Accessibility links
David Folkenflik Folkenflik is NPR's media correspondent.
David Folkenflik 2018 square
Stories By

David Folkenflik

In Britain, News Corp. Remains Under Pressure

News International executive James Murdoch testified at a parliamentary hearing that he was unaware of a wider problem of cell phone hacking until a lawsuit in 2010. Warren Allott/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Warren Allott/AFP/Getty Images

Media

In Britain, News Corp. Remains Under Pressure

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. remains under intense pressure in Great Britain over the phone hacking scandal that threatens not only senior company executives, but also political and police leaders. A series of new developments are raising additional questions about how much — and how early — senior executives, including Murdoch's son James, knew about instances of hacking.

In Britain, News Corp. Remains Under Pressure

Listen · 3:45
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138830620/138831594" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
In 'Muzzled,' Williams Tells His Side Of The Story

Juan Williams AP hide caption

toggle caption
AP

Media

In 'Muzzled,' Williams Tells His Side Of The Story

The journalist Juan Williams is out with a new book this week. In it, he makes the case that his acrimonious termination last fall by NPR is part of a larger and ominous pattern of suppressing undesired voices.

In 'Muzzled,' Williams Tells His Side Of The Story

Listen · 5:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138761698/138739156" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How Has 'Wall Street Journal' Fared Under Murdoch?

The News Corp.-owned Wall Street Journal blasted critics for double standards and insisted that the phone-tapping scandal in Britain should not tarnish all of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Media

How Has 'Wall Street Journal' Fared Under Murdoch?

Critics feared his politics and tabloid style would ruin the prestigious paper. The Journal has not been directly linked to the British phone hacking scandal, but commentators question how it has fared under News Corp. ownership.

How Has 'Wall Street Journal' Fared Under Murdoch?

Listen · 5:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138588497/138620229" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Does British Scandal Risk Murdoch's Hold On Empire?

News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch (right), testifying alongside his son James, said his appearance Tuesday before a British parliamentary inquiry in London was "the most humble day of my life." Parbul/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Parbul/AFP/Getty Images

Media

Does British Scandal Risk Murdoch's Hold On Empire?

So far, the crisis under Rupert Murdoch's leadership has been costly. It killed a $12 billion bid of the largest broadcaster in the U.K. The company's shareholders lost billions of dollars in market value. The News of the World was closed forever, and there are a series of criminal investigations.

Does British Scandal Risk Murdoch's Hold On Empire?

Listen · 4:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138528393/138532590" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

CNN's Morgan Breaks Silence On 'News Of The World'

In the mid 90's, Piers Morgan cut his teeth as an editor at Murdoch's London tabloid The Sun and then became the top editor of its sister Sunday paper News of the World. Two of his successors have been arrested and a third lost his job along with his staff when the paper closed.

CNN's Morgan Breaks Silence On 'News Of The World'

Listen · 3:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138500560/138499991" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

U.K. Hacking Scandal Exposes Media-Police Ties

London's two top police officials have resigned amid the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal. The developments revealed cash for tips and a coziness between leaders of the department and the company.

U.K. Hacking Scandal Exposes Media-Police Ties

Listen · 4:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138484220/138484207" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Brooks Resigns Over Phone-Hacking Scandal

Rebekah Brooks has resigned as chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's embattled British newspapers. She is the biggest casualty so far in the phone hacking scandal at a Sunday British tabloid. News Corp. says Tom Mockridge is her replacement.

Brooks Resigns Over Phone-Hacking Scandal

Listen · 4:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/138109955/138112227" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Murdoch's News Corp. Still In Damage Control Mode

Rupert Murdoch's media company has been under fire for a phone-hacking scandal in Britain. On Wednesday, News Corp. announced it was withdrawing a bid to buy full interest in the British broadcast company BSkyB. Murdoch has suffered a stunning loss of political influence in Britain.

Murdoch's News Corp. Still In Damage Control Mode

Listen · 4:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137838928/137838915" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Murdoch Withdraws Bid For BSkyB

On Wednesday, News Corp announced it is withdrawing its bid for full control of British broadcaster BSkyB. The announcement came as Parliament debated the Murdoch newspaper scandal and prepared to vote across party lines against the BSkyB deal. Prime Minister David Cameron strongly condemned News Corp practices and announced an inquiry into the hacking scandal, police corruption, and Murdoch's influence on the political establishment — an influence that is now greatly diminished.

Murdoch Withdraws Bid For BSkyB

Listen · 3:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137825957/137825938" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Hacking Revelations Mount Against British Tabloids

Police have told Prince Charles and his wife Camilla that the voicemail on their mobile phones was likely hacked by Rupert Murdoch's News of the World. And former Prime Minister Gordon Brown says his family's medical records were illegally obtained by another Murdoch tabloid. This all spells big trouble for the planned big expansion of Murdoch's News Corp. television holdings.

Hacking Revelations Mount Against British Tabloids

Listen · 3:50
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137783962/137783949" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

'Guardian' Reporter Rocks Murdoch Empire

Guardian reporter Nick Davies has been reporting the News of the World phone hacking story for years and broke the Millie Dowler hacking story this week. The reporter stayed with the story when other papers dropped serious coverage, and investigators went lightly on the hacking allegations.

'Guardian' Reporter Rocks Murdoch Empire

Listen · 4:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137773351/137773588" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
The Bottom Line: Murdoch's Influence In The U.K.

Demonstrators protest outside the headquarters of News International in London on Friday as Prime Minister David Cameron promised inquiries into a phone hacking scandal. Ki Price/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Ki Price/AFP/Getty Images

Media

The Bottom Line: Murdoch's Influence In The U.K.

The scandal that has collapsed the British tabloid, News of the World, and rocked the News Corp. empire, brings into question the pervasive influence of Rupert Murdoch's media holdings on British media and politics.

The Bottom Line: Murdoch's Influence In The U.K.

Listen · 5:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137725569/137725550" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Cameron Vows Full Probe Of Hacking Scandal

A demonstrator dressed in a Rupert Murdoch mask controls puppets of British Prime Minister David Cameron (foreground) and British Minister for Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt (right). Adrian Dennis/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Adrian Dennis/Getty Images

Europe

Cameron Vows Full Probe Of Hacking Scandal

The British prime minister said inquiries would look into the crimes, as well as the general practices of the newspaper industry. At a news conference Friday, he also blamed politicians for their cozy relationship with the media. His statements came as his former media aide, a former News of the World editor, was arrested.

Cameron Vows Full Probe Of Phone Hacking Scandal

Listen · 4:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137708140/137709791" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Murdoch Closes Scandal-Ridden 'News Of The World'

A News of the World sign is posted by an entrance of its parent company in London. News Corp. executive James Murdoch announced Thursday that News of the World will publish its last issue Sunday. A phone-hacking scandal has cost the weekly paper prestige and prompted dozens of companies to pull their ads. Matt Dunham/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Matt Dunham/AP

Media

Murdoch Closes Scandal-Ridden 'News Of The World'

News Corp. announced Thursday that the final edition of Britain's best-selling tabloid will be Sunday. The Rupert Murdoch-owned paper is accused of hacking into the cellphones of victims ranging from a missing schoolgirl to grieving families, royals and politicians in a quest for headlines. Dozens of companies have pulled their ads, and a former editor — and ex-aide to the prime minister — was arrested Friday.

Murdoch Closes Scandal-Ridden 'News Of The World'

Listen · 4:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137692545/137695033" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Hacking Scandal Puts Spotlight On Murdoch's Tabloid

The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid News Of The World is facing new allegations in a phone hacking scandal that has set off a fire storm in Britain. Murdoch's top news executive at News International is under increasing pressure to resign.

Hacking Scandal Puts Spotlight On Murdoch's Tabloid

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/137666845/137666916" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript