Thursday 3 May 2012

What do you think is fair game for sharing with the world?


“For better or for worse, our company is a reflection of my thinking, my character, my values.” Rupert Murdoch

Do you suppose he regrets saying that?

It is fascinating watching the downfall of 81 year old Rupert Murdoch in the very arena that he spent all his life manoeuvring and negotiating in order to build a 46 billion dollar media empire.

However, it’s the kind of grubby end befitting a person who chose to buy silence and paid millions and millions of dollars to make The News of the World phone hacking scandal go away rather than expose the truth.

The News of the World publication was a gutter tabloid publication but it was one Murdoch was happy to own for 31 years. It clearly made him lots of money. Its reporters bribed police officers, hacked the phone messages of hundreds of celebrities, royalty, government officials and others whose personal secrets could be tabloid fodder and then filled pages of their publication which a celebrity obsessed public devoured.

And unfortunately when questioned about these illegal activities Murdoch utilised the defence strategy favoured by every pre-schooler when caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Deny. Blame someone else. Then claim it was an accident.

The absurdity of his defence made me think of Bill Clinton's attempts at defending himself in the midst of the Monica Lewinsky scandal (although completely different scenarios). 

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never.” 

No-one believed him either and look how that turned out.

Murdoch first claimed that it was just “one rogue reporter” who was responsible for this illegal behaviour. Then, when the evidence became too overwhelming, the one reporter defence turned into “only one rogue newspaper”. More cringeworthy was that he said that the publication was an “aberration” and that he “would have gotten rid of it years ago if its readers had not liked it so much”.

If its readers had not liked it so much.......

What is it about us, the general public, that we love to hear the dirt about others’ lives, celebrities or otherwise?
Look at the rise of Reality TV and the increasing trashiness of magazines, newspapers and even blogs. I think social media has only exacerbated this. Sharing private moments is encouraged and bloggers/twitterers/facebookers seem to post more and more provocative, expletive laden, and confessional postings just to increase their followers. Hopefully, with the demise of British tabloids as we know them, the world may be turning. I hope so.


43 comments:

  1. OldOldLady Of The Hills3 May 2012 at 11:51

    I so agree with you Lilly....What is it about our society that has become so cynical and mean and non-caring? Perhaps it was always that way, but I think with the advent of the Internet, etc., everything seems so awful now....Reality TV---which isn't really, anyway, and watching train wrecks...Also the kind of mean comments I see on some New Stories about different famous people---I find shocking and appalling. I rarely look at comments on these kinds of stories because I find it so depressing....People are sooooooo ANGRY....!!!!
    It is scary. 
    That Murdoch made Millions off of the backs of people by trashing them---This Is Truly Horrific.

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  2. I hope so, Lilly.  My theory is that some people live vicariously and it's the spice of otherwise boring lives.

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  3. For me the Rupert Murdoch phone hacking bribe paying mess shows how arrogant some rich powerful people become.  You used a pre-schooler example.  I think you could expand on that and say he was a spoiled pre-schooler who would take advantage of anyone he could.  I don't know if this connects with reality TV.  I always thought reality TV (which I don't watch and think ruins good TV) came about because it was cheaper to produce.  They didn't need to pay the "talent" much.  People have enjoy scandals for a long time.  The internet supercharges the scandals due to the connections and dissemination speed.
    One last point - do you consider Rupert more of a Brit or an Aussie?  I suspect no one wants to claim him now. 

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  4. Thanks Lilly for sharing this.
    I agree , though I have never been interested in trashy secrets and lies , it is society's demand for it that paved the way. Diana paid the ultimate price.
    There is no privacy for celebrities and their families anymore. They get criticized too for anything they do or don't do even.

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  5. Yes, Lisleman I think that you must get to a point where you are so powerful and rich that somehow you feel you no longer have to keep the law. What his company did was illegal and I am sure that every media outlet, not just his, is guilty of it. People are prepared to do anything to make money. The thing is that once we used to say today's news is tomorrows fish and chip wrapper. However, now the Internet means it never goes away so the kind of gossip he shared is the gift that keeps on giving.

    As for Murdoch, he was born in Australia, educated at Oxford and he inherited his father's media empire here. He then expanded that globally and he actually became an American citizen. He is often described as Australian born American made. He started buying newspapers in the UK in 1969. He has the most wonderful mother who is still alive and his father was a war correspondent. Rupert knew what the public wanted to buy, sex, scandal, crime and human interest and made his fortune. I guess it's karma that he now is on the end of all the big bold headlines that he inflicted on others.

    I do not like anything he stands for at all.

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  6. That is a good point Christine. Somehow it makes people feel better. I decided about two years ago that I was never going to buy a magazine again as they had all seemd to turn into gossip mags. Human interest stories are one thing but the kind that are salacious and scandal ridden just annoy the hell out of me. I have saved money as a result. I haven't bought a newspaper either but I do look at one online from time to time.

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  7. I like your last line that he made millions off the backs of people by trashing them and can I add, illegally obtaining information about them. I don't feel so sorry for celebrities as they often play cat and mouse with the press and use them for their own purposes. But I do feel very sorry for all those ordinary people whose lives were trampled just because something bad happened to them. Like the parents of that young girl who was murdered (News of the World reporters hacked into her mobile and wiped messages which made her parents think she was still alive). Yes, people are so angry - its all that sugar or something as there have been many periods throughout history that the economy has been poor. We can't keep blaming it on that I don't think.

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  8. Yes Trish, I hold my hand up and admit that I have bought the News of the World before when I was in the UK. It really was a piece of trash but so are many of the tabloids in the UK. They have a very different standard to the US tabloids I think. Imagine all the relationships that got affected when these stars felt that their family and freinds were selling them out. No-one suspected that their phones were being hacked.

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  9. This was such an interesting post, Lilly.  I've heard about all this in the news, but didn't know the whole background of it.  Pathetic.  Sadly though, I don't think the world is changing.  There are so many reality shows and Entertainment Shows that like to show every single terrible thing that happens to famous and not so famous people.  People like to live vicariously or know that someone richer is having a worst time than they are.

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  10. Hello there, you nailed it. It is pathetic isn't it? I just dont get, for example, the likes of the Kardashians. They have made millions from what exactly? But it is the public who show the interest in the first place in watching their shows. I just dont understand how there could be so many people out there that would find that kind of thing entertaining...

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  11. Well you sure are correct about the British tabloid press. Nothing like them anywhere in the world. It has created an uproar over here because it is clear that Mr Murdoch and son also wielded incredible political influence. I imagine that will be the end of his media interests in the UK after this. As for why we love to hear about others people's sagas I guess its because we love to think we are the same as others or superior in some way. It makes us feel better about ourself. You know Angelina may be beautiful and have Brad Pitt as a partner but she drinks blood and is anorexic blah blah. Ever read the Daily Mail or Perez Hilton's blog? Anyway, the Murdoch family's saga hoepfully may be a lesson for everyone who has an interest in the media. I think the world is changing - people are also fed up with the greed of bankers as well as the media magnates. That is what i love about the internet it promotes people power.

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  12. This is a change of pace for you, Lilly. Your latest post has impressed me very much and made me proud to think that some of us, at least, have been able to maintain our standards in the midst of all the sleazy offerings we find in the media  

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  13. Nothing British about him except he owns a lot of the media here. We don't want to claim him. The enquiries here found that he was unfit to run a global company. Pretty bad really.

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  14. That is nice of you to say, thanks, appreciate it. And yes I guess there was not much to laugh at in this latest post.

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  15. Yes I used to read the Daily Mail a lot Sarah. I don't know how they get all that info to be able to refresh the site all through the day. I guess this scandal is all you are hearing about in the UK. James won't be back there again and I wonder what will happen with the daughter as well. Intriguing times. We need an Occupy Fleet Street now.

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  16. I'm not big into the Reality TV shows, never have been.  In fact, I don't watch much TV, mainly because even the news now is "Drama, Drama, Drama"...

    As for blogging, I was told once or twice that I share too much on my blog.  So, I cut back on such, especially with family members.  But I still enjoy blogging.  And ironically... those same family members that complained actually say, "You didn't post anything on your blog today, why not?"  I'm not the drama, but they will use what they read to create it, even if it's not written.  

    I just shake my head and try to live a nice, quiet life.  Not at all possible, but it's a worthy goal, don't you think?

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  17. I think it's time to go off on a secluded island for a little R & R ... not the reality show 'Survivor' kind!

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  18. Personally Lilly I hardly ever read a newspaper now as if it's not filled with scandal it seems there is no news...  In the future we probably just press a button on the PC  and the latest news will appear before our eyes on the screen or projected on the wall .  Maybe by that time folk will have got rid of their need to read gossip...  I hope !! 

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  19. Aleta, no, you share the positive stuff on your blog. I agree, a nice, quiet life is a good aim.

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  20. Lol. well hopefully that will be where you are going to spend your summer holidays.

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  21. Well the Scottish papers are bad from my memory. The Daily Record and The Sun. No I guess lots of people have given up newspapers which only makes them want to print more and more scandals I assume to try and entice people to buy.

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  22. These shows only survive because people watch them. Its up to the public to take responsibilty for their consumption. Stop watching vileness and it will eventually stop being broadcast. Demand dignity.

    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/grotesque-cases-show-failure-of-regulation-20120503-1y1nt.html#ixzz1ts2pAhPlType your comment here.

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  23. British tabloids have dragged british society down into the gutter. They printed lies that remained unchallenged by people who couldn't afford to take them through the courts. Even then when forced to apologise the damage was done, they need to be regulated. Celebrities deserve privacy just as much as anyone else. If their rights weren't trodden on so much we wouldn't get tripe like this.

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  24. Lilly I read an article recently about the striking parallels between Murdoch and Nixon.  The author wrote:
    "Like Nixon during his Watergate demise, the hacking story appears to have thrown Murdoch into a free fall with no safe landing spot in sight. There doesn't seem to be any maneuver or strategy available to him at this crucial juncture that will make the blockbuster story go away, even for a price."
    "My only mistake was underestimating the amount of cavalier lawbreaking that would be uncovered within Murdoch's "news" empire.Murdoch, like Nixon, had lots of secrets in hiding."I wonder if the general public will ever stop wanting to hear/read about "the dirt" in other's lives.......I live in hope!NamastePeggy xxxx

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  25. Freefall is the word Peggy. The only strategy would have been to come clean and admit fault much earlier. No, of course, they are starting to investigate him in the US. However, I really think he doesn't see where they have done anything illegal. It probably has been the company's way of working forever since he took over from his father. I find it fascintating so I guess I am guilty of wanting to hear the dirt in his life. Now he will know what it feels like to be in the headlines anyway.

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  26. Not sure regulation has ever worked either but it will be interesting to see what the future holds. And I totally agree with your comment.

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  27. Demand dignity. I love it and will use that expression myself from hereon in. Thanks for the reminder Anonymous.

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  28. What comes up must come down it seems.  In newspapers and othe rmedia and in politics - accuse, insinuate (sp?), correct - if ever - in tiny, tiny print.  Gossip, malign, scrape the barrel for the dirt.  Rush to judge and hire freelancers who may not have any relation to the community, subject or topic about which they're reporting.  I do read the newspapers and watch some TV news but I do it all in doses and actively search out positive stories and encounters in the real world that are positive.  I've actually swallowed a lot of gossip recently and have deleted ofeensive jokes received via email rather than spread them.  Great post as usuall.  Money must stop being the measure of success and the owners of our media and our corporations must learn to have ethics in their dealings.

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  29. young werther7 May 2012 at 12:35

    Isn't that the tall poppy syndrome? Dig up the dirt on anyone doing well and hope they trip.

    That aside, I'm going to miss News of the World....

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  30. It's a sad reflection on society that there has been an appetite for the kind of tosh served in the tabloid press. Hopefully, as you say, the tide may be turning.

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  31. I'm totally against these scripted reality shows... they are killing the audience....
    iPhone  Games

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  32. Thanks for your comment that was very inciteful. Money I guess can do great things and can be the root of all evil too. I guess things wont change but you never know and I like your idea of keeping it positive.

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  33. Young Werther, well save yourself some money and just go to the Daily Mail - its kind of like the News of the World but only online and free. Another British tabloid. I dont think its just the Tall Poppy Syndrome its just because the public really love this kind of stuff so Murdoch and his peers give the public what they want and subesquently get a lot of money.

    Good business I guess but where they went wrong was using illegal means to try and get the info to print. I am guilty of reading this crap from time to time as well. However, we just forget sometimes that these are real people we are reading about. And I guess Murdoch and son will realise what it must feel like to be associated with such a big scandal and be featured on front pages of the media.

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  34. Well I will hold my hand up Mike and say that I have bought and read the News of the World before when I lived in the UK but it really was pathetic. Each to their own. However, if it had been in print for over 30 years then clearly a lot of people loved it. It was a formulae that worked for Murdoch. However, you cannot do what they did - where would it end. Things will change now and perhaps we will get to read about more football and other sport in the media instead, lol. There may be a job for you, they could do with your written skills!

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  35. I think my country has long ago lost our brains.  Its unreal what is shared, placed on TV.  Reality TV is disgusting for the most part. I do not watch any of them.  Discretion  is a long lost art.  anyhow, Hi Lily, I think of you often also.  I'm doing ok, I look forward to hearing how your appt goes.  My last scans were good.  I will be getting a new port in next week, unsure of how i feel about that.  I'm trying to work on better eating, fighting cancer thru nutrition and conventional oncology.  I feel ok for the most part, but I just have this strong desire to travel--to see things...to get out there while I feel ok to do so.  We shall see!

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  36. Lilly, thanks for stopping in and saying hello was a wonderful surprise.  As for Murdoch and his empire of sleazy well he got what was coming to him and I guess his words have come back to kick him in the rear.  I personally do not subscribe to the reality T.V. phenomena it's such absolute rubbish and nonsense.  My life is dramatic enough that I cannot deal with other peoples dirty laundry for money on the tube and the more we buy into this crap and watch this crap the more this crap will appear in papers, television and anywhere else they can show off the absurdity of peoples lives whether it is a movie star or some idiot that thinks money before morals because as you can see some of these people have lost all sense of morals or anything thing that remains scared in a persons personnel life.  That's my opinion and happy to share it with you.

    Huggsss,
    JB

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  37. Oh wow, so nice to see you here too. I was going back over my old blog posts and wondered what you had been up to. Yeas, I agree my life is complex enough without introducing anything else into the mix. I hope this means you are blogging again does it?

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  38. Oh Dawnie, so excited that everything is good with you. Wonderful news. The nutrition thing is good and will only make you well. And get travelling if you can, enjoy every moment - great that summer is on its way for you too.

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  39. Joanna Jenkins10 May 2012 at 10:53

    He's hideous.  Really, really hideous.  And it appears he's even throwing his son under the bus too.  

    I don't subscribe to the tabloids... but I do read them at the nail salon ;-)

    I just did a post on paparazzi in Los Angeles--  Those guys are crazy and intrusive.  I know they pay people off to call when a business has a celebrity "in 'da house".  It seems everyone is out to make a dime off someone else.  Sheesh.

    xoxo jj

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  40. I just checked out your "old" cartoons.  Funny stuff.  The miniskirt one was the best drawing IMHO.  What I don't understand is why open a whole new web site just for that.  I see you have "pages" on blogger so why not just do a page for the cartoons.  You don't need to answer just me passing by making random comments.
    I found a great doodler over at a blog called, "A little piece of me".  http://crpitt.blogspot.com/
    all the best

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  41. Thanks Lisleman, yes you see I was going to change this blog over to Wordpress then I was going to do something else and then......who knows what I am doing with it. I chop and change and never get anywhere lol. I will check out that link, I love the links you leave, always good stuff.

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  42. Lol Joanna, well you know more than the rest of us the world of celebrity. Yes I read them too when I am at the hairdressers. I dont buy them though anymore. I shall go chekc out your paparazzi post.

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  43. Just wanted to drop a note to say "Happy Mother's Day" :)

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Thanks for your comments.