits: James Murdoch Resigns from News International
On Feb. 26, Rupert Murdoch celebrated the launch of the Sun on Sunday—the newspaper he hopes will fill the gap in the market created by the closure of the News of the World. But for a man who grew wealthy buying up small …
Storm Clouds over News Corp., but Rupert Murdoch Declares the Sun Will Shine Every Day
He might have been expected to e-mail staff at the Sun about his plans for the tabloid after senior members of its staff were arrested by police investigating the bribery of public officials. Or, given the gravity of the rumors …
James Murdoch Denies “Mafia Boss” Comparison, Blames Former Editor Over Phone Hacking
This morning, as James Murdoch faced bruising questions from parliamentarians investigating phone hacking at News International, he had no choice but to stare at a garish red painting. Before him hung a twenty-foot canvas splattered with deep reds and maroons; behind him, an equally brash work of art in crimson and scarlet. For a man …
U.K. Hacking Scandal: A Hollywood Connection?
Writing about the smoking gun letter from the News of the World‘s former royal editor and convicted phone hacker Clive Goodman on Aug. 16, I observed that it was only a matter of time until Hollywood took an interest in the saga. That moment may have come even sooner than expected with the Aug. 18 arrest of James Desborough, who …
Hugh Grant’s Finest Acting Role: As a Journalist
The actor’s name is associated with many things—English charm (Hugh Grant can “twinkle for Britain,” the screenwriter and director Richard Curtis told me as I researched this piece about Grant’s on- and off-screen rival Colin Firth); a weakness for beautiful women including Elizabeth Hurley and Jemima Khan; and a weakness for less …