Murdoch takes out ads to say he's sorry
Source: Agencies |
July 16, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RUPERT Murdoch is taking out full-page ads in Britain's national newspapers to apologize for the hurt caused by "serious wrongdoing" by journalists at his now-defunct News of the World tabloid.
The gesture was announced on the day he accepted the resignation of Rebekah Brooks, his loyal lieutenant and now former chief executive of his British newspapers.
Signed by the media mogul, the ads say News International is "deeply sorry for the hurt" caused to phone hacking victims.
It adds: "We regret not acting faster to sort things out."
The ads will run today in the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Sun and The Times. Further ads will run tomorrow and on Monday.
Resignation
Murdoch had defended 43-year-old Brooks in the face of demands from British politicians that she step down, and had previously refused to accept her resignation. He made an abrupt switch, however, as his News Corp company struggled to contain a crisis that is threatening his global media empire.
Brooks was editor of the News of the World between 2000 and 2003. The paper's employees allegedly hacked into the phone of 13-year-old murder victim Milly Dowler while police were searching for her in 2002.
That raised allegations of interfering in a police investigation and the claims provoked outrage far beyond previous revelations of snooping on celebrities, politicians and top athletes. It also knocked billions off the value of News Corp.
In quick succession, Murdoch closed the 168-year-old News of the World and abandoned his multibillion-pound attempt to take full control of broadcaster BSkyB, while Prime Minister David Cameron appointed a judge to conduct a sweeping inquiry into criminal activity at the paper and in the media.
Brooks said the debate over her position as CEO of News International was now too much of a distraction for parent company News Corp.
The news of her resignation was greeted with relief by British politicians.
"It is right that Rebekah Brooks has finally taken responsibility for the terrible events that happened on her watch, like the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone," said Labour Party leader Ed Miliband. "No one in this country should exercise power without responsibility."
Steve Field, a spokesman for Cameron, said it was "the right decision."
Police have arrested seven people in their phone hacking investigation, and two others in a parallel investigation of alleged bribery of police officers.
In the United States, meanwhile, the FBI opened an investigation into claims that News Corp journalists sought to hack into the phones of September 11 victims.
The gesture was announced on the day he accepted the resignation of Rebekah Brooks, his loyal lieutenant and now former chief executive of his British newspapers.
Signed by the media mogul, the ads say News International is "deeply sorry for the hurt" caused to phone hacking victims.
It adds: "We regret not acting faster to sort things out."
The ads will run today in the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Sun and The Times. Further ads will run tomorrow and on Monday.
Resignation
Murdoch had defended 43-year-old Brooks in the face of demands from British politicians that she step down, and had previously refused to accept her resignation. He made an abrupt switch, however, as his News Corp company struggled to contain a crisis that is threatening his global media empire.
Brooks was editor of the News of the World between 2000 and 2003. The paper's employees allegedly hacked into the phone of 13-year-old murder victim Milly Dowler while police were searching for her in 2002.
That raised allegations of interfering in a police investigation and the claims provoked outrage far beyond previous revelations of snooping on celebrities, politicians and top athletes. It also knocked billions off the value of News Corp.
In quick succession, Murdoch closed the 168-year-old News of the World and abandoned his multibillion-pound attempt to take full control of broadcaster BSkyB, while Prime Minister David Cameron appointed a judge to conduct a sweeping inquiry into criminal activity at the paper and in the media.
Brooks said the debate over her position as CEO of News International was now too much of a distraction for parent company News Corp.
The news of her resignation was greeted with relief by British politicians.
"It is right that Rebekah Brooks has finally taken responsibility for the terrible events that happened on her watch, like the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone," said Labour Party leader Ed Miliband. "No one in this country should exercise power without responsibility."
Steve Field, a spokesman for Cameron, said it was "the right decision."
Police have arrested seven people in their phone hacking investigation, and two others in a parallel investigation of alleged bribery of police officers.
In the United States, meanwhile, the FBI opened an investigation into claims that News Corp journalists sought to hack into the phones of September 11 victims.
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