American Fortune Life

"Eavesdropping Storm" rushed across the United States.

When the scandal revealed that News Corp. had not responded, the Associated Press reported on a source who did not want to be named as a federal law enforcement official, and the FBI has launched an investigation into News Corp.'s journalists tapping "911" Report of the victim's phone.

According to the law enforcement official, the FBI is usually "routinely investigating" similar to the high-profile public opinion incidents of eavesdropping scandals. If the U.S. Congress asks for an investigation, the FBI is "inevitable." Opinion is uproar and several members of Congress have urged the government to investigate whether the eavesdropping scandal has harmed U.S. citizens.

Democratic Senators Jay Rockefeller and Barbara Boxer urge the Justice Department to investigate whether News Corps violates U.S. law ...

Democratic Senator Robert Menendez sent a separate letter to the Attorney General, saying that News Corp.'s newspapers "attempted to use the information concerning the victim's personal tragedy for profit" and must be investigated ...

A day later, an anonymous source inside the FBI revealed that the FBI has launched an investigation into News Corps. From the chief executive to the guard at the door, all evidence of suspected illegality will not be let go.

Undercover, fishing, eavesdropping, paying for inside information ...

The eavesdropping scandal has been fermented again by some interested people in Britain. These days, it has become almost synonymous with News Corps. Murdoch, who has enemies too many, has been called by many media as "the first executioner of British celebrities." .

The sudden change in the British situation is undoubtedly the most reluctant to see Murdoch, and he is also most worried about it, because Murdoch himself knows very well that he is too big in the British media market.

It has controlled nearly 40% of newspapers in the UK, with a total daily circulation of 6 newspapers of 25 million, and has cross-media influences such as Sky Television. It has repeatedly tried to get the British government to relax its media supervision and prevent the government from introducing policies that harm the interests of its newspapers and television stations.

This time, the "Eavesdropping Door" re-emerged. The first party to attack it was the Opposition Labor Party, but it also quickly gained the support of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democratic Party's coalition government. This is not only for self-protection, but also to take the opportunity to weaken its control of British media and get rid of its political influence.

Murdoch, who has felt it difficult to resist the tremendous pressure from the US and British political circles, although his media continue to defend him and his son, but the people who have been angered do not believe that a large number of demonstrations outside the headquarters of News Corporation The crowd can explain the problem very well.

In order to cope with this increasingly difficult situation, on August 8, Murdoch made successive "amazing" moves, first expressing his willingness to accept questions from the British Parliament, and then for the first time after the eavesdropping scandal was exposed. However, his media empire has fallen deeper and deeper in the scandal.

"... The problem is limited to a certain publication and is not a problem that infects the entire News Corporation. Whoever does not think so is biased by ideology and competitive psychology."

Andy sat on the sofa watching Murdoch on the TV and said solemnly to the host of the Fox News Channel, in exchange for a sneer from Andy, "The old fox wants to abandon the car and keep the duck. It seems that the lessons I have given you are not deep enough! "

To accept an inquiry from the British Parliament's Media Committee, you must know that Murdoch has previously stated that he will not accept the inquiry, and his son James has also excused himself. This time I chose to be soft and accept questions, no doubt to alleviate people's dissatisfaction and anger. However, in the interview, the old fox still displayed a posture of dissatisfaction.

Murdoch still has a proud tone to refute that the news that he is considering selling other British and American newspapers in his hand is "nonsense." He also claimed that he was "displeased and a little bored" by the constant appearance of News Corps' negative news in the press.

"Oh, your unconvinced posture will inevitably lead to new controversy. It is simply a **** assist ..." Andy picked up the remote control and turned off the TV. He had lost his interest in continuing to watch.

These days, Andy can be said that he has devoted himself to trying to target News Corp., and he has definitely used more resources than the last time against General Electric. Whether from Washington or Wall Street, he has stirred up British and American public opinion. Group, all kinds of bad news about News Corp., rumors almost flooded the entire Wall Street, creating a situation where a building will fall, suppressing the stock price of News Corp.

The effect is naturally significant. In just a few days, News Corporation's stock price has plummeted by 30%. His Andy Smith definitely made a lot of money.

However, Andy still does not intend to let go of this old fox. Since he is already an enemy and has spent so much resources, he does not mind giving Murdoch one of the most profound lessons.

Taking out his mobile phone, Andy found the phone number of the editor-in-chief of The Independent, and dialed it out. The call was quickly connected, skipping the greeting, and Andy directly said, "Take Scotland Yard (often referred to as London Criminal Investigation) Division) released the leaked evidence to the World News ... "

Just then, the office door was knocked.

"Come in"

Andy covered the phone microphone and said to the door that the door was pushed open. It was the editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times. After Andy nodded to the other side, he pointed out the chair opposite, and motioned to sit first.

"... I just want to expand the scope and scope. According to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, it is illegal for U.S. companies to bribe foreign officials in order to obtain commercial contracts. And News Corp.'s headquarters is located in the United States. Since News Corp. is suspected of bribing the British police, Then at this time, the US Department of Justice will never turn a blind eye! "

The editor-in-chief, John Carroll, who just sat down, couldn't help but look at his boss with admiration. To be honest, he witnessed firsthand how his young boss turned his hands on the clouds and gave the news company the news. The whole death has come to life. Before, I heard how fierce and decisive his boss was, but now he really feels what is called fierce.

Andy hung up the phone and looked at him with a smile, admiring John Carroll, who looked at him and said, "John, what's the matter?"

"Huh? Boss, this is the front page headline article written according to your requirements. Please glance at it. If there is no problem, I will sign it ..." John Carroll refreshed, handed the folder in his hand to the boss, Very respectfully said.

"Oh?" Andy whispered, reached for the folder, and quickly browsed.

"... The traditional serious newspaper" The Sunday Times "has eavesdropped on former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the Sun and other media have also participated in eavesdropping on Brown for 10 years.

"Illegal access to news clues" seems to have become the "universal behavior" and "hidden rules" of some media groups, and the eavesdropping targets have been distributed from all levels of society, from the aristocrats and nobles to the dignitaries and civilians. To make matters worse, the media represented by the World News also concealed and repudiated eavesdropping in various ways, and even paid "seal fees" to the victims.

From these facts, it is not difficult to see that certain media that have always advertised "freedom of the press" have flagged "sacrifice everything for the sake of the news" and wantonly violated many rights such as the privacy of citizens ... "

While reading the report, Andy nodded from time to time and had to say that this review report was well-founded and the starting point of the judgement was very good. There was nothing to question.

"Good ..." Andy lifted his pen, looked up at John and said, "But I'll add another paragraph!"

"... Today, the scandal of eavesdropping and buying news has not alleviated, but has instead evolved into a crisis for News Corp. This also makes us start to discover the true side of News Corp.'s family Murdoch and his newspapers.

Just two months ago, the group's US news company closed its allegations of commercial espionage and anticompetitive behavior for $ 665 million. However, Murdoch kept the then chairman of the US News and ceo Paul Carucci.

According to disclosed court documents, the Paul Calucci warned a competitor blatantly, "If you get involved in any piece of business, you will be ruined." He said he was "working for someone who wants everything." This person doesn't understand what others have told him he can't get it all. "

This is a real Murdoch. "

Snapped!

Andy's nib gave a full stop, smiled with satisfaction, closed the pen, handed the retouched article to John Carroll and said, "Just send it like this!"