No more News of the World

No more News of the World

The News of the World - Britain's biggest selling Sunday newspaper - will close after failing to hold itself to account in the phone hacking scandal, it was announced last night.James Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of owner News Corporation, said the paper was "in the business of holding others to account". But he added: "It failed when it came to itself."The paper will publish its last edition in 168 years on Sunday.In a statement, Murdoch said he was "convinced" the decision to shut the paper was "the right thing to do".He declared: "Having consulted senior colleagues, I have decided that we must take further decisive action with respect to the paper. This Sunday will be the last issue of the News of the World."Murdoch said all profits from the paper's Sunday sale would be handed to good causes.And he said all advertising space from the title would be given over to charities.He added: "While we may never be able to make up for distress that has been caused, the right thing to do is for every penny of the circulation revenue we receive this weekend to go to organisations - many of whom are long-term friends and partners - that improve life in Britain and are devoted to treating others with dignity."We will run no commercial advertisements this weekend."Any advertising space in this last edition will be donated to causes and charities that wish to expose their good works to our millions of readers."More than 200 staff at the News of the World were told of its closure by Rebekah Brooks, News International's CEO and the paper's former editor.It followed days of new revelations in the phone hacking scandal which led to PM David Cameron announcing an independent public inquiry on Wednesday.It was also revealed last night that Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, will be arrested by appointment today over the scandal.Coulson was in charge between 2003 and 2007. He resigned as Mr Cameron's Director of Communications in Januar! y.Murdoc h, whose father Rupert is Chairman and CEO of News Corporation, made his announcement shortly after 4.30pm yesterday.He told staff: "I have important things to say about the News of the World and the steps we are taking to address the very serious problems that have occurred."It is only right that you as colleagues at News International are first to hear what I have to say and that you hear it directly from me."You do not need to be told that the News of the World is 168 years old."That it is read by more people than any other English language newspaper. That it has enjoyed support from Britain's largest advertisers."And that it has a proud history of fighting crime, exposing wrong-doing and regularly setting the news agenda for the nation. When I tell people why I am proud to be part of News Corporation, I say that our commitment to journalism and a free Press is one of the things that sets us apart."Your work is a credit to this."The good things the News of the World does, however, have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong. Indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our company."Murdoch said News International, the parent company of both the News of the World and The Sun, had "wrongly maintained" that phone hacking had been carried out only by the News of the World's then royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.But he vowed to set new standards for the Press in future - and said "apologising and making amends" was "the right thing to do". Mr Murdoch added: "The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself. In 2006, the police focused their investigations on two men.
"Both went to jail. But the News of the World and News International failed to get to the bottom of repeated wrong-doing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose."Wrong-doers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued. As a result, the News of the World and News In! ternatio nal wrongly maintained that these issues were confined to one reporter."We now have voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences. This was not the only fault."The paper made statements to Parliament without being in the full possession of the facts. This was wrong."Murdoch said he "did not have a complete picture" when he sanctioned out-of-court settlements in the past to phone-hacking victims.He went on: "This was wrong and is a matter of serious regret."Currently, there are two major and ongoing police investigations. We are co-operating fully and actively with both."This full co-operation will continue until the police's work is done."We have also admitted liability in civil cases. Already, we have settled a number of prominent cases and set up a Compensation Scheme."Murdoch outlined the steps News International had taken to prevent a similar scandal happening again.He told how an outside law firm had been brought in to oversee the changes and said the company is doing its "utmost" to fix its mistakes.The News of the World's staff are set to begin "appropriate consultations" about their jobs.Murdoch said: "Many of you, if not the vast majority of you, are either new to the company or have had no connection to the News of the World during the years when egregious behaviour occurred."I can understand how unfair these decisions may feel. Particularly, for colleagues who will leave the company."You may see these changes as a price loyal staff at the News of the World are paying for the transgressions of others."So please hear me when I say that your good work is a credit to journalism. I do not want the legitimacy of what you do to be compromised by acts of others."News of the World editor Colin Myler - at the helm since January 2007 - said: "This is the saddest day of my professional career. For 168 years the News of the World has been a huge part of many people's lives."Sundays without this great Br! itish in stitution will not be the same." - www.thesun.co.uk