Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more 禄Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
City-born architect lists inspiration behind his designs in a new book
Digitization helps preserve, disseminate intangible cultural heritage
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Star reporter defends his record
Source: Agencies |
December 13, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE star undercover reporter for the now-defunct News of the World tabloid told Britain's media ethics inquiry yesterday that he duped celebrities only to expose criminality, immorality or hypocrisy.
Mazher Mahmood, who worked for the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper for 20 years, said he had not been aware illegal phone hacking was going on until the newspaper's royal reporter, Clive Goodman, was arrested in 2006.
Goodman was jailed for eavesdropping on the mobile phone voicemails of members of the royal family staff.
Mahmood is a controversial figure, nicknamed the "Fake Sheik" after his signature ruse of pretending to be a rich Gulf businessman to trap celebrities, politicians and suspected criminals.
He said his stories had to meet rigorous public interest standards, such as exposing criminality or "moral wrongdoing."
He also said celebrities were fair game "if they present themselves as wholesome characters and trade on that status" while behaving hypocritically.
Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry after it emerged that the News of the World had for years eavesdropped on voicemail messages of celebrities, public figures and crime victims.
It has heard from crime victims and celebrities, including actor Hugh Grant and "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling.
Mahmood was the first of several witness from Murdoch's News International who will defend its practices.
Murdoch closed the title in July.
Mazher Mahmood, who worked for the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper for 20 years, said he had not been aware illegal phone hacking was going on until the newspaper's royal reporter, Clive Goodman, was arrested in 2006.
Goodman was jailed for eavesdropping on the mobile phone voicemails of members of the royal family staff.
Mahmood is a controversial figure, nicknamed the "Fake Sheik" after his signature ruse of pretending to be a rich Gulf businessman to trap celebrities, politicians and suspected criminals.
He said his stories had to meet rigorous public interest standards, such as exposing criminality or "moral wrongdoing."
He also said celebrities were fair game "if they present themselves as wholesome characters and trade on that status" while behaving hypocritically.
Prime Minister David Cameron set up the inquiry after it emerged that the News of the World had for years eavesdropped on voicemail messages of celebrities, public figures and crime victims.
It has heard from crime victims and celebrities, including actor Hugh Grant and "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling.
Mahmood was the first of several witness from Murdoch's News International who will defend its practices.
Murdoch closed the title in July.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
