(Image Source: The New York Times)


BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS


The whistle-blower’s dead. It’s just the latest in a chain of events so twisted and complex media all over the world are now time-lining them. The demise of British tabloid News of the World has stirred up yet another drama. NY1 has the details.

“British police say the whistle-blower reporter in the phone hacking scandal has been found dead. Sean Hoare's body was found at his home in England.”

But some say this was no ordinary find -- because of its timing. A writer for the Daily Mail explains.

“Sean Hoare's body was found on a extraordinary day when a Met police chief resigned over the phone hacking scandal, four senior officers were facing questions and the Prime Minister was forced to call an emergency session of Parliament.’”

Lots of connections -- but police aren’t drawing a link. According to The New York Times’ Lede blog...

“Police officers in Watford, outside London, refused to confirm the dead man’s identity to The Guardian but said in a statement: ‘The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing.’”

A blogger for the Telegraph agrees.

“People should not jump to conclusions about how Mr Hoare died -- though plenty already are. If you read Twitter you’ll see people subtly hinting at -- at what? I don’t know -- general murkiness connected with the News of the World degringolade.”

Hoare blew the top off the tabloid for unethical eavesdropping habits and the unlawful use of pinging. But according to an opinion writer for the Guardian -- Hoare may have had his own personal motivations for coming forward with the story.

“He knew how destructive the News of the World could be, not just for the targets of its exposés, but also for the ordinary journalists who worked there, who got caught up in its remorseless drive for headlines. Explaining why he had spoken out, he told me: ‘I want to right a wrong, lift the lid on it, the whole culture... In the newsroom, you have people being fired, breaking down in tears, hitting the bottle.’"

According to police -- the investigation is ongoing.