What an unfortunate title for this essay.
Rupert is not being hacked in any sense whatsoever, and certainly not to death.

Don Allan,

The adverse reaction to the near monopoly of the Media by Mr. Rupert Murdoch is not entirely consistent with a kind of ‘tall poppy syndrome’, as your article implies.

The service of NOTW to the community that you somehow justify was not all that impartial; it highlighted sexual activities, especially those of deviants, and left in the dark the more substantial transactions of our society.

NOTW with its levity diverted the attention of people from and somehow justified the complex legislation that draws on the sense of modesty (as reticence to divest our body, to keep ‘private’ our toileting and sexual activities) and mired on keeping very private the financial activities of Tycoons of all kinds.

NOTW would have no community or social function to perform if Privacy Laws did not exist.

The latest privacy legislation has been surreptitiously enacted on the confusion of the concept of Modesty and Privacy.

No one of us has gone through life without a faux pas, which does not make criminal out of us, yet we are accepting these wasteful insane Laws for fear of having that fault revealed

Is Murdoch being hacked to death unfairly?

Probably.

My heart bleeds for the poor little thing.

Emotive junk mail.
Hacked to death?
If justice is in fact not blind, if Murdock is to be treated, and he will not, as an ordinary man?
Prison would be close.
Unfairly?
I recommend this thread, it shows self interest and privilege at work.
It well could be an editorial in any of Murdock's out lets.
FOX Like remote from truth honesty balance.

Possibly.

"Although I hold no brief for Murdoch it seems to me that jealousy underlies the campaign now being directed at Murdoch and his media empire by politicians and rival media."

Or payback, perhaps.

More simply, as far as the press is concerned, relishing the opportunity to kick someone when they are down, which is the universal pastime of any newspaper, anywhere, any time.

As for the pollies, they are doing their usual conga-line behind the populist furore whipped up by... oh yes.

The media.

How about that?

The biter bit.
Unfortunately Murdoch and his organization will survive and probably thrive, since he's the natural ally of conservative politicians on three continents.