British phone hacking scandal grows more scandalous

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:48:00 +0000

LONDON (AP) — A lawyer for victims of phone hacking by the News of the World says a new conspiracy uncovered by British investigators has hundreds of potential victims.

Hugh Tomlinson made the announcement Monday at Britain's High Court during legal arguments related to the lawsuits against News of the World publisher News International.

Tomlinson did not go into much detail, but hundreds of extra victims could translate into millions of extra pounds in damages for the UK newspaper company.

The phone hacking scandal has greatly damaged the reputation of the British tabloid press, which has been found to have hacked into the voicemails of celebrities, politicians, crime victims and others.

8 shocking takeaways from the UK media ethics inquiry

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:00:00 +0000

  LONDON, UK — A staid courtroom may seem a world away from the glamour of Tinseltown, but in many ways Britain's Leveson inquiry into media ethics was not unlike a Hollywood blockbuster.

Commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World tabloid, the independent judicial probe by Lord Justice Sir Brian Leveson had a multi-million dollar budget and an all-star cast with performances from the likes of Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller.

The investigation delivered its findings on Nov. 29. As with most modern movies, it was too long, featuring 378 separate testimonies. But it had a riveting plot with startling revelations about the pervasive influence of Britain's press, and witness performances that ranged from tear-jerking to hilarious.

Ultimately, just like the latest movie releases, it failed to deliver what it promised. Its inconclusive ending left audiences feeling dissatisfied and opened up the depressing possibility of a sequel.

Salon.com > News of the World

British phone hacking scandal grows more scandalous

8 shocking takeaways from the UK media ethics inquiry