Everyone Involved in Phone Hacking Scandal: It Wasn't My Fault
In your tropical Tuesday media column: phone hacking was nobody's fault, the NYT is selling the Declaration of Independence, Graydon Carter's expensive diet, a legendary rock critic dies, and The Weather Channel's office will kill you.
- Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who hacked a bunch of celebrities' voicemails on behalf of Murdoch-owned tabloid News of the World has now commented on what the paper asked of him: "Working for the News of the World was never easy. There was relentless pressure. There was a constant demand for results. I knew what we did pushed the limits ethically. But, at the time, I didn't understand that I had broken the law at all." Mmm hmm. Also, Rebekah Brooks, the News of the World editor at the time the paper was hacking a murdered girl's voicemail, says it's "inconceivable" that she would have known about such a thing. Sure, sure. But that's not what you were saying on your cell phone last night, Rebekah.
- The New York Times is selling a copy of the Declaration of Independence for $1.6 million. Hey, it's a living. They're also selling their comic book collection and lots of gently used men's clothes, size L-XL.
- Graydon Carter has just finished a stay at a chic Austrian fat farm. Graydon, crash diets like that are only temporary. If you want a real change, you know who to call.
- Jane Scott, the rock critic for the Cleveland Plain-Dealer for 50 fucking years, has died at the age of 92. Her life was, indeed, hardcore.
- The offices of The Weather Channel are plagued by not only deadly asbestos, but also by foul-smelling "solvent" fumes. Nobody said journalism was easy.
[Photo: AP]