The silly season was well and truly over by the start of this week, though the coverage given to rumours that William Hague may have acted inappropriately by sharing a room with his aide Mr Myers really should have come into that category. Surely we can do better than this? Is it really in our interests to know the ins and outs of politicians sleeping arrangmeents?
The story was not covered well even by responsible journalists, not to mention several bloggers. Iain Dale wrote the best account I have read on the subject which you can read here. The truth is it’s none of our business, and we really shouldn’t be so concerned with the details of this story.
The saddest part was that Hague felt forced to reveal that he and his wife had suffered multiple miscarriages. This is the kind of information no couple, whether or not in the public domain, should have to share with the public. This is one story I hope becomes fish and chip paper sooner rather than later because it’s giving British journalism and the blogosphere a bad name.
Another story to cast a cloud over journalism which has resurfaced over the weekend is that of the News of the World phone hacking scandal. Andy Coulson the No. 10 communication chief was accused by a former colleague of encouraging journalists at he News of the World to carry out the illegal practice of phone hacking. Several senior politicians have claimed they were affected by this and you can read full coverage in the Guardian’s story here.
David Cameron might find he is in a difficult position, but there is absolutely no question in my mind that the correct thing to do is to hold an independent investigation.
This is a dark story and so much has been swept under the carpet, but it is time to reveal exactly what went on. Why was a culture of ‘getting the story at whatever means’ able to preside for so long unchallenged?
I agree that the whole hacking scandal needs to be properly investigated, but it seems to me that much of the media comment on the affair misses the most important point: what does it say about David Cameron’s judgement that he appoints as his media adviser a former editor of one of the most disgusting and most unprincipled newspapers published anywhere in Britain — a newspaper, moreover, owned by an American/Australian whose lust for ever more power and influence poses a serious threat to the entire mainstream media her and in many other countries?
Brian
http://www.barder.com/ephems/