Friday, August 11, 2006
Careless Talk
The BBC Today programme broke the story about how the Met is investigating claims that News of the World journalists have been breaking stories by intercepting the mobile messages of the royal family and celebs. The voicemail on a mobile phone can be accessed when it is switched off by dialling the number and pressing ‘*’ when the voicemail kicks in and entering the four digit pin code.
It is alleged that journalists have either been bribing individuals within the network operators to get access codes or using the operator’s default voicemail codes on the basis that most people don’t use a personalised pin code. This voicemail hacking story follows the news on Monday that AOL has inadvertently released the search records of web surfers.
Maybe there’s an opportunity here for PR companies to advise clients on how to manage personal digital information such as email archives and voicemail. It’s the modern day equivalent of disposing of your rubbish safely.
In the meantime change your voicemail pin code and delete your voicemails as soon as you’ve listened to them. Permalink |
The BBC Today programme broke the story about how the Met is investigating claims that News of the World journalists have been breaking stories by intercepting the mobile messages of the royal family and celebs. The voicemail on a mobile phone can be accessed when it is switched off by dialling the number and pressing ‘*’ when the voicemail kicks in and entering the four digit pin code.It is alleged that journalists have either been bribing individuals within the network operators to get access codes or using the operator’s default voicemail codes on the basis that most people don’t use a personalised pin code. This voicemail hacking story follows the news on Monday that AOL has inadvertently released the search records of web surfers.
Maybe there’s an opportunity here for PR companies to advise clients on how to manage personal digital information such as email archives and voicemail. It’s the modern day equivalent of disposing of your rubbish safely.
In the meantime change your voicemail pin code and delete your voicemails as soon as you’ve listened to them. Permalink |
Comments:
I have never been an advocate of the whole 'internet has changed the way the media works' theory. Obviously it has helped tremendously with desk research but i still think internet newspapers still haven't set the world alight and the internet, as a whole, has not had the influence on the media that many predicted (death of traditional journalism, PR, office working, etc). However, could this be the first sign that the internet is influencing the length in which a reporter would go to get a story? Internet sites such as Popbitch and Holy Moly can publish sensational (and often outrageous) stories without the regulation that newspapers have and can publish them immediately. 'Traditional' journalism appears to be relying more and more on covert tactics to investigate stories in order to compete.
# posted by 
: 9:05 AM
: 9:05 AM
This is definitely one to watch. I don't see how the media can justify this one with the 'in the public interest' arguement - looks more like an infringement of civil liberties. It will be interesting to see how the Royals handle this potentially negative story. So far they are staying very quiet - this might be legal advice or a brand proection strategy. I know a lot of PR doctrine says full and frank communication is needed to ward of a crisis, and in most situations it is. But I also think there are some situations when it is prudent to not go shouting the odds.
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# posted by : 9:06 AM
: 9:06 AM
