Fudge and the Daily Prophet

[Hagrid]

No: HPFGUIDX 85085

--- "silver_owl_01" wrote:
> I just reread GoF and I noticed something a little odd. 
> 
> How come Fudge is able to force the Daily Prophet to change it's
> editorial line to attack Harry and Dumbledore in OotP but he can't
> stop them from taring him and the MoM a new one over the Quiddich 
> Cup debacle? I seriously doubt Rita is the only reporter that 
> likes to embarass the MoM so, why the change in attitude? 
> ... But in OotP he has them fall in line. Did he had the power 
> to this all along and just needed to grow a backbone to
> use it, or did he changed the laws to give him that power?

The change to the Daily Prophet happened after the 3rd task in GoF. 
- Rita had disappeared and didn't submit a story to the paper.
- A student was dead. (The son of a MoM worker, well known to anyone 
with magical creatures - which is all the WW)
- Harry, the Daily Prophet favorite for the TriWizard Tournament, was 
somehow connected with Cedric's death.
- After the 3rd task, they found out Barty Couch had died and Mad 
Eyed Moody had been kidnapped.
- and if all that wasn't enough for the respected paper, Harry came 
back rambling (for he had no proof) that everyone's worse fears had 
been realized ... Voldemort was back! 

If the Daily Prophet wasn't sure what line to take, Fudge was willing 
to take the lead role in giving interviews and calming fears.
With Dumbledore winning greater influence in some circles, Fudge was 
protective of his leadership role in the face of a man amassing an 
army. With the support (in Galleons) from a traditional family, Fudge 
followed the line Malfoy fed him.

Just a theory ... what do others say?   ~aussie~