http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/24/phone-hacking-scandal-bullying-intimidationPhone-hacking scandal has exposed a culture of bullying and intimidation at News International
Stories of naked threats against anyone who dares oppose the Murdochs are reminiscent of the Godfather movies# The Observer, Sunday 24 July 2011
Henry Porter
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"We will get you," is the motto that sums up so many of the dealings Rupert Murdoch and his company have with the outside world, whether political parties, media competitors or lone individuals who stand up to him. What is now exposed is a vengeful and ruthless organisation, which takes its character from its 80-year-old founder.
My first example comes from the response to Vince Cable's reading of the Enders memorandum on the likely effects of Rupert Murdoch's proposed purchase of BSkyB last year. Until the business secretary was approached by Claire Enders, a noted media analyst, at an airport, he did not know of the memorandum. When he read it, he knew the purchase had to be referred to Ofcom, and that is when the Murdoch attack dogs were unleashed.
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One was delivered in a private meeting last March with Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev, who owns the Independent group of newspapers and the London Evening Standard. The meeting, which was initiated by Murdoch, was presented to the Lebedevs as an informal chat where they would get to know each other and talk about the newspaper business.
Soon after their arrival, the atmosphere changed and Murdoch began to remonstrate with them about the Independent's coverage of his affairs. He said he had three volumes of clippings from their newspapers, attacking him. He was particularly exercised about the offence done to his family – and called the coverage "a vendetta". He ended with a threat. Until then he had held James back from launching an attack on the Lebedevs, but he didn't know how long he would be able to do that.
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At the end of last week, we learned that an inquiry agent was following Labour MP Tom Watson around at the 2009 Labour party conference. Watson, his colleague Chris Bryant and the former Plaid Cymru MP Adam Pryce were all threatened.
A rumour came from inside No 10 last Friday that private detectives employed by News International are even now compiling dossiers for future use on politicians who attack Murdoch.More at link...
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