Rupert Runs

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “2 Top Officials Leave News Corp. in Press Scandal,” shows how Rupert Murdoch’s media empire is unraveling strand by strand. The two who left include Les Hinton, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, and Rebekah Brooks, the top editor for multiple British publications, including the genesis of the scandal, the News of the World, where reporters hacked into cell phones of celebrities, politicians and victims, all in the search for a story.

The latest outrage started when it was revealed that the News of the World hacked into the cell phone of a missing 13-year old girl, Milly Dowler, who it was later found out had been murdered. The hacking confused the police investigation and may have hindered saving her. Yesterday, Rupert Murdoch paid a special visit to the family to apologize.

Meanwhile, across the pond, as they say, it is uncertain whether Mr. Murdoch’s New York Post hacked into cell phones of vicitms of the 9/11 tragedy. The FBI is currently investigating. One wonders whether the Fox network would somehow be implicated in wrongdoing as well.

Mr. Murdoch has been a polarizing figure both in the United States and Britain, and his arrogance has proved to be his downfall. As they say, pride goeth before a fall …