The closure of the News of the World is a rare victory for decency and public opinion – an event to rejoice. The corruption that has spread in the world in the name of freedom of expression is simply appalling. The very meaning of journalism seems to have been lost. To my mind, if someone gets hurt and it is reported it is journalism; but if someone is paid to hurt someone so that it may be reported, it is not journalism: it is crime. Similarly if someone walks naked on the street and it is reported, it is journalism; but if someone is paid to walk naked so that it may be reported, it is not journalism: it is pimping. To go a bit further, if a bowler bowls badly a loses a game for his team and it is reported, it is journalism; but if a bowler is paid thru clandestine means to bowl badly to create a story it is anything but journalism. It is really disturbing that the editorial staff of NOTWorld instead of helping in the recovery of an abducted child used their skills and information to publish stories putting the innocent victim in greater danger and eventual death.
I must congratulate those entrepreneurs who had the courage and conviction to risk reduction in sales by not advertising in the bad newspaper. I believe that the civil society of the UK has found its strength and should be emulated by all everywhere. It gives me hope for the future of the worldwide human community.
