The First War: Media

Evening Edition for November 22, 1978

Aurors Promise Safe Shopping Season
by Reginald Howard

Department of Magical Law Enforcement representative Marshalla Booth has announced the Department’s intent to make this holiday season safe for all shoppers in Diagon Alley and other popular shopping areas. Booth did not give details of how this assurance was to be carried out, citing security reasons, but was confident that it would be a successful season.

Local business owners are counting on the protection assurances to turn out big crowds for the holiday shopping season, which traditionally is said to begin this month. Much of their yearly revenue is eared during such peak seasons, and businesses on average have been taking a hit this year. Even with the protection in place, it is estimated that sales for November and December will be as much as 17% lower than they were last year, which could threaten many of the small, family owned businesses that are the trademark of Diagon Alley.

Says Louis Candle, economist, “We may be seeing a turning point in the way businesses are run. Small time won’t cut it in an economy run on threats and paranoia; people want to be assured of stability and that can only be reasonably provided by larger chains or corporations. The muggles figured that out already – it’s time for the rest of us to get on board.”

Others do not share Candle’s views and insist that the small business rights should be protected by the Ministry. Thus far, the Ministry itself has not stated a position on either side of the issue.

Lestrange Cleared, Death Eaters Judged Conspirators
by Barnabas Cuffe

In an historic ruling passed down early this morning, the Wizengamot cleared Rabastan Lesgrange of all charges but ruled that all captured Death Eaters are considered part of the same conspiracy.

By this ruling, Death Eaters can be charged as an accessory and co-conspirator in all Death Eater crimes, regardless of their personal involvement. The Wizengamot sent down this ruling during the trial of Mr Rabastan Lestrange, who was on trial under suspicion of being a Death Eater. However they also ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove Lestrange’s involvement and he was released early this morning with the courts’ apologies. Lestrange, who was picked up 11 days before and released on bail, received the fastest trial to date of any suspected Death Eater.

Criminal advisor to the Daily Prophet, Damien Hall, says, “This ruling is a bit of a double-edged sword. Obviously, it will mean much harsher punishments for Death Eaters caught in the future. And hopefully that will make more people think twice before joining. But the courts are going to be much more resistant to convicting people now. Still, this should be seen as a victory for Crouch, who has been trying to get the court to make this decision for years now.”

Local Explosion Frightens Leaky Patrons
by Maggie Smith

A small explosion at a muggle shop gave guests at the popular wizarding pub The Leaky Cauldron a scare today, before it was determined that the attack was no directed at magical persons. The explosion was localized to a muggle store down the street, and aurors have determined that it is unrelated to the magical community.

Evening Edition for November 13, 1978

Vandal Suspect Beaten, Arrested
by Barnabas Cuffe

DIAGON ALLEY - Early Friday morning, aurors responded to a disturbance on Diagon Alley. A mob had caught and beaten a young wizard, approximately 20 years old, and claimed that he was one of the ones responsible for the recent vandalism attacks. Aurors took the youth into custody and arrested him on the spot, but transported him to St Mungos for treatment. His identity has not been released to the public and no official statement of charges has come down. The suspect is still recovering, but was released from intensive care this afternoon.

Witnesses on the scene this morning report that the young man was discovered by Horatio Oliphus, an employee heading in to open his store early. Mr Oliphus dragged the man into the middle of alley and began yelling and shouting, alerting other residents who came down to investigate. Aurors have not been able to tell who threw the first punch, but everyone there agrees that it was not Oliphus. Once the first hit landed, the scene quickely digressed as the man was beaten by several people in the crowd, while others called the authorities.

Minister Kirke's Approval Rating Down
by Reginald Howard

LONDON - The Minister of Magic took a beating in recent polls, dropping from a 46% approval rating to 37%. This marks the lowest approval rating for any Minister this century, and is historically higher than none except Minister Grattin in 1864, who had only a 17% rating before he was impeached from office.

Critics of Minister Kirke cite his lack of a firm conviction in dealing with terrorists as the main reason for the record low ratings. Since being elected in 1968, Minister Kirke has experienced a steady decline in popularity for failing to deliver on most of his campaign promises, though supporters point out that many of his former platform issues have been overshadowed by larger concerns and that it would be irresponsible for him to divide his attention. Others still claim that Kirke's focus on the Death Eater problem is the worst of both worlds, since he has effectually solved nothing since taking office.

United Wins Shut-out Game
by Susan McCormack

PUDDLEMERE - Puddlemere United beat Holyhead Harpies yesterday 190-0. The shut-out victory marked the fastest win of the season, with the snitch being caught just 26 minutes after the start of the game. The attendance at the game reached 11,000, almost 3,000 more than the next most populated game. Fortunately, there were no major disturbances at the game, although several instances of public disturbance were reported by celebrating Puddlemere fans.

Puddlemere's win guarantees them a place in the January finals rounds, but Holyhead will have to win their next three games to qualify. Harpies manager Mathalda Marshbank is confident that they will be able to make the necessary wins and that fans will get to see another Puddlemere/Holyhead game.

Evening Edition for November 02, 1978

Vandalism in Diagon Alley

Ministry officials offer no comment on the appearance of the Dark Mark today in Diagon Alley which was left in green paint on the store fronts of several businesses. Several of the businesses affected have been known for supporting muggleborn sympathies, but many others that were affected showed no previous loyalties to any side, making the vandalism appear random. shop owners and patrons alike are baffled, and in many cases terrified, by this newest development.

Archibald Otto, criminal adviser to the Daily Prophet, says, "These acts of vandalism are likely not caused by true Death Eaters. It doesn't fit their MO." Continues Mr Otto, "There is no reason to panic." Current theories run that the vandalism was committed by Death Eater supporters, but the MLE will give no official word as the investigation is still running. However, they too are encouraging Diagon Alley patrons not to panic, as there have been no overt threats issued.

This has not kept shopkeepers from increasing their protections, however. Margret Snooter, owner of Obscurus Books, has admitted to purchasing new wards for her store. "It's hard to keep the customers in. Everyone's afraid. I can't get the paint off my front window and no one will come in while it's up. I'll have to get the glass replaced." But even then, Ms Snooter isn't sure she'll be able to get her customers back, as everyone is wondering if this is the prelude to something worse.

Ministry Offers Tax Incentives for Owl Orders

The Ministry of Magic is offering to suspend all taxes on any goods ordered, paid for, and shipped by owl order in an effort to boost business sales nation-wide. Economists are not hopeful that the plan will have any effect on the financial slump that is starting to make itself known in the wizarding world.

"It's not just that people are afraid to go shopping," says Marvin Howard, business analyst working for Galleon Solutions. "They're afraid to spend anything at all. With the future as uncertain as it is, everyone is tightening their belts and burying their gold in Gringotts vaults."

Small business owners have been hit the worst in this new trend, with sales for this quarter so far down almost 12% from last year. The Ministry as announced that their Owl Order Program is only the first part of a multi-tiered effort to get the economy back on track, including such steps as government subsidies and 24-hour Hit Wizard protection in major shopping centers. Efforts to increase sales and customer protection are being pushed through in the hopes of getting them in place for the holiday shopping season.

United, Harpies Game Anticipates Largest Attendance This Season

The final game between the Puddlemere United and Holyhead Harpies is projected to draw the largest spectator crowd of the season. Both teams are ranked in the top five and favored to be finalists in for the Championship Cup held in January.

Officials from both teams have been working round the clock on security for the event, assuring fans that the match will be perfectly safe. For security reasons, their exact methods will not be revealed until the game, but it's estimated that a budget increase of over 10,000 Galleons has been approved for the event.