Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 In 1997, when she was a 29-year-old feature writer on the News of the World, Rebekah Wade made a trip to Westminster to intercept the Conservative MP Jerry Hayes. The paper was planning to run an exposé of the married MP's affair with his 18-year-old lover, she told him – or as the headline would put it that Sunday: "TORY MP 2-TIMED WIFE WITH UNDER-AGE GAY LOVER". Hayes was devastated, but found himself so charmed by the young redhead and the sympathetic manner in which she had delivered the news that he later phoned the News of the World to thank them for the way they had handled the story. Three years later, Wade was the paper's editor. Less than a decade after that she was chief executive of Britain's most powerful newspaper group – a meteoric ascent attributed by close observers to this exceptional, potent cocktail of clear-eyed ruthlessness and dazzling charm. It is a talent that even those who know or have worked for Rebekah Brooks – as she now is – describe in awed tones. "Andy Coulson often joked that the essence of tabloid journalism is turning someone over one day, and them ringing to thank you the next," recalls one ex-Sun staffer, who worked under both editors. "Rebekah Brooks is the ultimate exponent of that art." On the evening of November 2, 2005, the day that David Blunkett had been forced to resign from government for the second time in a year, the former minister travelled to the Sun's offices in Wapping to share a drink with the paper's editor. The Sun, the previous year, had been the paper that named Kimberley Quinn, the Spectator's publisher, as Blunkett's lover. But if such a talent can explain Brooks's meteoric rise, it does not explain the extraordinary tenacity with which she has clung to her job as News International chief – even while James Murdoch was forced to acknowledge "repeated wrongdoing" at the News of the World, admitted NI executives had misled parliament and abolished the biggest selling newspaper in the country. Can it really be the case, as Friday's Independent put it, that the News of the World has been "sacrificed to save one woman"? And if so, why? The key to understanding Brooks, say those who know or have worked with her, is her breathtaking networking abilities. She is, says one, a "galaxy-class schmoozer. World-class doesn't quite do it justice." Certainly the briefest glance at her social circle reveals a network of establishment connections that few, if any, could match. To describe her as a friend of David Cameron would be to underestimate their intimacy, say friends. Brooks and her second husband Charlie, a racehorse trainer and old Etonian, live very close to the Camerons in Oxfordshire. They met for dinner at least once over Christmas, and frequently see each other at weekends with what has been termed the "Chipping Norton set" – among them the PR man Matthew Freud and his partner, Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth, and Jeremy Clarkson. Brooks has even commented that unlike Murdoch senior she has no need to go to Downing Street for audiences with Cameron, since she sees him so frequently socially. It is easy to forget that she was just as intimate with Cameron's predecessor, and the man at No 10 before that. Brooks, then Wade, was seen by many as half of a Labour power-couple, thanks to her then husband Ross Kemp's vocal support of the party and their close relationship with the Blairs. So intimate a friend did Cherie Blair consider her, in fact, that she reproached the then editor for attending a party at 11 Downing St, seat of the hated Browns. That cooled as her friendship with the Browns grew closer – Brooks attended a "sleepover" of female friends of Sarah Brown's at Chequers in 2008. Guy (now Lord) Black, ex-director of the Press Complaints Commission, and his partner, Mark Bolland, once Prince Charles's aide, were once holiday companions. But Brooks's friendships are not only strategic, say intimates, who speak of her tremendously warm, conspiratorial, almost flirtatious manner. A number of former Labour ministers are still good friends, while she has maintained close relationships with, among others, Sarah Payne's family and Sheryl Gascoigne. Max Clifford, one of few willing to speak openly about her, said she was loyal, generous and "very genuine". "I have always found her to be a straight-up person. That is very, very rare in journalism." Rebekah Wade was born in Daresbury, Cheshire in 1968 and attended Appleton Hall County Grammar school in Warrington. By 14, she had decided she wanted to be a journalist. She worked briefly for an architecture magazine in Paris, and her Who's Who entry states that she studied at the Sorbonne; in fact she took only a short course. While still a teenager she joined Eddie Shah's short-lived tabloid daily the Post as features secretary. The Private Eye journalist Tim Minogue was one of her editors, and recalls a likeable, "skinny, hollow-eyed" girl who was "very, very, very ambitious". On one occasion, Minogue recalls, the paper had run a promotion offering bottles of supposedly aphrodisiac lager from a brewery in Strasbourg, which for some reason had been held up. "So Rebekah volunteered to drive to Strasbourg, a 20-year-old in a clapped out Renault 5 or something, load up her car and drive back. At the time we thought that was quite a funny story, but in retrospect it's quite telling about what she was prepared to do to get on." After the Post closed Brooks joined the News of the World's magazine, where she caught the eye of the then editor, Piers Morgan, who promoted her so rapidly that very little of her career, according to those who worked with her, was spent in on-the-ground journalism. At just 29 she was made deputy editor of the Sun, and it is a mark of her tremendous confidence, some would say overweening chutzpah, that she was disappointed to be passed over the following year for the editor's job in favour of David Yelland. In 2000 Murdoch gave her the consolation prize of editing the News of the World. Her stint there saw the paper expose Angus Deayton and Prince Harry's drugtaking, and Sophie Rhys-Jones for trading on her royal connections. But she will chiefly be remembered for the "Sarah's law" campaign, in which the paper began naming and shaming sex offenders until forced to stop after it provoked attacks on innocent people. In 2003 she finally got the job she had coveted as editor of the Sun. Her first act, frustrating the hopes of her Labour friends, marked clearly that her loyalty was first to the Sun's legacy and her employers: Page 3 ran as usual was to run Page 3, featuring a model called "Rebekah, 22, from Wapping". She had some notable successes, earning praise for reinjecting wit after Yelland's drier tenure, and scored a sensational scoop securing an advance copy of the Hutton report into David Kelly's death. But some of the attempts at populist humour were tone deaf. A splash about the boxer Frank Bruno being sectioned ("Bonkers Bruno Locked Up") provoked outrage, as did "Ship Ship Hooray!" after Harold Shipman's suicide. A bizarre episode in which she spent a night in the cells after being arrested for attacking Kemp was treated with good humour, however. The editor came straight to the office from the cells, said: "Much happening today?", and promptly splashed on the story. Her employees recall a woman who was respected and feared more than she was liked. "There was a lot of shouting, a lot more stress, when Rebekah was editor," comments one Sun staffer. "I think many people were quite scared of her." Some News of the World staff have tartly denied reports that Brooks was in tears as she delivered the news of their sacking on Thursday. In September 2009 Brooks was elevated to chief executive by Rupert Murdoch. And it is this relationship, however powerful and intimate her other friends, that is the key to her story. Murdoch has four daughters but regards Brooks as another, say observers, and perhaps the closest of the lot. The pair had a habit of going for swims together, and he has hosted birthday parties for her. For her 40th it is said he bought her a Lowry. When she was arrested for attacking Kemp, he sent a designer suit to the police station so she would look her best when she left. One story has Murdoch, told that the Sun had been scooped by an impressive Mirror story, phoning the former NI chairman Les Hinton to ask: "Is she all right?" That concern has certainly been evident this week. News International staff may increasingly want her to stand down, parliament, the leader of the opposition and even her friend the PM may consider her position untenable. But Rupert Murdoch and James Murdoch believe Brooks's standard of ethics is "very good". And so, for the time being at least, she's going nowhere. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/0...e-phone-hacking Went to school in Warrington, say no more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 5899 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Just had a look on the website. Nowt like making a quiet exit to appease the families of the dead whose lives they horribly invaded. Instead we have top 10 topless totties mixed in with self congratulatory quotes about being the greatest paper in history and similar shite. Just look at that sun heading, We say ''A Proud Farewell'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Struggling to find a headline I give a shit about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawD 31 Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 The pic says it all. Majority of stuff there is as Coogan put it "tittle tattle". Who gives a flying fuck about what Giggs is doing or who this politician is sleeping with (or what). Not all, but the majority of "work" they done just doesnt interest me. It's as well placed in Heat or other mags wor lass reads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 The suggestion that George Orwell would support what Murdoch turned it into is pathetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 The suggestion that George Orwell would support what Murdoch turned it into is pathetic. That made me chuckle actually Wonder how many NOTW readers have read anything of Orwell's of their own volition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Our wonderful former chairman reckons he had his phone hacked at some point too. Not that he's got previous with the paper, or anything... http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east...79310-29026092/ TYNESIDE tycoon Freddy Shepherd believes he and dozens of North household names have been tapped by the News of the World. The former Toon boss last night welcomed the paper’s closure as the ‘best news’ he’s had in a decade, claiming its shady past was inevitably going to catch up with it. Shepherd was targeted by the paper’s Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood, who secretly taped him and fellow Newcastle United board member Douglas Hall, son of Sir John Hall, in 1998 in what became known as the Toongate scandal. The pair – heard on the tapes to refer to Newcastle women as “dogs” and laugh at fans for paying high prices for replica shirts – apologised for their actions, but maintained they were ‘set-up’ and their words had been taken out of context. Today, on the day the News of the World will be sold for the last time ever, Freddy has also revealed his suspicions he was targeted by phone hackers, commissioned by the tabloid. Freddy said: “I think without doubt I’ve had my phone hacked. It makes me furious, but I’m not going to pursue it. It’s finished. I wouldn’t lower myself. “The North East hasn’t been isolated from the phone hacking. There’s obviously people up here who’ve had their phone hacked. I’m sure there’s other people in football.” “Ultimately they got what was coming to them. I don’t think there’s anyone in this country would stick up for them. No-one. It’s indefensible. “You should only speak good of the departed. The News of the World has departed – good. “They take advantage of people. As far as I’m concerned they go into work at the start of the week and think, ‘whose life are we going to ruin this week?’ “They took a couple of private jokes between friends and they completely massaged it to suit them. “Ok the jokes might have been in bad taste, but the News of the World got completely carried away. You won’t find me sad that Mazher Mahmood is out of work. “When I heard about the Milly Dowler I just thought, how low can they get? In football, perhaps it’s fair game, but that’s completely below the belt.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13830 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 The suggestion that George Orwell would support what Murdoch turned it into is pathetic. That made me chuckle actually Wonder how many NOTW readers have read anything of Orwell's of their own volition? I wonder how many know who he was? They should have marked it 'Eric Arthur Blair' to be really pretentious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34301 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 “You should only speak good of the departed. The News of the World has departed – good." YEAHHHHHH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@yourservice 67 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gejon 2 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Epic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 13830 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Class! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 3969 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Pretty sad to see so many people buying it when I was in the local shop this morning - I know we can't apply our consciences 24/7 in the real world but fucking hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gejon 2 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Pretty sad to see so many people buying it when I was in the local shop this morning - I know we can't apply our consciences 24/7 in the real world but fucking hell. A lot of people will be buying it because it's the "last ever". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/10/...E76925320110710 (Reuters) - News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch exited his London home on Sunday with his arm around embattled newspaper chief Rebekah Brooks, and told Reuters that she was his first priority. Murdoch, who flew into Britain earlier on Sunday to deal with an escalating phone-hacking scandal at his News of the World tabloid that Brooks used to edit, answered: "This one," gesturing at Brooks, when asked what his first priority was. The two, both smiling, then went into the Stafford hotel opposite Murdoch's apartment in the upmarket Mayfair area of London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin S. Assilleekunt 1 Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 (edited) This could be his downfall, looks a terrible error in judgement. If not then we're all dooooooooooooommmmeeeddd!"!"!"!??!?!?!"!"1 Edited July 10, 2011 by Kevin S. Assilleekunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 When the news of the paper's closure came, there was a collective gasp and shouts of "no" before relative silence descended and Brooks continued. "The Guardian newspaper were out to get us, and they got us," she said in what was, in the context of what observers described as a somewhat halting and stumbling speech, a rare oratorical flourish. Yeah, it was The Guardian wot done it. What a fucking tosser that woman is. Unambiguous evidence of criminal activity from BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14105225 Someone is going down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveTheBobby 1 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 When the news of the paper's closure came, there was a collective gasp and shouts of "no" before relative silence descended and Brooks continued. "The Guardian newspaper were out to get us, and they got us," she said in what was, in the context of what observers described as a somewhat halting and stumbling speech, a rare oratorical flourish. Yeah, it was The Guardian wot done it. What a fucking tosser that woman is. Unambiguous evidence of criminal activity from BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14105225 Someone is going down. They've . Haaad . Quite . A Bit . Of . Robert . Peston. On . BBC . Since . He . Broke. This. Story. Like . Honestly, I thought the horror had been give eloqution lessons following his whole delivery etc after his Norther Rock stuff . He's back worse than ever with his one word sentences and theatrics . Excruciating cunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 They're by no means the only ones of course but the NOTW has got stuck right into the public sector whilst brown-nosing the government recently regarding the cuts to jobs, pensions etc. Karma tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven 0 Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 When the news of the paper's closure came, there was a collective gasp and shouts of "no" before relative silence descended and Brooks continued. "The Guardian newspaper were out to get us, and they got us," she said in what was, in the context of what observers described as a somewhat halting and stumbling speech, a rare oratorical flourish. Yeah, it was The Guardian wot done it. What a fucking tosser that woman is. Unambiguous evidence of criminal activity from BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14105225 Someone is going down. They've . Haaad . Quite . A Bit . Of . Robert . Peston. On . BBC . Since . He . Broke. This. Story. Like . Honestly, I thought the horror had been give eloqution lessons following his whole delivery etc after his Norther Rock stuff . He's back worse than ever with his one word sentences and theatrics . Excruciating cunt. A knaa one thing for certain, nae cunt would understand you delivering the news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakehips 0 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 When the news of the paper's closure came, there was a collective gasp and shouts of "no" before relative silence descended and Brooks continued. "The Guardian newspaper were out to get us, and they got us," she said in what was, in the context of what observers described as a somewhat halting and stumbling speech, a rare oratorical flourish. Yeah, it was The Guardian wot done it. What a fucking tosser that woman is. Unambiguous evidence of criminal activity from BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14105225 Someone is going down. They've . Haaad . Quite . A Bit . Of . Robert . Peston. On . BBC . Since . He . Broke. This. Story. Like . Honestly, I thought the horror had been give eloqution lessons following his whole delivery etc after his Norther Rock stuff . He's back worse than ever with his one word sentences and theatrics . Excruciating cunt. I know exaaaactly. what you. you know. mean. I'v been listening to five live quite a lot over the past week and I wish I could have had a quid for every time Peston has said 'you know'. Doing my fucking head in!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakehips 0 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Pretty sad to see so many people buying it when I was in the local shop this morning - I know we can't apply our consciences 24/7 in the real world but fucking hell. A lot of people will be buying it because it's the "last ever". Two years, or so, and it will be back amid great fanfare. WE'RE BACK!! being the obvious headline with plenty of 'we're sorry, gonna do it right' stuff inside. The 'last ever' will be worthless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakehips 0 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/10/...E76925320110710 (Reuters) - News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch exited his London home on Sunday with his arm around embattled newspaper chief Rebekah Brooks, and told Reuters that she was his first priority. Murdoch, who flew into Britain earlier on Sunday to deal with an escalating phone-hacking scandal at his News of the World tabloid that Brooks used to edit, answered: "This one," gesturing at Brooks, when asked what his first priority was. The two, both smiling, then went into the Stafford hotel opposite Murdoch's apartment in the upmarket Mayfair area of London. The smug, self-satisfying, grins on their faces was shameful. Wish I'd have been there at the time with a can of purple paint to chuck on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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