Media, Politics & Power

The phone hacking scandal involving the British tabloid ‘News of the World’, which is owned by News International belonging to the Rupert Murdoch media empire, has continued to remain a focal point of attention given the larger question involving abuse of power and the corrupt nexus between the press, police and politics. Ever since the scandal about the phone hacking surfaced, powerful people from the media, politicians and police have been under scrutiny for their complicity in one way or the other. Rebekah Brooks who was Editor of News of the World between 2000 and 2003, during which time the phone belonging to murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler was tampered with, has had to resign as CEO of News International. She has since been arrested by the police. The casualties of the News International scandal are getting more important every day. In what will come as a shock, Sir Paul Stephensonhas also resigned as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, putting more pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron over his personal links to the phone hacking scandal. It may be mentioned that another accused Andy Coulson, also a former Editor at the News of the World, was appointed by the present PM as his Communications Director, although the former has since resigned. Now with the Police Chief stepping down after criticism over his decision to employ as a personal adviser Neil Wallis, the former deputy editor of the News of the World who was arrested on suspicion of phone hacking, Prime Minister David Cameroon must himself answer why he should remain above board. The question is when the Police Chief has taken responsibility and quit why the Prime Minister should continue in office. It is clear that double standards persist and different set of rules apply for an official and a politician.
At a broader level, with all this cross linkages between journalists, police officials and politicians, the credibility of the British establishment is under serious question. While the focal point of controversy obviously centers on the nexus of the powerful, the larger debate that should take place is on media ethics-responsibility and checks-balances within the system involving the different pillars of democracy. As rightly pointed out by the Labour leader Ed Miliband, abuse of power and a culture of ‘irresponsibility’, is at the heart of the problem. And this is not just applicable to the UK but we can also learn some lessons. We have to work towards putting in place a system that puts a premium on responsible and corrupt free action. It is a well known fact that large concentrations of power in the hands of a few people are a sure recipe for abuse. The media empire owned by Murdoch seems to have become too powerful that it can subvert the system. Whether it is the media, politician or other institutions, it is not healthy for democracy, where we see too much power in one set of hands. Checks and balances are needed. As for the media in general, this latest fall out from the phone hacking scandal should teach us that we cannot remain above board and that the media will also have to be accountable for acts of impropriety and yes, abuse of power. And for the political establishment, at least the media (as the development in the UK phone hacking scandal demonstrates) is more forthcoming in acknowledging the wrongs committed and even making public apology or quitting on moral grounds. Politicians will have to follow suit and become more accountable.