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When the phone-hacking allegations piled up and eventually took down the News of the World, I was there to witness it all. Here is my story, from diary extracts during the last week of the newspaper, as published on Channel 4 News this week:
When I first started this blog in 2011 after a somewhat tumultuous period in my life, I concluded the About Me section by saying: ‘I’m not sure where my story ends, but short of a graphic in HD choc full of pithy insight, I think you’ve just captured the start of it.’ Well, today I’m thrilled to say that a new chapter is about to begin …
When the Captain of the Press Golfing Society asked me to be his vice-captain two years ago, I must admit, I hesitated. Not because the thought of addressing a bunch of delightfully cynical journalists a dozen times next year scared the hell out of me. Or knowing I would have to humiliate myself with a speech in French during our annual Wryter Cup clash given my questionable grasp of the language. The… Read More
Gorkana caught up recently with News of the World’s former head of PR Hayley Barlow to find out what her 12 year long reign entailed, what she did next after the paper closed, and her part in the attempted rescue of ‘Wally’ the Thames whale in January 2006. Firstly Prince Harry, would the News of the World have published those pictures? Undoubtedly yes, if the story had broken in our time…. Read More
Enough has been written about the demise of the News of the World to fill several volumes of War and Peace many times over. It is one year ago today a brilliant News of the World team put our beloved newspaper to bed for one last historic time after 168 years, 8674 editions, bidding a final goodbye to 7.5 million loyal readers. The footage below gives an insight into those final moments… Read More
I worked at the News of the World for over a decade and lost my job with almost 300 others when Rupert Murdoch closed down the newspaper at the height of the phone-hacking scandal in July 2011. Since that fateful day I have maintained my silence, but chose to speak out this week following an appearance by the News Corporation chairman at the Royal Courts of Justice. This is an opinion commentary… Read More
It was six years ago I walked into my editor’s office and boldly requested a work transfer to Australia. He looked at me quizzically like I’d lost the plot entirely and snapped a robust NO before returning to his newspaper. “I’m so glad you thought your answer through” I sighed. “Isn’t this supposed to be a caring sharing company that delights in offering global exchange opportunities to staff?” “Get out” he barked… Read More
I had spent all of two plucky weeks finding my way around the News of the World when the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself. A chance to fulfill a childhood dream playing golf on the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. But how do you tell your editor you’re taking off for a few days when you’ve been employed for, well, a few days? Fortunately my resourcefulness kicked in and… Read More
Dear Bob, It is three years today. I’m not sure quite what you would have made of this wheelie bin of misery since you left. I’m not sure what I make of it. All good reasoning eludes me. But I’m ok living in the dark on that. I remember the first day we met. You walked into my office and asked exactly what it was I did at the newspaper. I said… Read More
Let’s face it, there isn’t a woman in the world who can resist the scent of a wounded boy. After a self-imposed absence from my life, Captain America finally secured a touch down this weekend hitting mind blowing golf shots the rest of us can only dream about. Now before I go on, I ought to admit my part in the troubled Tiger’s downfall. I won’t say it was my shining hour but… Read More
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