Last summer, the Guardian claimed that News Corp had paid out more than £1 million to settle cases involving illegal phone hacking by News of the World journalists, prompting further investigation into a scandal that had seen a NOTW reporter jailed two years previously. The story received limited media attention at the time, but now, the New York Times has published a long article detailing the allegations and criticizing Scotland Yard's limited efforts to pursue the case. The paper has had an investigative team at work on the story since March, according to the Guardian, and claims to have spoken to many former NOTW reporters and editors.

Scotland Yard's investigation allowed NOTW and its owner News Corp to insist that the hacking was limited to one employee, said the NYT, while in fact "interviews with more than a dozen former reporters and editors at News of the World present a different picture of the newsroom," where hacking and other improper tactics were common, including hiring private detectives. The one employee, tried and jailed in 2007, was royal reporter Clive Goodman who was working with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Under former editor Andy Coulson, who is now the prime minister's media advisor, NOTW reporters regularly accessed phone messages and phone records and were actively encourage by Coulson, the NYT alleges. Coulson resigned as editor in January 2007 after Goodman was jailed for intercepting messages and has insisted he had no knowledge of illegal activity. The parliamentary committee that looked into the phone-hacking scandal concluded in February that it was 'inconceivable' that Goodman had acted alone.

The NYT article cites several specific examples of NOTW reporters intercepting messages and phone records, and suggests that Scotland Yard was reluctant to pursue the investigation because of its close relationship with the tabloid. A recording made of Mulcaire instructing a NYT journalist how to hack into a phone is linked to in the article.

A large number of hacking victims are currently attempting to sue, reported the NYT.

As the New York Times notes, UK tabloids are famous for their continuous gossip about politicians, royals and celebrities, presumably reflecting the British public's fascination with the lives of others. But while improper methods of obtaining information exposing wrong-doing that is in the public interest is justifiable, illegal invasions of privacy for idle gossip is not.

The case might well require more investigation. But as Press Gazette asks, why has the New York Times taken such an extensive interest in it?

Source: New York Times, Guardian