News of The World: 1843-2011 - Polidicks

[b]Full statement from James M'dch[/b], updates below [quote]News International today announces that this Sunday, 10 July 2011, will be the last issue of the News of the World. Making the announcement to staff, James Murdoch, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, News Corporation, and Chairman, News International said: "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. So thank you very much for coming here and listening. 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. 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 wrongdoing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose. Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued. As a result, the News of the World and News International 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. The Company paid out-of-court settlements approved by me. I now know that I did not have a complete picture when I did so. This was wrong and is a matter of serious regret. Currently, there are two major and ongoing police investigations. We are cooperating fully and actively with both. You know that it was News International who voluntarily brought evidence that led to opening Operation Weeting and Operation Elveden. This full cooperation 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, with cases to be adjudicated by former High Court judge Sir Charles Gray. Apologising and making amends is the right thing to do. Inside the Company, we set up a Management and Standards Committee that is working on these issues and that has hired Olswang to examine past failings and recommend systems and practices that over time should become standards for the industry. We have committed to publishing Olswang’s terms of reference and eventual recommendations in a way that is open and transparent. We have welcomed broad public inquiries into press standards and police practices and will cooperate with them fully. So, just as I acknowledge we have made mistakes, I hope you and everyone inside and outside the Company will acknowledge that we are doing our utmost to fix them, atone for them, and make sure they never happen again. 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. Colin Myler will edit the final edition of the paper. In addition, I have decided that all of the News of the World’s revenue this weekend will go to good causes. 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. These are strong measures. They are made humbly and out of respect. I am convinced they are the right thing to do. 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. Of course, we will communicate next steps in detail and begin appropriate consultations. 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. I want all journalism at News International to be beyond reproach. I insist that this organisation lives up to the standard of behaviour we expect of others. And, finally, I want you all to know that it is critical that the integrity of every journalist who has played fairly is restored.[/quote] It's closing. Wapping have only just confirmed it, according to the Guardian: [quote]4.39pm: Colin Myler will edit final edition and all the News of the World revenue will go to good causes, James Murdoch says in his statement. 4.38pm: James Murdoch is saying this Sunday's News of the World will be the final issue. 4.38pm: Sunday will be the last issue of the News of the World. 4.36pm: On the BSkyB deal, the prime minister's spokesman has just said: "It will take as long as it takes to look at the issues and take the decision." 4.31pm: Patrick Wintour, the Guardian's political editor, tells me the media inquiry will probably be able to start before the current phone-hacking investigations are over. 4.30pm: I just spoke to Tesco and they said they would not be expanding on their earlier statements confirming they would keep advertising with the News of the World, but if the NoW is dropping all advertising this Sunday that may get the supermarket chain off the hook. 4.28pm: The prime minister and Ed Miliband will meet next Wednesday to discuss the setting up of inquiries into the hacking scandal. The terms of reference and other details will be up for discussion, but the PM's official spokesman would not be drawn on whether they would be finalised before parliament breaks for the summer. "All these things are going to take as long as they take," he said. 4.26pm: News of the World will not be running any advertising this Sunday, reports claim. 4.17pm: Corrupt police officers face unprecedented jail terms if the extent of their alleged payment by the News of the World is proven, one of Britain's top lawyers has told the Press Association news agency. Following claims that officers received up to £30,000 for information, Michael Mansfield QC said sentences would dwarf terms served by other officers convicted of similar offences. 4.08pm: This is turning into a terrible day for the News of the World. So many advertisers are pulling out that the situation is switching to one of naming and shaming those who are staying put – as campaigns like the Political Scrapbook one show. The comments under this Facebook statement by Tesco, which is holding on to its advertising, must be worrying for the supermarket chain – typical commenters suggest they will now shop elsewhere and advise Tesco they have created "a complete PR disaster".[/quote] [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/07/news-of-the-world-phone-hacking-live-coverage[/url] Murdoch still seems to be the autocrat he is - obviously this isn't too much of a blowback for him; a serious self-inflicted wound he can easily take to avoid some more political ramifications. A pity, really, since I wanted to see this go all the way to the bottom (and that means more about him and his relationship with Cameron, Blair, and co...), and I would've like to see the Commons unshackled from their fear of Murdoch for once. Yesterday's extraordinary debate has been the only time mainstream politicians have criticized Murdoch in name and to his face in more than a decade. [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] Snippets of James Murdoch's press release are only just coming out... hopefully the BSkyB consultation will still be delayed... [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] It looks like the staff might be merging into a Sunday Sun. [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] 4:52, Wikipedia's just been edited...

Good.

Oh snap.

Well, there goes another childhood remnant.

Wasn't expecting this, to be honest.

I didn't think they'd actually shut it down, good move.

[QUOTE=smurfy;30965693]I didn't think they'd actually shut it down, good move.[/QUOTE] It doesn't mean anything to me, to be honest - what does it mean for Rebekah Brooks - Coulson - Mulcaire? It's a nice way to artificially end the outrage, yes, but it means nothing in the context of the greater News International shindig. I hope Ed Miliband does good on his statement and divorces Labour from NI forever. What Blair started should end permanently.

Next week we'll have a jazzy new tabloid rise from the ashes of News of the World with the same editors, reporters, photographers......

This is rather interesting. A big newspaper taken down.

Did not see that coming at all. I guess its to be expected after losing nearly all of their advert partners in the last 48 hours. [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] Its wrong that so many people are going to lose their jobs when the person who is pretty much responsible for it will continue to work (for the same company).

[QUOTE=MIPS;30965760]Next week we'll have a jazzy new tabloid rise from the ashes of News of the World with the same editors, reporters, photographers......[/QUOTE] The Sun on Sunday. Seems obvious, innit. There's always HuffPo UK [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] "News of the Sun"

Hopefully this sends out a message to other dirty tabloid newspapers that the sort of 'journalistic' practices that the News of the World got up to are completely unacceptable.

[QUOTE=HubmaN;30965728]It doesn't mean anything to me, to be honest - what does it mean for Rebekah Brooks - Coulson - Mulcaire? It's a nice way to artificially end the outrage, yes, but it means nothing in the context of the greater News International shindig. I hope Ed Miliband does good on his statement and divorces Labour from NI forever. What Blair started should end permanently.[/QUOTE] Rebekah Brooks still works for The Sun (at this moment anyway), shocking really.

[QUOTE=Darkus;30965772]This is rather interesting. A big [B]newspaper[/B] taken down.[/QUOTE] Debatable

Anyway, buy your ad-free commemorative last-editions on Sunday. (edit) It's going to a good cause, apparently.

Clever. Very clever. Closing down a newspaper that's going down the pan, to save yourself from any future investigation and saving your reputation. Not only that, it should weaken his UK market just enough to let him buy the rest of BSkyB! Murdoch is a sly bastard. It's win-win for him.

Down with that bastard Murdoch. This is the first of many things to go.

[QUOTE=MrEndangered;30966006] Murdoch is a sly bastard. It's win-win for him.[/QUOTE] Can't he just fall down some stairs someday soon?

[QUOTE=MrEndangered;30966006]Clever. Very clever. Closing down a newspaper that's going down the pan, to save yourself from any future investigation and saving your reputation. Not only that, it should weaken his UK market just enough to let him buy the rest of BSkyB! Murdoch is a sly bastard. It's win-win for him.[/QUOTE] Signed the Avaaz petition once in my name, and once as Jeremy Cunt. I heard the actual consultation's now backed up to September, although I think that means it'll get allowed silently.

[QUOTE=MrEndangered;30966006]Murdoch is a sly bastard. It's win-win for him.[/QUOTE] Unfortunately...

[QUOTE=HubmaN;30966002]Anyway, buy your ad-free commemorative last-editions on Sunday. Or don't. I'd like to see it scanned up, to be honest, I don't feel like giving Murdoch money anytime soon.[/QUOTE] "all the News of the World revenue will go to good causes, James Murdoch says in his statement."

What a shame

[QUOTE=smurfy;30966183]"all the News of the World revenue will go to good causes, James Murdoch says in his statement."[/QUOTE] Do they class "News International" as a good cause?

[QUOTE=smurfy;30966183]"all the News of the World revenue will go to good causes, James Murdoch says in his statement."[/QUOTE] Wonderful news, then - I take my comment back. The rag's more innocent (read: hilarious, to be honest) shenanigans do merit some remembrance. [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] NUJ's saying all 200 staff will be given the sack. No SunDay just yet. Hopefully they spill the beans on what's happening and save some of the dox from deah-by-shredder. [editline]7th July 2011[/editline] [url]http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/news-of-the-world-to-publish-final-edition-this-sunday/s2/a545049/[/url]

[quote]News International has refused to comment on rumours that The Sun could now become a seven-day-a-week operation. "What happens to The Sun is a matter for the future", a spokeswoman for News International said. The Sun, another News International tabloid, is currently published from Monday to Saturday.[/quote] In other words, the Sun will replace it, coming from the same company, not much of a loss from them

Guardian's reporting that Rebekah's offered her resignation twice; been rejected by NI twice. (now proven false.) Why are they so protective of her? Why toss Coulson and Mulcaire and the rest out? [quote]6.52pm: Rebekah Brooks "offered her resignation twice", but it was turned down both times, News of the World staff were reportedly told today. Journalist Neal Mann, a prolific news tweeter under the @fieldproducer moniker, posts: @fieldproducer Source tells me News Of The World journalists were told Rebecca Brooks offered her resignation twice and she was turned down both times @fieldproducer I'm told all journalists at the News of the World cheered when a staff member said they would accept her resignation #NOTW[/quote] This @fieldproducer guy is interesting: [quote]fieldproducer Neal Mann News of the World journalist tells me internet access is currently blocked at their site, says Twitter blocked since announcement #NOTW[/quote]

Can we just kill the entire Murdoch clan and do the world a favor?

[quote]@fieldproducer Neal Mann Woah RT @frasereC4 News International official went to data store in Chennai,India & asked if data could be deleted. Request was denied[/quote]

The editor until 2007 Andy Coulson has been arrested, police identified over 4,000 phone hacking targets, including celebrities and politicians (including Gordon Brown and the Royal Family), missing children and their parents, victims of the London bombings, and the families of those killed in Iraq.

One less shit stirring tabloid in the world.