But there are some people whose tender feelings receive a lot more consideration from the News Ltd empire.

On the same day that News's website carried a link to The Australian's piece about Carey's childhood, it carried another story right next door.

Global Scientology protests begin in Australia. — News.com.au website, Global Scientology protests begin in Australia

But what's this? A pixelated poster?

What can it have said? Well luckily, Today Tonight covered the same anti-Scientology protest - by a cyber-group that calls itself Anonymous and Channel Seven wasn't so cautious.

More than two hundred people turned out in central Sydney yesterday. The first wave in a global protest against Scientology. The Church of Scientology has ramped up the offensive against Anonymous, accusing them of religious bigotry and claiming they are sick, twisted... — Channel 7, Today Tonight, 11th February, 2008

Hold it right there!

Same woman in a silly hat.

Must be the same poster.

So why is the mighty News Corporation censoring a protest banner that calls Scientology a cult?

Legal advice, it seems.

"What legal advice?" we asked.

The News website's editor, David Higgins, cunningly replied:

My legal advice is not to discuss my legal advice. — Email from David Higgins (Editor, News.com.au) to Media Watch

Over at the Adelaide Advertiser, they were more considerate still of Scientology's feelings.

Protesters with a voice but no face — Adelaide Advertiser, Protesters with a voice but no face, 11th February, 2008

And with placards but no names.

Look at this one, for example.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha POW! — Adelaide Advertiser, Protesters with a voice but no face, 11th February, 2008

What's that about? Go to the 'Tiser's website, and all is made clear...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha POW! Tom Cruise — Adelaide Now, Protesters picket Scientology centre

Aha! That's what they're on about!

A famous interview given by Tom Cruise for the edification of his fellow Scientologists, which found its way onto You Tube.

Tom Cruise: I do what I can. And I do it the way I do everything. Ha ha ha ha ha. There's nothing part of the way for me. Ha ha ha ha ha ha . It's just POW. Ha ha ha. — YouTube video

A bit nutty, perhaps, but hardly defamatory.

Of course the Church of Scientology - and Tom Cruise - are notoriously litigious. But did the 'Tiser really have to erase his name from a protest placard? Without telling its readers?

The Advertiser's Editor, Melvin Mansell, told us:

The decision to alter the photograph was made on legal advice which was given to a person on the news desk...The decision...is not one that I agree with...It's something that slipped by in the process. — Statement from Melvin Mansell (Editor, The Advertiser) to Media Watch

And he adds...

As matter of course we don't publish doctored photographs. — Statement from Melvin Mansell (Editor, The Advertiser) to Media Watch

So that's all right then. For a while, I thought News Ltd might be losing its nerve.