The editorial process is global. For purposes of beating the competition to a scoop, unified messaging "being on message" as New Labor put it, and for commercial synergy.
The real problem for news is that the benefits of this global production platform for newspapers is now a liability.
All the newspapers in the 140 paper network have shared in the editorial process and the contagion of criminal content of the toxic tabloids could spread.
Even though The Times of London and The News of the World dont talk face to face, they share the same building and the same production facility. They also share senior editors and executives, support staff etc. The platform is shared.
To a very large extent the mastheads are just a branding and the staff, content and so on move between newspapers (globally) all the time.
Due to cross-media, tabloid print journalism often is re-purposed or expanded for TV i.e. BSkyB (UK), Sky (AUS, UK), Foxtel (AUS) and Fox (US)
The fact that News International (which is The Times, The Sun, The News of The World) was a major node in establishing this global news production system means that like the financial markets the contagion is automatically spread.
The benefits from a global, integrated, realtime production system are now its greatest liability.
Hacking 4000+ victims is not journalism. Its organized crime. Its media as protection racket. -- Nicholas Roberts US 510-684-8264 http://Permaculture.TV http://permaculture.coop