London police reveals deep Murdoch empire links

[OKIsItJustMe]

Source: Associated Press

London police reveals deep Murdoch empire links

By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — London's departing police chief revealed Tuesday that 10 of the 45 press officers in his department used to work for News International, but he denied there are any improper links between the force and Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

Paul Stephenson was giving evidence to a committee of lawmakers investigating wrongdoing at the now-shuttered tabloid News of the World, and allegations of bribery and collusion between Murdoch employees and the police.

"I understand that there are 10 members of the (Department of Public Affairs) staff who have worked in News International in the past, in some cases journalists, in some cases undertaking work experience with the organization," he said.

…

Stephenson denied wrongdoing, or knowing the News of the World was engaged in phone hacking — but acknowledged that in retrospect he was embarrassed the force had hired Neil Wallis, a former executive of the paper, as a PR consultant,

…

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_4lOV0yVBLxbaA-URdmT0X6-YTQ?docId=160a81fb5aba4d6eb91dd21884b7f749

[Historic NY]

1. Murdoch owned the police force.

[KurtNYC]

4. I think he just rented some occassionally. We had a joke in Los Angeles

because it was so common for 911 calls or other police info to be leaked to the media:

When you call 911 in L.A. you are connected first to Entertainment Tonight. They will ask "Does your emergency involve a celebrity?" if you answer "no" you are transferred to the LAPD and put on hold for 10 minutes.

[6000eliot]

2. How is what these people did different from a criminal syndicate?

Everything they do sounds like it comes from a Puzo novel.

[AndyTiedye]

5. A Difference in Scale (The Mafia are Pikers Compared to News Corp)

News Corp IS a criminal syndicate, possibly the largest in the world.
All those organized crime families are small time by comparison.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Probably proportionate

to the combined readership of The Sun , The News Of The World and The Times share of the UK market.

So whats'odd about that ? :shrug: