Tuesday is Judgement Day!
Like the Titanic News International is sinking and it may take a host of people with it. The question is who is going into the lifeboats. Is it women and children first or the rich and famous and powerful ?
There is something that I can't put my finger on, when it comes to the whole phone hacking debacle centred around News International. I think I feel uncomfortable because in exposing wrong doing too many politicians and media pundits seem to be gloating or acting and talking as though they themselves were purer than white, when in fact they too courted the approval through a corrupt press.
In today's Guardian, in an article by Polly Toynbee, reference is made to the fact that most newspapers have been involved with the data gathering services of Whittamore, including the Observer. It would however appear the Daily Mail has had over 50 of its journalist use this service more than 900 times. When it comes to being close to newspaper proprietors, it would appear that the present Prime Minister has been closer than most, see the information released from Downing Street today. Now all has changed. Judgement day is being unleashed on the media, however those who do the judging need to be careful where they stand. We might all take note of the advice given in the words of the Psalmist " If you Lord should mark iniquity who would stand?"
It seems to me that a great deal of people have changed sides over the past week. Not heard so many repenting, except for Mr Murdoch and his full page display of contrition printed as a black and white confession or should I say apology.
Those who were running with the hares are now hunting with the hounds. And those who were news hounds now look more like frightened hares caught in the headlights of headlines. And those who were political chameleons, running with the hares and also hunting with the hounds, have now decided they had better become hounds showing their teeth. In doing so they have all become a new breed of hunter each in his or her way talking about rediscovering morality. However no one has an agreed morality today, we dismantled the agreed morality of our fathers years ago, because to follow it might infringe on another's freedom. So the question arises how can you possibly know who is genuinely repenting and turning into a new thinking person or organisation ? When one view is regarded as moral as another can anyone decide right from wrong?
And before we all get on their high horse we too in the church have been part of the collusion. So much has been tolerated in public life by our silence that we have become complicit in all that has happened. We have allowed pornography and violence and even dubious religious programmes to be piped into our homes. Too often without our consent or knowledge changing attitudes to morality and faith. This has happened through the back door as media companies bundle all kind of channels together as a salable package, you often can't get one without the other. It seems to me a bit like the bundling of "subprime mortgages" along with "futures". Check out te film "Inside Job" We buy the package and are left with nothing but rubbish.
Many are saying this crisis will be a turning point in the way our media and public life are conducted. My fear is that a few people at the centre of the scandal will be sacrificed and those with the power and the responsibility will seek to distance themselves from the whole affair and rewrite the history. We are all good at doing this kind of thing. Making judgements and judging ourselves and our actions and lack of actions is never a comfortable thing to do. The danger is that we too will allow ourselves a convient escape route. Perhaps it is important that we remind ourselves that one day we too will have to give an account of our actions to Almighty God. A sobering thought don't you think?
Anyway, Tuesday will be an interesting day for the Murdoch media empire. It sounds to me a bit like judgement day for this organisation. Rupert Murdoch and his son James and Rebekah Brookes, the one time editor of NoW and until recently Chief Executive of News International, will all appear before a Parliamentary Select Committee to give an account of themselves. Until very recently all three people have appeared to be of the opinion that with the closure of NoW the story would go away.
Earlier in the week Murdoch gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal, (a paper which he owns), suggesting that minor mistakes had been made but it was time to move on. Indeed at one point this week he even refused to appear before the select committee. Things have now changed, no doubt as Murdoch realises the power he has gained for himself is now running through his hands like water. He has to rescue what remains of his reputation especially that has been good and pioneering in the development of new media.
He has now made a U- turn and agreed to appear before the Select Committee. it is suggested that his meeting with the Dowler family and his large page apology printed in all the major newspapers is part of his strategy to minimise the damage that the Parliamentary questioning will bring. It reminded me of Jacob returning to make peace with his brother Esau. Jacob sends all kinds of gifts ahead to show his repentance. The Dowler family lawyer is reported to have been impressed by the level of apology stating he was "humbled and shaken and very sincere... holding his head in his hands many times." he continued to say that the Dowler family suggested that actions will speak louder than words and that the Murdoch newspapers and media should lead the way to " set the standard of honesty and decency in the field and not what had gone on before"
So what do you think? Will Rupert pull the plug on his soft porn empire and intrusive newspapers? Or will he manage to save his corporation to fight another day in Asia and America?
I guess the only way that he will stop it is when people start buying quality newspapers.
