Hyperx
01-27-07, 08:31 PM
News of the World's history of scoops and scandals
The News of the World newspaper, back in hot water over a royal phone-tapping ring that saw a top reporter jailed, has been responsible for as many scoops as scandals in recent years.
The unabashedly sensationalist Sunday tabloid is Britain's biggest-selling paper with a circulation of 3.3 million. It has a long history of breaking big stories -- but sometimes also finds itself in the spotlight for other reasons.
Clive Goodman, the weekly's royal editor, was jailed for four months Friday for hacking into more than 600 messages on the mobile phones of aides to the royal family, including from Prince William.
Andy Coulson announced he had resigned as the newspaper's editor soon afterwards, saying he took "ultimate responsibility."
Judge Peter Gross branded Goodman's actions as "low conduct, reprehensible in the extreme" and said journalists were not above the law.
The case threw up questions about how widespread the practice of mobile phone hacking was, and in general about the lengths such tabloid newspapers would go to secure even the smallest of scoops.
Dubbed "News of the Screws" for the sex exposes often found within its pages, the paper was first published in 1843 and has been part of media baron Rupert Murdoch's stable since 1969.
Many of its biggest scoops have been secured by the notorious "fake sheikh" -- its star undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, who often dresses up as a wealthy Arab to snare celebrities into indiscretions and admissions.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Queen Elizabeth II's daughter-in-law, was caught out in 2001 allegedly exploiting her royal connections to benefit her public relations firm and making disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Early last year, firebrand left-wing politician George Galloway accused Mahmood of trying to ensnare him into making anti-Semitic remarks, and posted pictures of Mahmood on his website -- blowing the reporter's cover.
The tabloid claims that stories by Mahmood -- the son of immigrants from Pakistan who is reputed to be the only journalist in Britain with his own personal bodyguard -- have led to more than 100 criminal convictions.
But in July last year, three suspects were cleared in an anti-terrorism court case brought after Mahmood allegedly unearthed evidence of a plot to buy radioactive mercury.
Earlier in 2006, in "fake sheikh" garb, Mahmood lured England's then football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson into making revelations about his players, including then-captain David Beckham.
The News of the World also revealed that Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, had been taking drugs in 2002, the same year it reported an alleged plot to kidnap Beckham's pop star wife Victoria.
The subsequent trial collapsed, however, as it emerged that the newspaper's main informant had been paid and was therefore not considered to be a reliable witness.
The same year, the newspaper said Beckham had been having an extra-marital affair with his then-assistant Rebecca Loos -- a claim which was not contested in court.
And with the latest royal rumpus, Sunday's edition is sure to make for interesting reading yet again.
source (http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/26/070126220458.b5neyzt7.html)
The News of the World newspaper, back in hot water over a royal phone-tapping ring that saw a top reporter jailed, has been responsible for as many scoops as scandals in recent years.
The unabashedly sensationalist Sunday tabloid is Britain's biggest-selling paper with a circulation of 3.3 million. It has a long history of breaking big stories -- but sometimes also finds itself in the spotlight for other reasons.
Clive Goodman, the weekly's royal editor, was jailed for four months Friday for hacking into more than 600 messages on the mobile phones of aides to the royal family, including from Prince William.
Andy Coulson announced he had resigned as the newspaper's editor soon afterwards, saying he took "ultimate responsibility."
Judge Peter Gross branded Goodman's actions as "low conduct, reprehensible in the extreme" and said journalists were not above the law.
The case threw up questions about how widespread the practice of mobile phone hacking was, and in general about the lengths such tabloid newspapers would go to secure even the smallest of scoops.
Dubbed "News of the Screws" for the sex exposes often found within its pages, the paper was first published in 1843 and has been part of media baron Rupert Murdoch's stable since 1969.
Many of its biggest scoops have been secured by the notorious "fake sheikh" -- its star undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, who often dresses up as a wealthy Arab to snare celebrities into indiscretions and admissions.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Queen Elizabeth II's daughter-in-law, was caught out in 2001 allegedly exploiting her royal connections to benefit her public relations firm and making disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Early last year, firebrand left-wing politician George Galloway accused Mahmood of trying to ensnare him into making anti-Semitic remarks, and posted pictures of Mahmood on his website -- blowing the reporter's cover.
The tabloid claims that stories by Mahmood -- the son of immigrants from Pakistan who is reputed to be the only journalist in Britain with his own personal bodyguard -- have led to more than 100 criminal convictions.
But in July last year, three suspects were cleared in an anti-terrorism court case brought after Mahmood allegedly unearthed evidence of a plot to buy radioactive mercury.
Earlier in 2006, in "fake sheikh" garb, Mahmood lured England's then football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson into making revelations about his players, including then-captain David Beckham.
The News of the World also revealed that Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, had been taking drugs in 2002, the same year it reported an alleged plot to kidnap Beckham's pop star wife Victoria.
The subsequent trial collapsed, however, as it emerged that the newspaper's main informant had been paid and was therefore not considered to be a reliable witness.
The same year, the newspaper said Beckham had been having an extra-marital affair with his then-assistant Rebecca Loos -- a claim which was not contested in court.
And with the latest royal rumpus, Sunday's edition is sure to make for interesting reading yet again.
source (http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/26/070126220458.b5neyzt7.html)