268 replies to this topic

[Wilfrid]

General mirth greeted references to the paper's "proud history" in a statement by James Murdoch of News International.

Revenues from the final edition will be donated to charity, along with all advertising space.

No flowers, by request.

[ghostrider]

Didn't The Jam have a song about that proud history?

[Wilfrid]

Yes, indeed they did. Worth remembering, though, that this was the sister paper of The Times.

This is well worth watching. Congress is never as much fun.

[Stone]

Indeed. We should adopt the practice of serving beer in Congress.
And investigating the practices of the media. Sullivan, Schmullivan.

[Wilfrid]

I am imagining Rupert Murdoch re-creating the Ralph Fiennes role in In Bruges.

"Yeah, but a little girl. I wouldn't have thought twice. I'd killed the newspaper on the fucking spot. On the fucking spot. I would've stuck the gun in the newspaper's mouth. On the fucking spot!"

This goblet of schadenfreude is almost too rich to enjoy.

[Stone]

I assume the paper is shutting down for financial reasons and not because of this scandal?

[Anthony Bonner]

I assume the paper is shutting down for financial reasons and not because of this scandal?

It's News' most profitable paper supposedly.

Its shutting down because they are just going to re-badge the Sun for Sundays, and because its continued existance was a threat to Rupert et al buying in the rest of BskyB

[Wilfrid]

It is the largest selling newspaper in the UK and I think the largest selling English language newspaper in the world.

It's probably an attempt to avoid the spectacle of seeing copies burnt on street corners throughout the sceptr'd isle.

A spectacular achievement to disgust the British public. Gossip, scandal, lies, vulgarity, privacy intrusions, paying criminals for exclusive stories, soft porn, all was forgiven.

But messing around with the cellphone of a murdered girl and war widows. Wow. Why not strangle a puppy in public too?

[Anthony Bonner]

It is the largest selling newspaper in the UK and I think the largest selling English language newspaper in the world.

It's probably an attempt to avoid the spectacle of seeing copies burnt on street corners throughout the sceptr'd isle.

A spectacular achievement to disgust the British public. Gossip, scandal, lies, vulgarity, privacy intrusions, paying criminals for exclusive stories, soft porn, all was forgiven.

But messing around with the cellphone of a murdered girl and war widows. Wow. Why not strangle a puppy in public too?

yeah - its really spectacular. Even in the youtube you linked Cameron basically says politicans and celebrites - hacking their phones - bad, but not irredeemable, but murder victims and relatives of terrorist victims is beyond the pale

[Wilfrid]

Its shutting down because they are just going to re-badge the Sun for Sundays, and because its continued existance was a threat to Rupert et al buying in the rest of BskyB

He now has a huge problem with that too. David Cameron, like any politician, has a deeply-ingrained survival instinct. He already has the embarrassment of employing one of the problem NOTW editors as his communications director. All things Murdoch have suddenly - at last - become radioactive.

[Wilfrid]

I don't doubt that Murdoch is personally appalled. He has always had a sickly sentimental streak.

[Wilfrid]

Ha. Kenneth Clarke and John Prescott agree that the closure is no more than a gimmick.

For American readers, this is roughly like John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi agreeing that you are a piece of shit. It rather implies that you are politically friendless.

[Stone]

RestaurantGirl's Twitter Feed: "OMG, I thought they were talking about this!"

[Wilfrid]

A fine news source in comparison.

[Lex]

RestaurantGirl's Twitter Feed: "OMG, I thought they were talking about this!"

No, this -