Murdoch closes News Of The World over voicemail hacking scandal
In one of the most dramatic moments in newspaper history, James Murdoch has announced the closure of the News of the World, one of the world’s oldest and biggest selling newspapers.
The unprecedented decision comes after it emerged that journalists and private detectives acting for the News Corp-owned newspaper had hacked into the voicemails of more than 4000 people including those of murder victims, families of dead servicemen, politicians and celebrities and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to British police in pursuit of stories.
The News of the World vies with The Times of India for the claim of being the widest circulating newspaper on the planet.
It was founded in 1843 and has been owned by News Corp since 1969.
What was Richard Freudenstein saying at Mumbrella 360 as to why people should pay to access NDM’s content?
Oh that’s right, quality journalism.
Amazed at what Murdoch will do to protect the young prince and Rebekah Wade
Can’t say I’ll be shedding any tears about this – though as the domain name sun.on.sunday.co.uk was bought and registered just two days ago, it’s a cynical move by News Ltd indeed…
Hi Tim, as much as many (including myself) are re-joicing at the downfall of this pretty poor excuse for a Newspaper, in the interest of fair reporting shouldn’t you change the “it has emerged” wording to “it is alleged” – regarding whether the hacking took place to the full extent? Just a thought.
good riddance to bad rubbish
@Matt – a journalist and private detective have already been convicted and sent to jail plus News has settled numerous civil actions and set aside $millions to settle more so it think it is proven, not alleged.
And today, it is said, there will be more arrests for paying off police officers – and then we’ll all want to know, if someone paid police, who signed off their expenses?
Shrewd move by Rupert. He can liquidate NOTW and use his Sun staff seven days a week. Same sales figures, less overheads. This ‘moral’ action will also no doubt help his BSkyB deal get through, and the BBC will get a bit of right-wing opposition for a change (enter Fox News UK)
Once the dust has settled expect a no holds barred attack on the Guardianistas and ex-New Labour shrills who have been so vocal over the last few weeks. I’m sure he has no shortage of dirt on the likes of John Prescott and Alistair Campbell.
Hell hath no fury like a billionaire media mogul scorned.
A cynical re-branding exercise that means the little people are out of a job whilst the bigwigs behind the original crimes stay in high paying jobs, Rebekah Brooks former editor now chief executive should have resigned, the paper was already doomed when the news broke with advertiser’s pulling left, right and centre
They say social media killed a paper, and that the shift in power to social mediums can be seen, well after what News International did to MySpace, it’s really more like 1-1
This is a very smart move by Murdoch; offer up the paper as a sacrificial lamb for the scandal, but in doing so reduce his UK press ownership which allows him to fulfill the requirements for his BskyB takeover…cynical for sure
Ahhhh the perils of big media moguls … isn’t it interesting what lengths they will go to make someone else the fall guy ie the staff in this case, when Murdoch has bought into business in Australia with this particular newspapers biggest competitor in the UK. You honestly don’t think this has been schemed and planned for quite some time?
Quite brilliant really!
Closing the business is no doubt the right thing to do. Let’s hope Rebekah Wade will now be held to account.
Notw and Times of India are not biggest selling papers in world. Only in English language. Japanese papers have far bigger circulation.
I feel sorry only for the non-journo staff at NOTW. I’m sure they – and the journos – will receive a Howardesque offer of new “workplace contracts” on the renamed Mach II. Look out for it, won’t take long.
And yep, look out all outspoken critics, if they can’t find a story on you, they’ll make one up.
Such a smart move by Murdoch, but my sympathies do lie with all the journalists, subs and photographers who are now out of work because of the despicable actions of their colleagues.
I especially feel for the staff of the Irish News of the World, as Dublin is not an easy place to be an out of work journalist these days, with the NOTW being the third paper to have disappeared off the shelves this year.
I don’t feel sorry for the NOTW staff.
I read in their paper that the unemployed all live in 5 bedroom houses and get £50k in benefits.
Camille it appears your knowledge of domains is a long way short of what I’d hope you’d have before commenting… sun.on.sunday.co.uk can’t be bought and registered as it can only be set up by the owner of sunday.co.uk which is News Ltd and has been since at least 2009 and likely since it was first registered in May 1997. They did update it on the 10th June 2011 but that appears to be a standard renewal for another 2 years.
It appears your comment has all the fact checking of a NOTW hack.
@Brett
Wow, thanks for that tirade 🙂 I’m more than happy to be corrected, but I don’t really think there’s any need to be nasty about it…. did you have a bad day??
Apologies, I got that from what I thought were credible news reports from established media outlets (eg. BBC and ABC).
And no, sorry I’m not an expert on domain names, so thanks kindly for the lesson 🙂
Regardless, I think there’s general agreement, as per Mumbrella’s story that News Corp “is likely to launch a Sunday edition of its Monday to Saturday tabloid The Sun, effectively turning the closure into a rebranding exercise”.
Good to have a robust debate about this Matt and I hope you have a lovely, happy weekend 🙂
And I thought I was flippant…
NOTW shuts down; The Scum (Sun) begins to be a Sunday feature… Rupemeister wins…
Sack the execs. Fine News Ltd big bucks (bigger than before…)
The famous people who were caught out. They should sue too!!
NOTW is News Int: Boycott The Sun, The Times, (oops most people don’t know what they are as they are behind pay walls…)
Actually, what doesn’t Rupe just do us all a favour and do something nice. become a philanthropist… – Yeah right as if 🙂
Hey ho. He is yet again, covered in wrong doing. What a crook(.)
What does it mean to have read this article on Mumbrella and then see a display ad at the top of this page for The Australian, which is commenting on the closure of The NOTW?
Is it some nutter at News Ltd saying: “If we run some display ad’s condemning and being vocal about The NOTW, then people wont think we are really all one team with The NOTW..”
Mental!
The Sun, The NOTW, The Times, The Australian, FOX News, The New York Times: all the same company / stable thus as credible as each other.
One word – Murdoch Press / Media
Perhaps Mr Murdock will get rid of the weekly Sun and just do a Sunday weekend/ paper?.
That would be more sensible.