Read All About It: News of the World

Hmmm …

Well, it’s looks like today has seen the last ever published issue of Britain’s best selling tabloid, the News of the World.

Hmmm …

And, although I never actually bought it — it was always a touch too conservative, for me — I feel sort of sad that so many people have been put out of work, because of the actions of a few.

Especially when you consider that those jobs could’ve been salvaged if Rebekah Brook, former News of the World editor had resigned from her position as CEO of News International.

After all, the breaking news of the day — that an archive of News International emails has been discovered, seemingly indicating that her and her fellow former NoW editor, Andy Coulson, knew that police were paid off — isn’t exactly old news.

There’s evidence of that on YouTube.

But the whole News of the World phone-hacking scandals leave’s me, at least with questions.

Probably more than you want to read, I want to ask, or that ANYONE’S going to answer.

But let me put two or three to you, if I may.

Why hasn’t Rebekah Brooks stepped down from her post, much as her predecessor, Andy Coulson stepped down from his position as David Cameron’s Director of Communications?

I’ve no idea: how about you … ?

Secondly … ?

Exactly how extensive is the phone-hacking carried out by News of the World?

Lord knows. And I think that I, as with many in the UK, the thing I’ve found offensive isn’t the fact that politicians, footballers and others in the public eye have had their phones hacked.

No, I think that anyone in the public eye can’t complain much about such behaviour: after all, they’ve chosen to be there, and such expect the interest from all and sundry.

But the fact that relatives of both soldiers who died in the various conflict the British Army is involved with, currently … ? And the fact that murder victim, Millie Dowler* had her phoned hacked is some thing that I, as many, find severely objectionable.

Next … ?

Well, the next one’s sort of nasty, and about Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor, who worked as Director of Communications for Prime Minister David Cameron.

Well, not so much nasty, as simple.

Was Mr Coulson authorise phone-hacking whilst working for David Cameron?

OK, he’s stepped down from the post. But did he authorise it, whilst there? That certainly calls David Cameron’s judgement into question, if he did.

The last question … ?

Well … Is the obvious one of whether Rupert Murdoch’s News International company should be allowed to buy more of Sky than it already owns.

I’m not sure.

Although I’m thinking possibly not.

Rupert Murdock already has a lot of influence, because of the newspapers and media companies he and his own.

Owning more … ?

Surely is handing too much influence to him.

* On a personal front, that seriously got my goat: not only was that hacking potentially putting a police investigation at risk, but that phone belong to a child. I found that seriously offensive, and on a par with child abuse. I’m not a parent, or her parents. Lord knows what that’s done to them … !