Tabloids Are History In The Making

Michael Hedges October 12, 2022 - Follow on Twitter

The tabloid press is a significant fixture in the publishing world. They attract considerable attention. They make lots of money. Their forte is, shall we say, walking on the wild side. After all, the Loch Ness Monster would still be anonymous in Scotland. Tabloids also, on occasion, dip into more controversial subjects and reporting methods.

Several high profile British celebrities reached for the stars last week with a “legal action” against Associated Newspapers, publisher of notorious tabloid Daily Mail. The lawsuits charge “gross breaches of privacy” including but not limited to planting listening devices, payments to officials and accessing bank accounts, reported public broadcaster BBC (October 6). The list of claimants include the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, known around the world as Harry and Meghan, Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actor Elizabeth Hurley, actor Sadie Frost and race relations campaigner Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Big league London law firms have been hired. “It is apparent to these individuals that the alleged crimes… represent the tip of the iceberg – and that many other innocent people remain unknowing victims of similar terrible and reprehensible covert acts,” said a statement from Hamlins LLC., which represents the Duke and Duchess as well as Ms Hurley. “They have now therefore banded together to uncover the truth, and to hold the journalists responsible fully accountable, many of whom still hold senior positions of authority and power today.”

‘We utterly and unambiguously refute these preposterous smears which appear to be nothing more than a pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone hacking scandal concerning articles up to 30 years old,” retorted Associated Newspapers in a statement. “These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims – based on no credible evidence – appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers, some of whom have already pursued cases elsewhere.” Associated Newspapers, owned by Daily Mail and General Trust, also publishes Mail on Sunday and Mail Online.

The mere mention of privacy beaches and UK tabloids in the same breath raises dizzying memories of the phone hacking scandals beginning nearly 15 years ago. The (London) Metropolitan Police eventually began investigating a tabloid News of the World reporter and private investigator for hacking private voice mail systems used by the British Royal Family. Time passed and there were arrests and guilty pleas. News International, subsidiary of News Corporation, principally owned by the Murdoch family, strenuously denied any knowledge but fired an editor of News of the World.

Other evidence of dubious behavior mounted day by day. Eventually leading to an official government inquiry during which Rupert Murdoch gave testimony. It was not pretty. He told the inquiry it was “the most humble day of my life.” In the end News of the World closed. 2011 was a very bad year for some. Arrests and convictions continued for three more years.

In a twist to the old saying, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, there is yet more. New allegations of UK tabloid impropriety jumped to the pages of the Guardian (October 11). Eight individuals who received settlements from News Corporation from the News of the World saga, have now filed claims against the Sun, the company’s surviving tabloid. “This means the phone-hacking claims against Murdoch’s company are on track to last more than 20 years, making them one of the longest series of cases in English legal history,” offered the Guardian.

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