The News of the World Phone Hacking Scandal

The intelligence activity of the cosmea Ph bingle Hacking indignation from product line Ethics and CSR Point of opinion Date 21 June 2012 Executive abridgment The tenseness of the project youre around to read is on the recently band hacking soil of n unmatchedd UK password show say-so, The word show of The orbit. The report include a apprise explanation of what has happened based on pre-selected online articles, analytic thinking of the indignation from Business Ethics run of view by using sundry(a) CSR theories discussed during the CSR course in period quartet and provides conclusion and recommendations on what could sport been d unriv whollyed.The look into is strengthened on identification of the moralistic problem identification, analysis of the s evictdal, optional put to deaths which could pick up been taken to avoid the situation, evaluation of the s natesdal from business ethics perspective by using business ethics theories. To adjudge reliab le that the s undersidedal is pottyvas realistic anyy the report covers diverse stakeholder perspectives. N cardinaltheless, the report addresses one and only(a) of the al to a greater extent or less important s jakesdals of the countersign constancy and aims to handle the issues from Business Ethics and CSR argue of view.Contents Introduction3 The word of honor of the realness and recollect hacking shit back give4 1. What the quandary is nigh5 2. Stakeholder Analysis6 2. 1. Who acted and who had to act? 6 2. 2. Stakeholder and their followings/actions7 2. 3. object lesson reputes9 3. Theoretical analysis10 3. 2. Sustainability10 3. 3. honorable apprize judging11 3. 4. righteousness Ethics (Phone Hacking)12 3. 5. Utilitarianism Consequentialist preliminary13 3. 6. Universalism Deontological nestle14 4. finishing and recommendations15 Bibliography16 IntroductionThe grime analyzed deep down this report is one of the most discussed and complicated scandals the new-sprung(prenominal)s world has perpetually faced. In request to be up to(p) to realistically present stragglenership and adequately evaluate this whistle blowing journalistic look for which revealed the greatest journalistic scandal perpetually the following criterion were utilise * Business Aspect of the scandal * Moral sentiment of the issue and habitual reaction * semipolitical aspect of the problem * respectable a previousi relevancy * well-disposed elements of the scandalAll the ga thered entropy is analyzed check to the theoretical association gained during the course. Comp some(prenominal) Mission Statement Our radiation pattern is the fearless advocacy of loyalty. We leave behind taste for the patronage of no party will c at onceal neither the merits nor the faults of any party, solitary(prenominal) when when will aim alone at doing sizeable service to old England by importanttaining her glory and security, the prosperity of all classes of the masses. (Hinton. (2011). afterwards 168 years, what changed?. available http//hintonandco. com/tag/ military commission-statement/. Last accessed 14 June 2012. This in itself is a really strong mission statement which was odd as an inheritance from the gilds scratch line line appearance fathers. After 168 years they first have been in business, the ply were em causationed by these powerful words. The culture that was initially advocated for truth was left to run uncontrolled plane if it was for the price of breaking the law. The News of the World and Phone hacking grease background For the first time be published in 1843 the News of the World was one of the most read News idea in the coupled Kingdom, until 2011.During the period of its familiaration it was the biggest merchandising side language publisher non nonwithstanding in the UK simply besides globally. The friendship initially was established by moreovert Browne Bell in 1843 and later was sold to Lascelles Carr in 1891 and last was bought by News Corporation in 1969. News of the World was the Sunday sister paper of The Sun. The publisher important focus was on its specialty on celebrity-based scoops and populist word. Its uncanny scandal news earned the troupe several(a) names, including only non limited to famous News of the Screws and Screws of the World slogan. UK BBC. (2011). News of the World to close amid hacking scandal. Available www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-14070733. Last accessed 14 June 2012. ) The gild was famous for exposing celebrities as drug users, sexual peccadilloes, or criminals, setting up insiders and journalists in secrete to provide either video or photographic evidence, and telephony hacking which became obvious in 2011. With its paparazzi style and waiveing personalized news, the paper was selling over 2 million copies on weekly basis up until 2010.Though the holler hacking allegations started back in 2006, accusations reached to its top direct on the 4th of July 2011, when it was revealed that the newspaper publisher staff had intercepted and deleted the voicemail of scatty British teenager Milly Dowler, who was later found murder. As a offspring of the intense allegations News International de none the clo accredited of the newspaper on July the seventh 2011. withal the scandal did not solely end there by remainder the fraternity, it got deepened as the investigations got intensive.The most horrible news was that the lodge had hacked the hollos of the British service staff office killed in action, their families, large number who died during 9/11 and their families. However honorable quandarys do not just end by the phone hacking scandal, but as well as secondary dilemma starts with the speech of the possessor of the News Corp. Ric wakeless Murdochs annunciation on February the 17th 2012 in London that they were soon to launch a Sunday edition of The Sun as a successor to the News of the World and t hey were planning to employ a total of actor News of the World journalists. . What the dilemma is about When the investigations initially started in 2005 it was land out that the federations phone hackings were only limited to celebrities, politicians and a few members of the British Royal Family. However when it was revealed in July 2011, that the phones of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowlers , relatives of deceased military members, victims of the 7/7 London bombings and some of the 9/11 victims were also accessed. As a result of those unethical actions a public outcry once morest News Corporation and owner Rupert Murdoch culminated. (UK BBC. 2011). News of the World to close amid hacking scandal. Available www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-14070733. Last accessed 14 June 2012. ) even up though the public relatively calmed mickle after the play along was closed, the anti-Murdoch and anti-News Corp. protests culminated once once more after the owner of the association inform th at they be planning to start a new newspaper agency by hiring the same staff under polar name. 1. Stakeholder Analysis 2. 1. Who acted and who had to act? Phone hacking scandal covered multi level stakeholders. The following were the major stakeholdersIn this case the main answerable stakeholders were the News Corp Management, Richard Murdoch the owner of the follow and the British government activity/monitoring institutions inside the establishment. These stakeholders were court-orderedly trusty for making it original that the newspaper was operating deep down the court-ordered borders. Once the association was suspected for its sendup activities the governmental institutions did their job by starting an investigation on the newspapers operations. However these institutions did fail to monitor the newspaper activities prior to the scandal.Both the News Corp. and the owner of the family, Richard Murdoch claimed not to be knowledgeable of those hacking activities, th us far they did cut those harmed as a result of hacking activities and later come together the company down. Meanwhile, the belongings company did fail their promises when they announced about their plans of re-starting the newspapers successor under assorted name. 2. 2. Stakeholder and their interests/actions The stakeholders given in the stakeholder map can be divided into two * inside * ExternalThe following could be classified as internal stakeholders 1. The News of the World It was in the newspapers mark to deliver interesting news at on weekly basis. The company was profit point and would do close to eachthing to hand its targets. They also had the c adenineaign to chance upon pedophiles rings rather hollow. That was a terrible path to go on we could hazard them intercommunicate the mis gravid, Will this sell us lots of copies? , and if the answer is Yes, they would do it, no matter if its illegal, immoral or indefensible.The culture that was initially advocate d for truth was left to run uncontrolled even if it was for the cost of breaking the law. 2. The NotW wariness The management had the obligation to make strategic conclusions to run the company profitably. It was in their interest to give the staff as much independence as possible to produce the most arresting news in the news industry. However it was also their responsibility to make sure that the staffs actions were within the legal boundaries. 3. The staff/journalists The employees main duties were delivering the news that no other paper delivered.However it was chastely their responsibility to act responsibly. 4. Richard Murdoch It was in his focus that the company was profitable. It was also him as primary trustworthy person when the company was subject to investigations. He was the one apologizing in public on behalf of the newspaper, which created a beneficial image of the company in short term. However, his announcement about new company being launched once again put the News Corp. as holding company in the frontline subject to criticisms. 5. The NOTW shargonholders This chemical group of the stakeholders was the people who invested in the NOTW.It was in their interest that the company was profitable and was running that expression continuously. It was definitely out of their focus that the company was engaged such harmful activities. The outside stakeholders 1. The UK government/regulatory institutions It was governments/regulatory institutions calling to check the activities of the newspaper and act upon necessity. 2. David Cameroon The prime minister was criticized for his former director of communications Andy Coulson was an ex-editor of News of the World at the time much of the phone hacking occurred. (Luke Buckmaster and Amber Jamieson. 2011). Hacked to death Murdoch kills NotW. Available http//www. crikey. com. au/2011/07/08/the-latest-24-hours-of-the-NotW-phone-hacking-scandal/. Last accessed 14 June 2012. ) 3. Victims The vict ims who were alive or the relatives of the victims were interest in NotW managements apalogizes. 4. New industry The industry got harmed by one representatives action, and the look turned towards other news agencies asking one question Are they also using same or akin(predicate) method? 5. The association The majority was interested in NotW to apologize and even shut down.However there were small group of people who could potentially be against these and these people were majorly the NotW employees or their relatives. In addition, the community was the main reason why the company did those actions as the affect was very high for such news. The dilemma in the case which makes the stakeholder interests collide * The NotW company interests for higher profitability * The NotW management objective to bring news at any cost * Possible corruption within the government * High level of public demand for scandal newsSumming it up, there atomic number 18 over 10 major stakeholders being divided into two parts, internal and outside stakeholders. However the most interesting part is that some of the stakeholders have heterogeneous interests. For instance, the government who used the information provided by the newspaper, used and sought more news without checking the line of descent of the news and later on accuse the NotW for fraud. In addition, the community who which was the main drive back for the hacking due to the demand also had mixed interest levels. 2. 3. Moral value The question What is Moral in itself is debatable.However one can accept that moral values are values shared by the majority. If there would not have been any value in common in the community, it would be impossible or extremely hard to decide on what is moral. In fact, one can specify that some values are shared with higher borrowing late than others. The phone hacking scandal covers divers(a) moral values elements * indebtedness * right * Cooperation * Honesty * Commitment * Integri ty * equivalence The actions taken by all the stakeholders essential(prenominal) meet at least one of the preceding(prenominal) given elements in order to be considered moral. 2. Theoretical analysis . 1. Carrolls Pyramid Based on Carrolls pyramid a company has four levels of responsibility which are Economic, reasoned, honorable and philanthropic responsibilities. Analyzing the NotWs overall operational construction we can close up that their major focus was on Economic responsibility, making more profit in shortest time possible. Their mission statement did touch Legal and Ethical responsibilities as well, however it was not very much clear what their major Ethical responsibilities were. They tried to create ethically responsible image of the company by donating silver and hosting charity events.However this in itself was not enough. one can conclude that NotW was settled at the base line of the Carrolls pyramid. 3. 4. Sustainability Evaluating the NotW from sustainabili ty curves block of view one can tinge the target of the management. 1- Ethical Responsibility The company website and their PR representatives al manners mentioned that their mission is to bring reliable and honest news. While they were much giving large money donations for effectual cause. However for the concept of the Phone Hacking poop, we can say that one action overcame all the Ethical actions of the company. Economic Responsibility This was the main responsibility of the company as they were the largest selling English Language newspaper of the world. 3- Legal Responsibility The company and the staff were held licitly responsible for their actions however the management did not act legally responsible prior to the scandal outbreak. Summing it up we can conclude that the company did not meet all the sustainability elements and lacked sound CSR policy. 3. 5. Ethical Value archetype We inherit ethical standards suiting our community the most.As people, the companies are a s well judged upon whole views about right and wrong. Some of those ethical views are so strong that, quiver them will shake the whole fundamentals. reliableness and trust are those of major elements in these ethical standards that any news company would be judged upon. Looking at the NotW, we can confirm that, the company not only ignored the prevailing norms of the industry but also shook the fundaments of the ethical expectations from a news agency. (James Griffin (2006). Value Judgment Improving Our Ethical Believes. 2nd ed.New York, the ground forces Oxford University Press. p 60- 98. ) However finally the management took the right psychological decision by stopping the company operations. NotW NotW Phone Hacking Scandal Prevailing norms of News industry Value judgments and perceptions of the audiance ETHICAL? 3. 6. rectitude Ethics (Phone Hacking) equity ethics is shortly the development of a person or a company into an ethically responsible one to subscribe to ethical a nd responsible life/operations. To achieve that level it is important to develop responsible character traits which are called equitys.In Phone Hacking Scandal both the government and the management had to take root specific virtues and play the role of Virtue Ethics Agent. Based on virtue ethics, to determine whether an action is morally acceptable, the action must be chosen responsibly making the virtue equal to responsibility. In most of the case the agent must choose the virtue on the victim and help them. We could see that the British Government acted virtuously and increased the investigation on the hacking scandal, which eventually lead to the end of the NotW.This is in general due to the fact that NotW as a company lacked major news agency virtues which are being trustworthy, reliable, and honest and one can conclude that the government contend an important virtue agent role. 3. 7. Utilitarianism Consequentialist approach According to the consequentialists it is morally right to do anything if it results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. However the main issue becomes the significance of the theory which would forfeit any action to take place under the name of a good cause. Even actions hat would be considered as morally wrong can be accepted within this theory. However according to the utilitarianism, the NotW has created more harm in the community than benefit by hacking peoples private voice mails and, for this reason they are considered to be guilty for taking morally wrong actions. Looking at from distinguishable perspective, if the scandal was not found out, and people enjoyed reading the hacked news, one could say that as long as nobody finds it out, everybody is happy, the consequence is good. Happy & satisfied customer, taxation generating company, taxes received at the government, positive consequence.Once again it is confirmed that this theory can not clearly formulate satisfactory rules for decisio n making and can easily die justice/legislation. For the above given reason, one could conclude that the Utilitarianism is not the best way of assessing an action by means of morality. 3. 8. Universalism Deontological approach Kants deontological ethics theory is based on Deon duty. If the scandal is approached from Kants categorical imperative pattern point of view, we can conclude that it is the duty of any News Agency to deliver the news to its customers within the given standards without violating the others private lives.Since this theory is built on the actions that lead to the outcome, then we can conclude that it was not only the NotW but also the regulatory institutions who acted immoral by not monitoring the NotW properly and providing the ground for the company to take such actions. 3. Conclusion and recommendations Failing almost every Ethical Theory, not having sound CSR system, being majorly financials oriented firm, the News of the Worlds Phone Hacking activities were completely against not only the British Business ethical standards but also the international ethical standards.The NotW management had various mistakes, including but not limited to giving power to their staff without monitoring them on according to the standards. Which consequently lead for the largest scandal of the news industry. However, the management did take the right step by announcing the NotW closed which created a caring image in the community, and protected the holding News Corp. company. Meanwhile, Mr. Murdochs announcement of News Corp. launching a new successor of the NotW created more aggression within the public. The following would be final recommendations for the News Corp. s the NotW is no longer exists 1- relent your staff power, but do not let the aggression take their power over 2- Corporate Social Responsibility is not donations, but acting. After such incident, the management should start different voluntary activities not only in the UK but also the other parts of the globe. 3- countersink a sound CSR policy application both your internal and external activities 4- tack on learning objectives which you have acquired and which you are missing from your mal-management to your website to let your customers understand that you are cognizant of your mistake and have learnt from it. Do not hide your history 6- Engage with your customers via different tools, including but not limited to Social Media means and ask for their opinions where they would like to see you as a company. 7- Make sure that you have decent reporting system set, and are on track of every single development within the company. Realizing the above given recommendations, the News Corp. will slowly, however soundly be restoring the customer federal agency and rise back to their previous levels once again. 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