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Wall Street Journal reporters muzzled in reporting of hacking scandal Wall Street Journal reporters muzzled in reporting of hacking scandal
(about 17 hours later)
Wall Street Journal reporters were frustrated in their attempts to tell the story of the News of the World hacking scandal, according to a new book by David Folkenflik. Updated 7.30am, Saturday: Wall Street Journal reporters were frustrated in their attempts to tell the story of the News of the World hacking scandal, according to a new book by David Folkenflik.
He implies that one part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp media empire in the United States was not allowed to report freely on another part in Britain.He implies that one part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp media empire in the United States was not allowed to report freely on another part in Britain.
Capital New York's Joe Pompeo, has read substantial sections of the book, Murdoch's world: the last of the old media empires (published next week by Perseus Books).Capital New York's Joe Pompeo, has read substantial sections of the book, Murdoch's world: the last of the old media empires (published next week by Perseus Books).
He tells how Folkenflik reveals that WSJ journalists "told colleagues of stories that were blocked, stripped of damning detail or context, or just held up in bureaucratic purgatory."He tells how Folkenflik reveals that WSJ journalists "told colleagues of stories that were blocked, stripped of damning detail or context, or just held up in bureaucratic purgatory."
He cites an instance when Robert Thomson, who was then the Journal's managing editor, tried to prevent the publication of a supposedly damaging article.He cites an instance when Robert Thomson, who was then the Journal's managing editor, tried to prevent the publication of a supposedly damaging article.
In July 2011, after The Guardian exposed the accessing of Milly Dowler's voicemails by the News of the World, a team of Journal reporters discovered discrepancies between different versions of the paper's article about the 13-year-old murdered girl published earlier that year.In July 2011, after The Guardian exposed the accessing of Milly Dowler's voicemails by the News of the World, a team of Journal reporters discovered discrepancies between different versions of the paper's article about the 13-year-old murdered girl published earlier that year.
Folkenflik tells how the Journal team found an early version that included "detailed quotes from voicemail messages." They also learned that a News of the World editor had deployed a team of nine journalists based on a voicemail obtained from Dowler's mobile phone.Folkenflik tells how the Journal team found an early version that included "detailed quotes from voicemail messages." They also learned that a News of the World editor had deployed a team of nine journalists based on a voicemail obtained from Dowler's mobile phone.
This appeared to contradict the company's earlier claims that the phone-hacking was limited to a single reporter (and the private detective he was working with).This appeared to contradict the company's earlier claims that the phone-hacking was limited to a single reporter (and the private detective he was working with).
Thomson, the former Times editor who is now News Corp's chief executive, "tried to kill the story several different times," reports Folkenflik. "As a fallback strategy, several reporters and editors believed, Thomson was intentionally trying to set impossible standards so the story would not see the light of day."Thomson, the former Times editor who is now News Corp's chief executive, "tried to kill the story several different times," reports Folkenflik. "As a fallback strategy, several reporters and editors believed, Thomson was intentionally trying to set impossible standards so the story would not see the light of day."
It was eventually published on 20 August 2011, but the revelations about the altered News of the World article were buried in paragraph nine.It was eventually published on 20 August 2011, but the revelations about the altered News of the World article were buried in paragraph nine.
"The process was so painful," one of the journalists who worked on the report told Folkenflik. "If we hadn't fought, Robert would have been happy for us not to run it at all.""The process was so painful," one of the journalists who worked on the report told Folkenflik. "If we hadn't fought, Robert would have been happy for us not to run it at all."
As Pompeo points out, the anecdote appears to show a senior News Corp executive influencing news judgment. Folkenflik writes of Thomson: "He intervened in a very telling way at a very telling moment."As Pompeo points out, the anecdote appears to show a senior News Corp executive influencing news judgment. Folkenflik writes of Thomson: "He intervened in a very telling way at a very telling moment."
Folkenflik, who works for NPR and has been covering the media industry since 2000, did not receive any cooperation from Murdoch or News Corp.Folkenflik, who works for NPR and has been covering the media industry since 2000, did not receive any cooperation from Murdoch or News Corp.
Update: A WSJ spokesperson issued a statement last night. It said: "The Wall Street Journal covered phone hacking extensively and aggressively, both when Robert Thomson was editor and to this day.
"The very existence of scores of forceful and in-depth stories attests to the fact that editors did not stymie the assignment of coverage, investigative reporting, or publishing on this topic."
Source: Joe Pompeo/Capital New YorkSource: Joe Pompeo/Capital New York
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