News Of The World Voicemail Hacking Scandal

by NowPublic Staff | September 8, 2010 at 01:40 pm

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News Of The World Cell Voicemail Hacking Scandal: Ross Hall Key Player To Tesity, Circle Closes On PM Adviser Andy Caulson - Backdoor Battle Between NY Times And Rupert Murdoch

A key player in the News of the World voicemail hacking scandal is will to speak with the Scotland Yard, the Guardian newspaper is reporting. Ross Hall, a former News of the World employee extensively transcribed voicemail messages from phones that were hacked by News of the World operatives. Hall was originally named in a February 2010 MP report into News of the World

The 167-page report by a cross-party select committee is withering about the conduct of the News of the World, with one MP saying its crimes "went to the heart of the British establishment, in which police, military royals and government ministers were hacked on a near industrial scale".

The scope of the voicemail and phone hacking by News of the World is impressive to say the least. It is believed hundreds of prominent figures in England may have had their phones hacked by News of the World, from athletes to royalty, including Prince William and Prince Harry.
Since the hacking which occurred 4 years ago, roughly 5 lawsuits have been launched against News of the World, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch - litigation that is bound to uncover more malfeasance.

The litigation is beginning to expose just how far the hacking went, something that Scotland Yard did not do. In fact, an examination based on police records, court documents and interviews with investigators and reporters shows that Britain’s revered police agency failed to pursue leads suggesting that one of the country’s most powerful newspapers was routinely listening in on its citizens.

The New York Times breathed new life into the story exposing the role of the Scotland Yard in the phone hacking scandal. Now, it is reaching into the office of British P.M. David Cameron. His advisor is Andy Caulson - the former editor of News of the World during the phone hacking scandal. At the time Caulson pleaded ignorance and ultimately took the fall, ending up as an advisor to Cameron. David Cameron of course courted Rupert Murdoch hoping to curry the favor of the most powerful media owner in the UK, if not the world.
Meanwhile, Parliament is looking into the scandal and Scotland Yard promises a more rigorous and vigorous inquiry.

The investigation's starting point will be the former reporter Sean Hoare, who has given media interviews contradicting Coulson's account that, despite being editor of the News of the World, he knew nothing of the practice.

Police and the Crown Prosecution Service will have to decide whether Hoare is interviewed as a witness, or under criminal caution as a potential suspect. After his interview and its contents are discussed with the CPS, Coulson will be interviewed. It is expected he will be questioned as a witness, but strong testimony from Hoare could mean the prime minister's top media aide is questioned as a criminal suspect.

Andy Caulson (the rough equivalent of White Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs) may well be questioned as a criminal suspect? All because the New York Times found new angles on an old story?
The NY Times phone hacking story was not only a solid piece of journalism it had an added side benefit; It is likely causing headaches for Rupert Murdoch.
Murdoch has explicitly expressed his desire to use the newly acquired Wall Street Journal to topple the NY Times from its perch on top of the American media slag heap.

If the NYT article does get Scotland Yard to release information it allegedly has on further such hackings, and investigations show executives knew more than they have told Parliament, then the civil suits could really start adding up and that will hurt Murdoch where it hurts the most – in the pocket book.

And that surely is another big motive for the NYT story.