Social And Ethical Issues In The News Of The World

News of the World: Phone Hacking Scandal
The News of the World Phone hacking scandal rocked the United Kingdom’s media publications from 2005-2011, after the newspaper subsequently closed due to a public outcry. The News of the World newspaper started in 1843 by John Browne Bell, and was eventually sold to Rupert Murdoch in 1969. Yet the newspaper, in 2006, suffered allegations of phone hacking done by its journalists, including its editors. There were multiple reports from other newspapers such as The Guardian, that News of the World used private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire to illegally gain access to voicemail accounts of people who were of interest to the newspaper. These were mainly celebrities, politicians and members of the Royal family.
This leads to both Goodman and Mulcaire to sue News of the World for wrongful dismissal. Andy Coulson, editor of News of the World, resigns due to this incident and is hired as director of communications for David Cameron (Prime Minister of United Kingdom) but resigns in 2011, after coverage of the phone hacking scandal. Due to new facts coming to light in 2011, such as the access to schoolgirl Milly Dowlers phone, David Cameron issues an inquiry to investigate journalistic cultures, practices and ethics. This inquiry led to the hearing of testimonies from witnesses in the hacking scandal including, Sienna Miller, J.K Rowling and the mother of Milly Dowlers. This lead to payout if tens of thousands of dollars to settle lawsuits. Throughout these hearing, former News of the world lawyer, Tom Crone, states that James Murdoch was made aware in June 2008 of the phone hacking scandal (CNN, UK Phone Hacking Scandal Fast Facts, republished December 2015). Due to there being such a disgust with the publication due to the phone hacking scandal the tabloid was shut down after 168 years and issued
The media coverage of the phone hacking scandal was substantial due to the high volume case it had created. The media throughout the course of investigation and inquiry made sure that all their information was available to all people that had been both affected and not affected by the News of the World phone hacking ring. The information provided by other media allowed the readers to form their own opinions about what was happening to the victims of the phone hacking