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Not MySpace
Since Rupert Murdoch spent $580 million buying MySpace last year, News International boffins have worked overtime trying to think of means to link the networking site with newspapers like The Sun and News of the World. MySpace was plugged at every opportunity - much in the same way NewsInt used to draw guffaws from Private Eye by publishing "publicity material for Sky Broadcasting Services masquerading as news items" in the Murdoch press.
Tom Stevens, the man arrested by police this morning in connection with the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich, has a MySpace site (It's here, for the time being). Many of the photos of Stevens being used in the press - The Sun included - come from Stevens' site.
However, The Sun is at pains to avoid mentioning MySpace as the source of the information on Stevens, instead reporting on how he posted information on "a social networking site", where he used the name "the Bishop."
News International has already come under fire following reports that stalkers and perverts have been using MySpace to prey on teens. Even if you agree that it's hardly MySpace's fault if one of its 100 million users is questioned about a series of murders, the spectacle of balding thirtysomethings cropping up on a network supposedly aimed at teens is mildly disturbing.
Earlier this year there were reports of worried parents and teachers following several high profile assaults linked to the network.
News International spokesmen played down fears - not the only thing they've been playing down recently.
