The News Corp. hacking saga

We are beginning the new year with an in-depth look at what was the biggest media story of last year – the tabloid phone hacking scandal that shook the world’s most powerful media corporation and is sure to cause more tremors in the year to come.

The big turning point in the Guardian newspaper’s investigation into phone hacking at the Murdoch tabloid News of the World came on July 4, 2011. A front page report revealed that the extensive phone hacking operation at the News of the World had not targeted just film stars, sportsmen and politicians, but even victims of crime like the 13-year-old British school girl Milly Dowler who was murdered in 2002.

The report boosted what had been a serious but low profile journalistic investigation into a mega media story that ensnared not only News Corp, the Murdochs and some of their key employees, but also exposed the ugly nexus between British police, the British political establishment and Murdoch media.

In our show this week we look at what the year ahead might have in store for News Corp. The Guardian newspaper that spearheaded the investigation into the phone hacking has taken its pursuit across the Atlantic, into the US. We speak to authors, journalists, media lawyers and academics to assess what the findings might be in the US and what their impact might be.

Also on the show we have a feature length interview with Murdoch biographer Michael Wolff. Along with his insights into the Murdoch family and their business, he explains why the time is still not yet right for a movie on the scandal that has shaken News Corp.

We hope you enjoy this week’s show. Happy New Year!

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