Clive Goodman
Hugh Muir and Owen Gibson
Saturday January 27, 2007
The Guardian
The editor of the News of the World fell on his sword last night after one of his journalists was jailed for illegally eavesdropping on hundreds of private phone messages relating to the royal family.
Andy Coulson resigned after taking "ultimate responsibility" for the actions of royal reporter Clive Goodman, who was yesterday sentenced to four months in prison. Goodman admitted to colluding with a freelance investigator, who had a six-figure contract with the paper, to intercept more than 600 mobile phone messages left for three senior officials in the royal household. Last night he was replaced by former Daily Mirror editor Colin Myler
The abrupt departure of the editor of Britain's biggest selling tabloid, combined with the harsh light shone on the practices of tabloid journalists by the case, will increase pressure on the Press Complaints Commission to rein in the perceived excesses of some of its members.
Max Clifford, the publicist who was one of those targeted, said last night the practice was rife among "dozens" of journalists and predicted the case could prove a watershed moment.
Coulson resigned two weeks ago but it was only announced last night after Goodman was sentenced. "His [Goodman's] actions were entirely wrong and I deeply regret that they happened on my watch," he said. "I also feel strongly that when the News of the World calls those in public life to account on behalf of its readers, it must have its own house in order."
>
Hmmm,
it's own house in order?! Surely that must be the worlds biggest oxymoron? The News of the World and "
in order"!!!
Oh how pleased I am! Har di har bloody har har!
That newspaper and all it's sleazy variants and sister papers have been long in need of some serious slapping about the head! Although this is not anywhere near enough slapping, at least it's a start.
I am always sickened at the pond scum reporting that these red tops employ and the way they "get" people. If the police used any of their techniques it would be labeled entrapment at the very least. I am not one to want more laws to control people, and freedom of speech (what's left of it!), it is a very precious thing that we in the west are fortunate enough to have (mostly) but these below despicable reporters and their editors need to be brought up very sharp indeed! Also the general public are a bit of a let down buying this expensive toilet paper, do they not see it? It's amazing that The Sun and News of the World are the best selling tabloid papers in the UK and no real wonder that your average Joe has no idea what's really going on in the World. Stop buying this sh*te and get some more realistic and balanced news in your life from other slightly less biased pools of wisdom.
Rupert Murdoch has a lot to answer for. (Bloody Aussies, not content with the just the Cricket!)
Back soon with some more un-opinionated opinions ..
