In the news

You sure?

Happy to be corrected, but my understanding was that the only legal grounds on which the takeover could be challenged was if the new entity that emerged had control over too large a portion of the media to maintain an impartial press.

The initial consultation seemed to indicate that it would not. Now NOTW is disappearing, they will have even less dominance, and so, in theory at least, it should improve the case for a takeover.

At the end of the day the government is bound by the law, and from what I understand, as yet there isn't a way for the government to get out of it.

But as I said I'm happy to be corrected if I've got any of this wrong.

I think broadly speaking you're right here, but in addition to the media plurality debate, OFCOM has a responsibility to ensure that BSkyB is controlled by the aforementioned 'fit and proper persons'. If the practices of News of the Word indicate that the people running Newscorp are either delinquent in their duty to ensure that the paper was operating within the law, or complicit in that activity, then OFCOM ought to seek to prevent the takeover. And frankly, I cannot see an outcome of the current situation which doesn't imply one or the other of these two conclusions. I think the real difficulty is proving it; the idea that Murdoch was skipping blithly through the fields whistling Tiptoe Through the Tulips when he was meant to be managing Newscorp is utterly ridiculous, but it would be very difficult to prove that he was actively involved and therefore complicit. the real knockout blow would come if some smart investigative journo could uncover similar activity in the US or some other market.

Bearing in mind that Newscorps' first posited offer for BSkyB was rejected by the latter as too low, I think that we'll certainly se a delay in the takeover proceedings while they fight fires here. it will be difficult for Newscorp to back out of the acquisition now, as US investors will get skittish if they do, but every media outlet that he doesn't own is going to be desperately clawing for purchase against them. I think it's going to be very difficult to quieten this down without getting rid of Brooks - which as stated by others will imply that the rot goes right to the top.

As for the comments about her hair, I actually think it's the best thing about her.

^
Cheers. That clarifies things a little.

TBH I need to find one of those really good BBC-style diagrams with all the timelines and parties.

.... to change it now would allow News Int. to sue the government....

I don't think they would 'sue'. It would go to Judicial Review. Where on the face of it, it looks like they'd have a pretty good case.

I don't think they would 'sue'. It would go to Judicial Review. Where on the face of it, it looks like they'd have a pretty good case.

Ah ok.

I became friends with [Mr Coulson] and I think he did his job for me in a very effective way. He became a friend and he is a friend.

I bet he did a good job for you ...

Also, who comes up with the names for investigations - Operation Weeting & Operation Elveden ?!

Mount Hekla to erupt in Iceland, waiting, waiting..
how soon is soon? cos my boss is flying out today,
praying he gets stuck abroad for about a month..

http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2011/07/07/icelandic-scientist-surprised-by-hekla-volcano-eruption-sensation/

I think last night Shirley Williams seemed to suggest that there was a "fit and proper person" test that could be used by OFCOM to thwart the takeover

Richard Desmond passed that test when he bought C5.

space shuttle launch http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14076454

^ was just about to say that!

It all makes you wonder, but only slightly, why there never was any phone hacking whatsoever at that paragon of highbrow, responsible journalism, The Sun.

wait.

what does "rinsed the panel" mean?

YouTube - ‪News Of The World: Der Untergang (slightly NSFW)‬‏

Audio of Rebekah Brooks facing the NoTW staff has leaked

Awwwwwwwkward

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/01/rupert_murdoch_-_a_portrait_of.html

For those interested, a blog post by Adam Curtis (who did that excellent Watched Over by Machines of Love and Grace documentary series a few months back) about the BBC's coverage and distrust of Rupert Murdoch since he first came to the UK in 1968.

All this NOTW brouhaha has kept the wedding of La Moss quiet

wait.

what does "rinsed the panel" mean?

Washing your car.

All this NOTW brouhaha has kept the wedding of La Moss quiet

It was a week ago!

Still didn't get an invite.

First Prancer's BBQ and now this.

Don't do it Will...

It's not worth it.

Go and plug your laptop in at the Starbucks down the road.

5%

Now on the rex offenders register......

http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/current-affairs/irish-woman-dies-after-dog-sex-0013864-1

Someone should make a short, 5 line poem about that.

There was a young woman from Limerick
Who prefered knobs to look like a lipstick
Anaphylactic shock
Was too much for the doc
And the dog finished himself off with some chopsticks

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to neu again.

.

The last line is shit tho