As the tale of the tabloid, the News of the World implodes over scandal, law-breaking, dead girls, hacking, and other disreputable acts not worthy of the name journalism, it will take a long time to sort it all out. NOTW will go to press for the last time on Sunday. Robert Murdoch, owner, has pulled the plug. Murdoch has even more influence in the UK than he does in the United States. He has refused to comment.
Should we be surprised? Faux News certainly has done things for years that are questionable in the ethnics department. They seem to make up their own rules, all while pointing fingers at everyone else. The buck has to stop with Robert Murdoch. Maybe his world will come crumbling down. Maybe he will decide there is more to journalism than making money. The American press has always seemed like a gentle, well-mannered giant compared to the irreverent junk-yard dog habits of the British press. Faux News continually pushes the envelope. This would be a good time for American journalists to re-evaluate what the word professionalism means and perhaps do a little house cleaning of their own. Meanwhile, Faux News needs to do a lot of damage control before I call them by their rightful name.
The buck stops at Robert Murdoch’s desk.
