Hacking Trial Magazine

Nearly two years of my articles on the phone hacking scandal, compiled as a Flipboard Magazine

Murdoch’s feud with Blair over wife Wendi: ‘Terminal’ end of friendship over claims of ‘multiple encounters’ between ex-PM and tycoon’s wife | Mail Online

This is from the Mail Online and so should be taken with a boulder of salt. However, rumours of a Deng affair were circulating before the the hacking scandal in early 2011. They have been denied by her, and all those associated.  The one point that remains entirely credible is Michael Wolff‘s below: after all, he met most the player involved while writing his biography of Murdoch. Dan Sabbagh, formerly of the Times and now writing for the Guardian, has an interesting take on the Mail splash

Catching up with mail on sunday splash…mentions of murdoch v rare in associated titles even if Blair normally irresistible.

— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) November 24, 2013

Given that…makes me think an angry murdoch wants it out there. #battleofthegodfathers

— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) November 24, 2013

Claims of an affair between Mr Blair and Ms Deng swept the internet when Mr Murdoch filed for divorce in June. They were sparked by a tweet from BBC journalist Robert Peston who said: ‘Am told that undisclosed reasons for Murdoch divorcing Deng are jaw-dropping and hate myself for wanting to know what they are.’

Wolff: Happiness comes to Rupert Murdoch

The trial of some of Rupert Murdoch\’s close associates, accused of telephone hacking, bribery, obstruction of justice and conspiracy, is now underway in London, threatening to expose ever-deeper veins of skulduggery in Murdoch\’s company. Surely a low point in his 60-year career.

And yet, Murdoch is telling people he may never have been happier in his life.

This is partly because he believes that he and his family have largely beaten the rap. But it is also a personal trait of Murdoch\’s, being able to write off the past, with both finesse and brutality. And for everything to turn out well for him.

His personal life, his work life and his family life, despite the threat of hackinggate, have all come into alignment. At 82, he believes he has set the stage for another 15 years.

Site Reactivated and Crowd Funded Journalism

There’s now a bit of story about this blog. I was planning to use it to complement my livetweeting of the opening arguments of the Old Bailey Trial, to update and include elements which could only be reported during ‘breaks’ from the court. But as explained in this miserable post, I ran out of money – just when I discovered live tweeting could continue throughout the trial. I prepared to retreat.  Then this happened

Crowdsourcing Live Reporting

So here it is: this blog will provide an archive of my tweets from the trial on a day by day basis, and any other relevant materials that come up in court.

It will also occasionally provide exclusive access to paid subscribers on material relevant to the trial, for easier reference or private discussion