'My column at the News of the World' blog discussion

Fifer

I've been thinking about Martin's blog and I'm not convinced that the rationale expressed is sound. The decision to continue working for the NOTW appears to based upon the 'sins of the past' argument and that this sort of thing doesn't happen now. But until very, very recently, NOTW and News International staff appear to have been misleading the public, the police and parliament about the range and scale of the hacking activity and about who knew what and how many staff were involved. We've gone from a claimed single rogue journalist to two convictions and a further six arrests, with Coulson and Brooks standing accused (as far as I can tell) of wilfully misleading a parliamentary enquiry. There's also the matter of last year's Tommy Sheridan court case and the possibility that News International employees committed perjury. And all of this recent enough to be considered current.

All of this doubt makes this being the point for a 'one time decision' seem like an ill advised move. Better perhaps to step back and see what evidence is unearthed by enquiries. Any individual and any brand which trades largely on their integrity is likely to be damaged by association with this appalling situation. I think doing as many advertisers are doing, by standing back to see what truth emerges before continuing an association with the Murdoch empire, seems wise. I accept it's easy to take the moral high ground when detached as we are from the situation, but from this perspective, the alternative doesn't so much look like the moral low-ground, as the moral gutter.

blagger101

NOTW needs you to maintain its credibility.

You do not need it.

Advertisers know this and are starting to take money out of it. The allegations and revelations are just going to get worse. The longer you stay involved, the more tainted you will become.

Your judgement in this is severely screwed.

I am cancelling anything to do with MSE and you. I won't support anyone or any company who endorses NOTW.

jimexbox

So you spoke to the editor who reassured you? You're not stupid or naive Martin, so why do you believe him? They have bought the police off, lied to Parliament and systematically abused victims of crimes. I don't buy the different regime argument mate, you are judged by those you get into bed with.

adam2484

Even ford have a better moral compass then this site...

Phoenixmum

I don't agree that the paper is different now to when these incidences occurred. I don't think it is a paper that can ever be trusted (like most of them, to be honest).

However, I think what Martin does is important for the handful of people who may still buy the paper. Many of the NOTW readers will be exactly the people who need this kind of information.

Taking the moral highground won't be of any use to them. It would just be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Martin isn't giving money to the paper in the same way as advertisers are (and let's be fair - let's see how long their embargoes actually last). No offence, but I don't think many people buy the paper for his column so leaving won't make much difference to the paper either way.

jimexbox

Phoenixmum wrote: »

Taking the moral highground won't be of any use to them.

Holding my nose to stop myself wrenching would be more accurate. I don't often have a physical reaction to a news story, I did with this, and it has zero to do with taking some imaginary high ground.

Phoenixmum

jimexbox wrote: »

Holding my nose to stop myself wrenching would be more accurate. I don't often have a physical reaction to a news story, I did with this, and it has zero to do with taking some imaginary high ground.

I meant Martin taking the moral highground, not the rest of us. I have already joined in petitioning companies who advertise etc.

I just think this is a slightly different case. The people who are more likely to lose out are the readers not getting financial advice.

JayMan666

Martin, this is a difficult choice and you have to take a balanced view.

Saying that, this is not a newspaper that has had a stain free existence and has suddenly been caught out. We all know that the NOTW has consistently stretched, bent and fractured a few rules, both ethical and legal; this time they just got caught out in a huge way.

Martin, you are a great guy and the work you do is vital to lots of people, but the company you keep will cause others to see you in the same light and see you standing by them; this is not necessarily the case but perceptions can be mistaken for truth. As an aside (this is pure snobbishness) I don't NOTW anyway...

It's a hard choice, good luck.

braveheart60uk

Too many people cower and Kowtow to the Murdoch empire.I wish more people had backbone and stood up to him. Martin, you need to think more about this in my opinion.

neiljc_2

What do you think Milly Dowlers family would want you to do ?