Rupert Murdoch will face hostile and angry employees when he arrives in Britain this week, seeking to face down a growing rebellion within his newspaper business and end the talk that his flagship Sun could close following a string of arrests.
Those close to the media mogul expect the 80-year-old to show far more composure and calculation when he addresses journalists on a hostile newsroom floor, compared with his conduct last July, when he suddenly shut the News of the World paper in the face of public revulsion over phone hacking.
"No one can imagine quite the pressure he was under in July," said one person familiar with the situation. "The pace of it was incredible, it was very emotional and traumatic. This is very different."
Unlike in July, readers and, most important, advertisers have shown little reaction to news over the last two weeks that nine senior employees have been arrested and questioned overpayments made to police and other officials.
Politicians, who spectacularly turned on Murdoch following the admission that his journalists hacked into the phones of murder victims and Britain's war dead, have also held back in the knowledge that calling for the closure of the biggest selling newspaper would be a dangerous move.
But despite the different scenario, Murdoch is still under huge pressure. The FBI and other US government agencies have stepped up their hunt for signs of illegality at a US-based company. A case brought under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could result in fines of millions of dollars.
He is also under fire from within, having opened an internal investigation that resulted in the latest arrests and led to talk among frightened and angry employees of a witch hunt.
And he has few options as bankers say no company would want to buy The Sun or his Times newspapers until they have been thoroughly investigated. For so long one of the most powerful men in Britain, Murdoch is now effectively powerless to act.
体坛英语资讯:China need to overcome pressure to progress in Womens World Cup, says coach
国内英语资讯:Xi congratulates Michel on election as European Council president
国内英语资讯:Chinese VP to visit Mongolia
国内英语资讯:China urges U.S. to stop wrong practices of curbing people-to-people exchanges
国际英语资讯:Gas explosion kill 3 people in Poland
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Heavy rain, flash floods create havoc in U.S. capital region
体坛英语资讯:Venezuelas Figuera to miss rest of Copa America
国际英语资讯:Libyan army says repels govt forces attack in southern Tripoli
国内英语资讯:Ministry dispatches work teams to assist with local flood control
体坛英语资讯:Japan coach rues missed chances against England in Womens World Cup
国内英语资讯:Floods threaten middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River
国际英语资讯:Sudans military council urges national unity to achieve stability, renaissance
国内英语资讯:China expects further development of China-EU ties under new EU leadership: FM
体坛英语资讯:Maradona dismisses Alzheimers rumors
国内英语资讯:Interview: President Xis letter inspires more contributions to Japan-China friendship -- J
国际英语资讯:Conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis sworn in as Greeces new PM
国际英语资讯:Jordan, Palestine say no economic offer can replace two-state solution
国际英语资讯:Turkey continues to support peace, stability in BiH: Erdogan
国内英语资讯:China issues new guideline to improve compulsory education
国内英语资讯:Shanghai aims to have full 5G coverage by 2020
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Party and state institution reform helps China modernize governance
体坛英语资讯:Brazil, Peru to meet in September friendly
体坛英语资讯:China beat Australias NBL United 101-98 in International Basketball Challenge
娱乐英语资讯:Feature: Kung fu musical tells survival story of Chinese immigrants in NYC
没工作不读书,这些名人在间隔年都去干嘛了?
In the Cold Days 寒冷的日子
体坛英语资讯:Four teams stay in race for Water Polo Super Finals trophy
国际英语资讯:S. African Parliament calls for end to illegal farm invasions
二十年后,他还记得我
娱乐英语资讯:Dresden Kreuzchor to perform in Chinas NCPA