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Dial M for Murdoch: News Corporation and the Corruption of Britain
Dial M for Murdoch uncovers the inner workings of one of the most powerful companies in the world: how it came to exert a poisonous, secretive influence on public life in Britain, how it used its huge power to bully, intimidate and cover up, and how its exposure has changed the way we look at our politicians, our police service and our press.
Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers ha...more
Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers ha...more
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
May 8th 2012
by Blue Rider Press
(first published April 1st 2012)
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I have been posting on Facebook about this outstanding non-fiction book for weeks now. This carefuly researched book outlines the numerous investigations in Britain of Rupert Murdoch, his heirs and underlings, his various holdings and the long lines of corruption at almost all areas of British society for the past 42 years. This all erupted in public in July 2011. I accidentally was able to watch all of the hearings in the Culture subcommittee of Parliament in live broadcast and have been follow...more
This was a good book but I only gave it three stars for two reasons. Whereas it was a fantastic round up of all the events that have happened so far, and certainly a good read, I unfortunately felt that it was far too biased. Sure it's hard not to be biased on the way the Murdoch clan handled this, and as a trainee journalist myself I cannot at all advocate the issue of phone hacking - but to present Tom Watson as a totally honourable knight in shining armour whereas the Murdoch's were totally b...more
I think, for those interested in corporate media and more precisely Murdoch's empire, this book is of great value. "Dial M for Murdoch" illustrates how a "toxic" media Corp managed to accumulate too much power to the extent that it became "untouchable".
The book, written by [British MP] Tom Watson and [journalist] Martin Hickman exposes the "dirty arts" at Murdoch's News Internatioanl in Britain. For years, Murdoch's newspapers had been hacking phones and computers, intruding into people's privac...more
The book, written by [British MP] Tom Watson and [journalist] Martin Hickman exposes the "dirty arts" at Murdoch's News Internatioanl in Britain. For years, Murdoch's newspapers had been hacking phones and computers, intruding into people's privac...more
A must-read for anyone who has Rupert Murdoch owned media in their country. An easy to read, but absolutely frightening expose of the corruption, and the methods Murdoch and his cronies were prepared to go to to cover-up that corruption. No-one was immune - past and present Prime Ministers, Cabinet Members, the Police from the most junior to the most senior, prison officers, even members of the Intelligence Service. From celebrities to the most abhorrent - a murdered teenage girl - Rupert Murdoc...more
For a book about journalists behaving badly, this sure earns a lot of ethical side-eye. Tom Watson underwent some horrific things at the hands of News International and legitimately has an axe to grind. But he should have written a memoir, not something that claims to be investigative journalism. The endless third-person praise of Watson (by Watson!) gets gross after 50 pages as does his conviction that NI was responsible for everything horrible that has happened in the UK. There's also his and...more
I thought this was one of the most important books to be published over the last few years. As an ex-journalist (who resigned on moral grounds) I know how much of what we read in The Daily Rag is written with a hidden agenda or is just plain old lies. I'm glad that there is a book out there that can highlight the moral bankruptcy of the world of tabloid journalism.
I found the book compulsive reading and I would recommend it to anyone who has ever read a newspaper.
As Watson quotes one senior jour...more
I found the book compulsive reading and I would recommend it to anyone who has ever read a newspaper.
As Watson quotes one senior jour...more
I'm probably going to have to go back later and re-read this just to get the full story straight in my head - a simple chronological timeline of the key events would make a useful appendix for future editions, if the author ever reads this?
I thought I already knew enough about the phone hacking scandal from following the news stories, but I still found plenty in this book to make my jaw drop. Currently out on loan to a friend, because it's the kind of book you just can't leave sitting on a shel...more
I thought I already knew enough about the phone hacking scandal from following the news stories, but I still found plenty in this book to make my jaw drop. Currently out on loan to a friend, because it's the kind of book you just can't leave sitting on a shel...more
" 'Mr [James] Murdoch, you must be the first mafia boss in history who didn't know he was running a criminal enterprise.'" (p. 287)
Pretty much sums it up really.
Some parts appear to be a little biased as one of the authors, Watson, was someone who was directly affected, but that still does not take away the severity of the situation.
These events go right back to the days of Thatcher and have been covered up and deliberately ignored since this time by the Murdochs, the UK governments and the poli...more
Pretty much sums it up really.
Some parts appear to be a little biased as one of the authors, Watson, was someone who was directly affected, but that still does not take away the severity of the situation.
These events go right back to the days of Thatcher and have been covered up and deliberately ignored since this time by the Murdochs, the UK governments and the poli...more
Aug 29, 2012
Terry
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-british-history
A very, very interesting read. It was eye-opening to see how truly awful the Murdoch clan is: the way in which they find news stories illegally, tail and harass their enemies, lie with psychopathic conviction about their public motives. Everyone who cares about democracy should read this book, even if only to take a very skeptical view of its future prospects. It is gratifying that Rupert Murdoch is no longer the uncrowned King of England. But will he be the last to covet such a position? One do...more
I thought this book was terrifying and excellent. As a detailed account of the phone hacking scandal it was actually a good read. It is depressing that people at the top of large organisations, public and private, have only interest in themselves. Recommended.
Highly recommended. A real page turner full of shocking revelations about the corruption of media, police and government in the UK (and beyond). It loses a star because of the curious way the author refers to himself in the third person, otherwise a real corker.
Excellent book but concentrates solely on the Murdoch mafia and ignores the crimes of the rest of the rotten British press. Ignorance by accident or design is what the reader must decide?
A detailed (perhaps TOO detailed; how do I keep all those names straight?) recounting of the history of Murdoch's "News of the World" phone-hacking scandal, current to March of this year.
A truly horrifying account of the cancerous Murdoch influence in and on UK journalism, government and police. 'Out of control' does not come close to describing the corruption. Recommended.
I really enjoyed this very readable and accessible account of the phone hacking scandal, all brought together in one place. Apart from in one or two places, the authors don't overdose on detail so in general the book is easy to follow.
what is that old maxim? Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely?
Not particularly well written - but the story that is told is of a disgusting, bullying out-of-control culture. Was very interesting to read against the backdrop of the Levenson Inquiry being conducted.
Not particularly well written - but the story that is told is of a disgusting, bullying out-of-control culture. Was very interesting to read against the backdrop of the Levenson Inquiry being conducted.
Really interesting book that gives a great overview of the tabloid phone hacking scandal. I was interested in reading a complete overview of the scandal and this is a thorough, hair-raising guide into the depths of the scandal.
A must read for anyone interested in politics and journalism in the UK. You'll be shocked and appalled by the alleged widespread wrongdoing. In particular, the passages regarding the willful inaction by the police are damning.
Not a heavy read. A neat, flowing account.
Not a heavy read. A neat, flowing account.
Straightforwardly told but riveting account of how News International became a criminal organisation.
A really informative and interesting book, gave me a real insight into Phone Hacking. Maybe a little bit biased, but expected and does not detract away from the actual text.
Remarkably compelling and excellent account of the Murdoch scandal. Highly recommended!
Good primer on the whole #hackgate saga.
Very interesting. Don't know if this'll be the definite account of the phone hacking scandal, but will do for now.
If you're fascinated by the Murdoch scandal, this is the book that puts it all together. Available on e-book and soon in stores...
Interesting but repetitive, could only get halfway through.
outrageous, made my blood boil....
One of the best books you'll read on Leveson. Informative, interesting and worth every penny. As a Journalism student, it's fascinating.
a modern horror story, well-researched, well-written, & told by 2 men who refused to sit down & shut up
The most amazing thing I have read so far in this book is the fact that James Murdoch was involved with Rawkus Records, whose output I now have to go and listen to, thus making it difficult for me to finish reading.
Nothing that really surprised me. Good info for anyone that didn't realize the power and influence Murdoch has on media and politics, but a rather boring read that drones on with unnecessary details and narratives that don't add anything to the author' story or case.
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Tom Watson is a British Labour Party politician who has been an MP for West Bromwich East (London) since 2001. Deputy Chair of the Labour Party, he has spoken out on organ donation, against the Digital Economy Act and is a key member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee that helped to bring the News of the World's phone hacking to light.
More about Tom Watson MP...
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