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

David Folkenflik

Media

Documents Revive Focus On Phone-Hacking Scandal

In London, a parliamentary committee has released documents that question James Murdoch's July testimony about the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. A newly revealed letter from a jailed reporter claims hacking was "widely discussed" at editorial meetings at the now closed British paper.

Documents Revive Focus On Phone-Hacking Scandal

Listen · 4:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/139696569/139696611" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
British Reporter: Executives Knew Of Phone Hacking

Clive Goodman, a former reporter at the News of the World newspaper in Britain, is a key figure in the current phone hacking scandal. He's shown here in 2006. Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images

Media

British Reporter: Executives Knew Of Phone Hacking

A newly revealed letter from a jailed reporter claims hacking was "widely discussed" at editorial meetings of the now closed News of the World. It further implicates the paper's former editor and adviser to the British prime minister — as well as senior executives at News International.

British Reporter: Executives Knew Of Phone Hacking

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/139680648/139680635" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

Murdoch To Take Questions From Investors, Media

Rupert Murdoch is expected to take questions from analysts, investors and reporters during a conference call Wednesday. The call follows Tuesday's meeting of the News Corp. board — the first such meeting since the phone hacking scandal that has roiled the company.

Murdoch To Take Questions From Investors, Media

Listen · 3:54
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/139449117/139449247" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Business

News Corp.'s Board Faces Heightened Scrutiny

The News Corp. board of directors met in Los Angeles Tuesday. It was the first time members had gotten together since the phone-hacking scandal that has roiled its British holdings.

News Corp.'s Board Faces Heightened Scrutiny

Listen · 1:40
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/139345525/139345512" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Media

CNN's Morgan Under Pressure Amid Hacking Scandal

Members of the British Parliament are pushing for Piers Morgan to return to the U.K. to face questions about his time as the editor of the Daily Mirror. The pressure has grown since Paul McCartney's ex-wife raised new allegations of hacking involving the media group that owns the Mirror.

CNN's Morgan Under Pressure Amid Hacking Scandal

Listen · 3:42
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/139032545/139033074" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
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