American Fortune Life

The "hacking storm" spread across the United States quickly.

When the scandal was exposed and News Corporation hadn't responded, the Associated Press reported using an unnamed federal law enforcement official as its source. Report on the phone call of the victim of the incident.

According to the law enforcement official, the FBI usually conducts "routine investigations" of high-profile public opinion incidents like wiretapping scandals. If the U.S. Congress requests an investigation, the FBI is "duty to do so." Public outcry, many members of Congress urged the government to investigate whether the wiretapping scandal harmed American citizens.

Democratic Senators Jay Rockefeller and Barbara Boxer urged the Justice Department to investigate whether News Corp violated U.S. law. . .

In a separate letter to the attorney general, Democratic Senator Robert Menendez said News Corp's newspapers "attempted to profit from information about victims' personal tragedies" and must be investigated. . .

A day later, an anonymous source within the FBI revealed that the FBI had launched an investigation into News Corp., from top executives to guards at the gate, and all evidence of alleged violations would not be let go.

Undercover, fishing, wiretapping, and paying for inside information. . .

The wiretapping scandal has started to ferment again under the impetus of some caring people in the UK. These days, it has almost become synonymous with News Corporation. Murdoch, who has already made too many enemies, is called "the number one executioner of British celebrities" by many media. .

The sudden change in the UK is undoubtedly the last thing Murdoch wants to see, and it is also what he is most worried about, 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 25 million copies of its six newspapers, and has cross-media influence such as Sky TV. It has repeatedly tried to get the British government to relax its regulation of the media and prevent the government from introducing policies that harm the interests of its newspapers and television stations.

This time, the "tapping gate" made waves again, and the opposition Labor Party was the first to attack it, but it quickly gained the support of the coalition government of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. This is not only out of self-preservation, but also taking the opportunity to weaken its control over the British media and get rid of its political influence.

Murdoch, who has found it difficult to resist the tremendous pressure from the political circles of the United States and Britain, although his media are constantly defending him and his son, but the people who have been provoked do not believe it at all. A large number of demonstrations outside News Corporation headquarters The crowd can explain the problem very well.

In order to cope with this increasingly difficult situation, on August 8, Murdoch made a series of "amazing" moves, first expressing his willingness to accept questions from the British Parliament, and then accepting an exclusive interview for the first time after the wiretapping scandal was exposed. Yet his media empire has been mired in scandal.

"...the problem is limited to one publication, not a problem that infects the entire News Corp. Anyone who thinks otherwise is ideologically and competitively biased."

Andy sat on the sofa and watched the TV. Murdoch said seriously to the host of the FOX news channel, and Andy sneered, "The old fox wants to abandon the car to keep his handsome, but he is still stubborn. It seems that the lesson given to you is not profound enough!"

To accept inquiries from the British Parliament Media Committee, you must know that Murdoch had previously stated that he would not accept inquiries, and his son James also excused himself. This time, he chose to be subdued and accepted the questioning, no doubt to alleviate people's dissatisfaction and anger. However, in the interview, the old fox still put on a posture of not admitting defeat.

Remaining haughty, Murdoch dismissed news that he was considering selling his other British and American newspapers as "nonsense". He also claimed that the negative news about News Corporation continued to appear in the newspapers, which made him "unpleasant and a little tired".

"Hehe, your attitude of not admitting defeat is bound to spark new controversy. It's a divine assist..." Andy picked up the remote control, turned off the TV, and lost interest in watching it.

In the past few days, Andy can be said to be concentrating on trying to target News Corporation, using more resources than targeting General Electric last time, whether it is from Washington or Wall Street, to stir up British and American public opinion to focus on the news Group, all kinds of bad news about News Corporation, and rumors almost flooded the entire Wall Street, creating a situation where the building was about to collapse, suppressing the stock price of shorting News Corporation.

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

However, Andy still doesn't intend to let the old fox go. Now that he has become an enemy and has used so many resources, he doesn't mind teaching Murdoch the most profound lesson.

Taking out his mobile phone, Andy found out the number of the editor-in-chief of "The Independent", dialed it, and the call was connected quickly. After skipping the greeting link, Andy said directly: "Take Scotland Yard (often referring to London criminal investigation Office) leaked evidence to the News of the World..."

At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.

"Come in--"

Andy covered the phone's microphone, looked at the door and said, the door was pushed open, and the editor-in-chief of the "Los Angeles Times" walked in. After Andy nodded at the other party, he pointed to the opposite chair, signaling the other party to sit first.

"...I just want to expand the scope of bo. According to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, it is illegal for American companies to bribe foreign officials in order to obtain business contracts. And News Corporation is headquartered in the United States. Since News Corporation is suspected of bribing the British police , then at this time, the U.S. Department of Justice will never turn a blind eye!"

The editor-in-chief John Carroll, who had just sat down, couldn't help but look at his boss with admiration when he heard this passage. To be honest, he witnessed with his own eyes how his young boss turned his hands into clouds and rain, and brought News Corp. It's a life-and-death situation. I used to hear how cruel and decisive my boss is, but now he is really feeling what it means to be cruel.

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

"Huh? Boss, this is the front page headline article written according to your request. Please go over it. If there is no problem, I will sign and approve it..." John Carroll pulled himself together and handed the folder in his hand to the boss , said with a very respectful attitude.

"Oh?" Andy said lightly, reached out to take the folder, and browsed quickly.

"...The Sunday Times, a traditional and serious newspaper, hacked former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the Sun and other media also participated in the hacking of Brown for 10 years.

"Illegal acquisition of news clues" seems to have become a "common behavior" and "hidden rule" of some media groups, and the targets of eavesdropping are from princes, nobles, dignitaries, to ordinary people, distributed in all social classes. What's worse is that the media represented by "News of the World" also concealed and denied the wiretapping in every possible way, and even paid the victim "hush money".

It is not difficult to see from these facts that certain media that have always advertised "freedom of the press" wantonly violated citizens' privacy and other rights under the banner of "sacrificing everything for the sake of news".

. . . . . . "

Reading the report, Andy nodded from time to time. I have to say that this review report is well-founded, and the starting point of the judgment is very good, and there is nothing that can be questioned at all.

"Not bad..." Andy said while picking up the pen, looking up at John, "But, I'll add another paragraph!"

"...to this day, the scandal of wiretapping and news buying has not only not eased, but has turned into a crisis for News Corporation. This also allows us to discover the true side of Rupert Murdoch, the head of News Corporation, and his newspapers.

Just two months ago, U.S. News, a subsidiary of the group, settled allegations of commercial espionage and anti-competitive behavior for $665 million. Murdoch kept Paul Carlucci, the chairman and CEO of U.S. News at the time.

According to the disclosed court documents, Mr. Paul Carucci blatantly warned a competitor, "If you get involved in any piece of business, you will be destroyed." He said that he was "working for a man who wants to get everything." , this guy doesn't understand when people tell him he can't have it all."

This is the real Murdoch. "

Snapped!

Andy's pen tip paused, clicked a period, smiled with satisfaction, closed the pen, handed the re-polished article to John Carroll and said, "Let's post it like this!"