Murdoch Folds News Of The World Over Hacking

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1:33am UK, Friday July 08, 2011

This Sunday's News Of The World will be the last ever issue of the tabloid after News International chairman James Murdoch said "wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad".

The closing of the NOTW, which was launched in 1843, comes after a string of new allegations about the extent of phone hacking at the paper.

Mr Murdoch said the tabloid's final edition would not run any commercial adverts - with the advertising space to be donated to charities.

There was anger among many of the 200 staff members - much of it directed at Rebekah Brooks, NI's chief executive and former NOTW editor.

:: NOTW staff's shock and fury at closure.

She remains in her position - but NI has said Mrs Brooks did "discuss her resignation" with Mr Murdoch.

In further developments, The Guardian reports Andy Coulson - also a former editor at the NOTW - will be arrested over suspicions he knew about, or had direct involvement in, phone hacking.

Mrs Brooks leaves the offices of News International in London on July 7

A second former senior journalist at the Sunday newspaper will also be arrested in the next few days, the report added.

Mrs Brooks was apparently tearful as NOTW employees were told about the decision to close this afternoon.

Both she and Mr Murdoch held a meeting with senior executives on Thursday afternoon, then addressed staff together.

The paper's editor Colin Myler was also said to be absolutely furious and journalists in shock.

Follow the latest Sky News tweets on the News Of The World story.

Dan Wootton, NOTW showbiz editor, said he and colleagues were "devastated" but dismissed rumours staff were baying for blood.

"There is devastation and fear. It is grief for the newspaper, that is what it is. It's not anger, it's grief," he said.

"We were devastated. There were tears, and I know from a personal level we had huge sympathy for Rebekah Brooks delivering that news."

Mr Myler, who has been the paper's editor since January 2007, said it was 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," he said in a statement.

"Whatever price this staff are paying for past misdeeds, nothing should diminish everything this great newspaper has achieved."

Did Rupert Murdoch's son James, who now runs News International, really need to close the News Of The World? Many journalists will say the answer is an emphatic 'no'.

Sky chief political correspondent Jon Craig

Earlier, announcing the tabloid would fold after this weekend's edition, Mr Murdoch said it had been "sullied by behaviour that was wrong".

"Indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our company," he said in a statement.

"The News Of The World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself."

:: Read Mr Murdoch's full statement here.

The closing of the NOTW comes after a host of new allegations about how widespread phone hacking was at the tabloid.

A News Of The World front page from 1917

The BBC claimed the parents of murdered Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman could have been targets.

The Guardian reported murder victim Milly Dowler's phone was also accessed illegally.

Late on Thursday, Scotland Yard revealed up to 4,000 people may have been the target of phone hacking by Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator working for NOTW.

He and ex-NOTW royal editor Clive Goodman were jailed in January 2007 after the Old Bailey heard they plotted to hack into royal aides' telephone messages.

At the time, the newspaper and NI claimed phone hacking had been limited to "one rogue reporter".

Labour leader Ed Miliband: Rebekah Brooks Should Go

But in his statement, Mr Murdoch admitted this was incorrect.

"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," he said.

However, anger toward Mrs Brooks - who was at the helm of NOTW when Milly Dowler's phone was allegedly hacked in 2002 - appeared to be mounting.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said Mrs Brooks "should go [and] take responsibility".

"One of the people who's remaining in her job is the chief executive of News International, who was the editor at the time of the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone," he said.

Alleged Hacking Victim Lord Prescott On Closure

Former deputy prime minister and alleged phone hacking victim Lord Prescott told Sky's Jeff Randall: "From the beginning they've taken the view there's one rogue reporter.

"What he seems to be doing now is, he seems to be suggesting there's one rogue company, so you lop off the News Of The World."

He added: "I think cutting off the arm doesn't help it when you have a cancer in the body itself and indeed the head."

On Wednesday Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corporation - the parent company of NI - stood by Mrs Brooks.

His son also offered his backing, saying her leadership right now was "crucial".

"I am satisfied that Rebekah [and] her leadership of this business and her standard of ethics and her standard of conduct throughout her career are very good," James Murdoch said.

Amid the folding of NOTW, there was speculation The Sun would become a seven-day operation - but NI refused to confirm the rumours.

But Sky News has learned thesunonsunday.co.uk was registered as a domain name on July 5 by a company called Media Spring.

More on the News Of The World and phone hacking:

:: Shock reactions over NOTW folding.

:: What is the value of the News Of The World?

:: NOTW staff's shock and fury at closure.

:: Public response 'delays' News Corp decision.

:: NOTW scandal: Sheridan evidence probed.

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