Mary Tuma : When One Man Owns Too Much

Hacking Rupert. Political cartoon by Pat Bagley / The Cagle Post.
The News Corp. scandal:
A case against media consolidation

What happens when one man owns too much?

By Mary Tuma / The Rag Blog / July 21, 2011

Before a UK parliamentary hearing (and in between being attacked by a cream pie) earlier this week, media mogul Rupert Murdoch -- under investigation for allegations that his recently shuttered British tabloidNews of the World hacked into the phones of some 4,000 individuals and bribed police for information -- stunningly absolved himself of any responsibility in the alleged illegal actions of his company.

When MP (Member of Parliament) Jim Sheridan asked Murdoch if he was ultimately responsible for the “whole fiasco,” Murdoch replied, “No,” shifting blame to those he employed and trusted. “The News of the World is less than one percent of our company. I employ 53,000 people around the world,” Murdoch retorted in defense.

Whether or not Mr. Murdoch is telling the truth, his argument -- that as a head of a media conglomerate it is unreasonable to assume -- due to the sheer size of the operation -- that he was aware of actions, however illegal or abhorrent, within the company he owns -- should trouble the public almost as much as the scandal itself.


MOre excellent stuff @this link from the Rag Blog.