A Mad Murdoch Ambushes Independent Editor

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Staff at The Independent newspaper have been stunned by an unexpected and angry visit to their offices by the rival newspaper proprietor James Murdoch, chief executive of News Corp Europe and Asia.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Murdoch walked into The Independent’s newsroom in Kensington, central London, carrying a copy of his rival’s paper. He was accompanied by Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International, which publishes The Times and The Sun among others.

The newspaper he was carrying was one of 300,000 Independents being distributed for free in the UK that day with a special wraparound front page advertising The Independent’s claim to freedom from proprietorial interference.

Under a picture of Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp and James Murdoch’s father, the advert stated: “Rupert Murdoch won’t decide this election – you will.”

The younger Mr Murdoch reached the busy editorial desk where The Independent’s editor-in-chief, Simon Kelner, was planning the following day’s edition with colleagues, and brandished the newspaper in his hand.

“What are you fucking playing at?” Mr Murdoch asked Mr Kelner in a loud voice and in front of dozens of bemused journalists.

At that point, Mr Kelner invited Mr Murdoch and Ms Brooks into his office where there was a heated conversation lasting about 15 minutes, one of those present told the Financial Times.

The Independent boss later told colleagues Mr Murdoch had complained, with the use of further expletives, that the advertisement besmirched his father’s reputation.

The two visitors then left.

They had been in Northcliffe House – where The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers are tenants of the owners Daily Mail (LSE: DMGT.Lnews) and General Trust – to meet senior DMGT executives.

The Independent’s newsroom is on the floor of the building that visitors walk through on their way out and is clearly visible from the public space.

The incident astonished experienced journalists who witnessed it.

“In 30 years, I have never seen anything like it. It was so utterly bizarre,” one senior journalist said.

News Corp declined to comment.

“If Rupert Murdoch’s private life had been under attack, I could understand why it would excite so much anger, but to suggest that by saying he tried to influence elections you were damaging his reputation does seem quite extraordinary,” said Steve Barnett, professor of media at the University of Westminister.

He said: “[Rupert] Murdoch himself told a House of Lords committee [in 2007] that he influenced what was in the editorial comment sections of his tabloid newspapers and in 1992 The Sun claimed that it had won the election on behalf of John Major.”

In this election campaign, The Sun and News of the World have come in favour the Conservative party. In the past week, both papers have reacted very strongly against a surge in support for the Liberal Democrats, one which could see David Cameron’s Conservative party failing to win a majority in parliament.

Last month, The Independent papers were bought by Alexander Lebedev, the Russian multi-millionaire who also owns the London Evening Standard.

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Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
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SJ
13 years ago

“Tough shit Jimmy.”
Rupert Murdoch is an aspiring Berlusconi on a global scale. He’s fucked up the very core concept of journalism and “news” in every single market he’s entered.
Thankfully, Rupert’s time will pass too and apparently his sons don’t have his thick skin and diabolical posture, and that’s not a bad thing.

James just needs to grow up.
Pancking at the sound of the truth is just infantile.
Rupert Murdoch may be his dad, but he is our fucking nightmare.
-SJ

13 years ago

Arrrrgggg. Piracy on the high seas of journalistic integrity.

13 years ago

Holte, everything is for sale in Britain? How much do you think Stonehenge would go for on the open market? I want to spruce up my backyard.

Dear Rupert,

Please air Europa League and Eredivisie games on Fucks Soccer Channel instead of 357 replays of Champions League games that I’ve already seen in their entirety, you pompous wanker.

Love,

America

Reply to  Professor Mike
13 years ago

No doubt they work in the mailroom or scrubbing toilets after hours, so Moloch couldn’t have met them!

osori
Reply to  Mother Hen
13 years ago

mailroom or scrubbing toilets LMAO

13 years ago

Everything is for sale in Britain including media. Rupert Murdoch had to drop his Australian citizenship and become American to own major media here in the USA. He and his News Corporation want to be the major player in every market, major or minor. The list of newspapers, book houses, radio and TV Murdoch owns is dizzying.

13 years ago

Bit of a worry really that a Russian owns some of our media…still…not as scary as Murdoch owning some…

Bee
13 years ago

Talk about prima donnas, lol…Awwww, poor murdoch got his toes stepped on.

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