Rupert Murdoch's media outlets don't usually issue apologies. However, the Prince Harry situation was an exception.
In a dramatic shift, News Group Newspapers (NGN), the British division of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's empire, issued a heartfelt apology to Prince Harry for the "serious intrusion" into his private life between 1996 and 2011. This intrusion included unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun. This apology formed a crucial part of a recent settlement agreement aimed at avoiding a high-stakes legal battle.
Prince Harry, who had been pursuing a case against Murdoch's papers for five years, celebrated the settlement as a "vindication" for hundreds of other individuals who had been forced to settle without unveiling the truth. The agreement was an unusual move for Murdoch, known for his staunch resistance to admitting wrongdoing.
Murdoch's news outlets are typically resistant to any hint of weakness or scandal, but in this instance, they agreed to avoid the potential embarrassment of a trial by admitting to the serious intrusion and unlawful activities carried out by their private investigators. This admission was a notable departure from earlier settlements, which did not include specific acknowledgments of wrongdoing.
The settlement was reminiscent of a case involving Dominion Voting Systems, which sued Fox News Channel for defamatory claims about the 2020 U.S. election. In that case, FOX settled for a substantial amount, but a public apology was not considered a priority.
This UK settlement, however, contained a detailed apology that specifically referenced incidents involving The Sun and not just the News of the World, which was shut down in 2011 amid public outrage over phone hacking. The apology acknowledged the damage caused to Prince Harry, his relationships, and his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The settlement also included substantial financial compensation for Prince Harry and former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who had been subjected to unwarranted intrusion during his time in government. The settlement marks a significant victory for Prince Harry and others affected by similar practices, providing a degree of justice and closure.
Sources:[1] The Washington Post[2] The Guardian[3] Sky News
The business strategy of News Group Newspapers following the settlement might involve more cautious approaches to privacy issues in their media coverage. The settlement, with its public apology and financial compensation, has set a precedent in the media industry, highlighting the consequences of invasive practices.
