Dial M for Murdoch- Book Launch

This week saw the release of Dial M for Murdoch: News Corporation and the Corporation of Britain, written jointly by Labour MP Tom Watson and The Independent’s Martin Hickman. The book was launched this morning at a press conference in which Watson called the Murdoch empire a “toxic institution that has operated in Britain like a shadow state”.  Predicted to be the “one of the most attacked books this year”, the title and publication date were kept a complete secret until Monday. Published by Penguin, the book is on sale for £20. Reviews say that the book gives a detailed and researched account of the phone hacking scandal just in time for Murdoch’s appearance at the Leveson inquiry next week.

See also Despite the Sun

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“News International Wapping dispute” exhibition moves to Goldsmiths College, London

The News International Wapping dispute exhibition finishes its run in Liverpool today and moves to Goldsmiths College in south east London in October.

The bitter 1986 dispute between Rupert Murdoch and the print unions started when over 5,000 production and clerical workers were sacked overnight. None of the journalists were sacked but more than 100 of them – the “refuseniks” – took a stand on principle and walked out of their jobs.

The exhibition starts on 1 October with a public launch on Tuesday 4 October at 6pm featuring speakers who were directly involved in the dispute.

When: From 1 to 14 October
Where: New Academic Building, Goldsmiths College, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW
Entry: Free

Further details can be found on Goldsmith’s website or for the Guardian’s Jon Henley’s article on the exhibition, click here.

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“News International Wapping dispute” exhibition opens in Liverpool

The exhibition ‘News International Wapping – 25 Years on’ opens today in Liverpool marking 25 years since the sacking of 5,500 newspaper print workers during the bitter 1986 dispute between Rupert Murdoch and the print unions.

Occurring at a time when jobs, conditions and union organisation were being undermined in newspaper industry, it showcases the 13-month struggle the employees staged to try to save their jobs and protect their union rights.

Using the recent News of the World scandal as a poignant example of how corrupt newspapers can be and the damage they can cause, Paul Finegan, Unite’s regional secretary, stressed how important it was for Government to be aware “of the dramatic and negative impact on jobs that morally corrupt newspaper tycoons, working together with a government that are intent on reducing the rights of working people and their unions can have.”

When: From Monday, 19 to 30 September
Where: Unite, Jack Jones House, 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool L3 8EF

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Despite the Sun – Video Art, England’s Avant Garde, interview


Despite TV’s film “Despite the Sun” has been featured in an interview with writer and academic Sean Cubitt. The interview is about the early days of video in the UK.

Sean Cubitt is currently Professor of Media and Communications, University of Melbourne and has written widely on the media arts.

“that’s I think one of the most gripping pieces of political documentary to be made in this country in the last 50 years, it’s a phenomenal piece of work.”
“they all went scooting round through people’s houses and so on to get stories that the national media weren’t getting, and it’s a fabulous piece of work”
“So it was very important aesthetically as well as in terms of its politics.”

you can watch Despite the Sun here: Despite the Sun

full article can be found here: Video Art article