Left-wingers queue up to back reporter who hacked rival papers’ Zoom calls
LEFT-wing journalists and broadcasters have been criticised for backing a Financial Times reporter who was caught eavesdropping on the private video calls of rival newspapers.
The FT’s media and technology correspondent, Mark Di Stefano, resigned after he was exposed for snooping on Zoom calls for employees at The Independent and Evening Standard when they were told of pay cuts and furloughs.
Mr Di Stefano, a regular guest on BBC2’s Politics Live, announced his resignation on Twitter on Friday after his subterfuge was revealed by The Independent and he was suspended by his employers.
Among the first to offer support was leading Labour activist and Guardian columnist Owen Jones, who said: ‘Best of luck, Mark.’ Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis tweeted: ‘Sad to see this Mark. Hoping you’re ok x.’ TV presenter Julia Bradbury, former Newsnight reporter Matthew Thompson and ex-Guardian Media Editor Jane Martinson all expressed sympathy.
Paul Lewis, presenter of Radio 4’s Money Box, sparked criticismw hen he tweeted :‘ Dreadful. You did your job as a journalist. Now you have been forced out .’ One tweet in response said: ‘No condemnation from the screaming left. Why aren’t I surprised.’
Philip Davies, a Tory MP and member of the Commons Media Select Committee, said: ‘I don’t recall all these people lining up to offer their sympathies and condolences to reporters when there was the phone hacking scandal at News International. To me, what’s happened here is no different and no better. You would think they ought to be calling for the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute him.’
Journalists at The Independent said they saw Mr Di Stefano’s name briefly appear on a private video call on April 23. Log files later showed his FT.com email address had been registered on the paper’s Zoom call.
Mr Di Stefano then accessed the call using an anonymous user account, according to The Independent. Shortly afterwards he published an article on the FT website revealing confidential information about an advertising downturn at The Independent. He cited ‘people on the call’ as sources.
The Zoom account linked to Mr Di Stefano’s mobile phone was also used to gain access to an Evening Standard video call made by editor and former Chancellor George Osborne to outline staff furloughs, The Independent reported.
In a statement, the FT said: ‘The journalist in question has now resigned from the company. The FT wishes to apologise to Th e Independent and the Evening Standard.’