October 24, 2011

Forbes
Former Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton appeared Monday before a U.K. parliamentary committee to explain his previous testimony that so-called phone-hacking was not a widespread problem at News of the World. Here’s how Jeff Bercovici summarized Hinton’s account:

Hinton … stuck to the position that his earlier statements were all as truthful as his incomplete grasp of the facts allowed him to be at the time. “It became clear over the last couple years that there was much more to this affair than was apparent when I left,” he said. “Events have evolved quite significantly in the time since I departed.”

Hinton said that an old email that alleged the practice was more widespread wasn’t “evidence of anything” and said he saw no reason why James Murdoch should be pressured to resign. Murdoch will be questioned again on Nov. 10. Related: Les Hinton pleads ignorance seven times over to phone hacking inquiry (Guardian) | News Corp. cutting up to 200 jobs at Times of London, Sunday Times (Poynter.org) || Earlier: Jack Shafer says it’s time for WSJ editorial board to revisit that editorial defending Hinton (Poynter.org)

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Writer, author of 12 books including three business bestsellers - Built From Scratch (w/founders of The Home Depot), Mean Business (w/Albert J. Dunlap) and The…
Bob Andelman

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