News Of The World to close!

[flatface]

This Sunday's edition will be the last!


News International announces that this Sundays edition of the News of the World will be the last edition of the 168-year-old newspaper.

Making the announcement, James Murdoch, News Corporation’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, 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.”

He continued: “The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself.”

The statement concluded: “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.”

The newspaper has been hit by a series of revelations in recent days about the phone hacking of Milly Dowler, 7/7 victims and the relatives of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

http://www.channel4.com/news/news-of-the-world-to-close

[orientalframe?]

I just heard this a couple of minute ago, but knowing Murdoch being rather sly I think he has other tricks up his sleeves. :P

[flatface]

It's basically going to be re branded apparently. New name, same people etc

According to Twitter, The Sun is now going to be a 7 day a week paper.

[Mathew]

This is interesting, and cleverly done. Murdoch is probably one of the best businessmen in the past 50 years, so he knows what he's doing.

On one hand, it's a bit of a shame because the News of the World has been going for 168 years and it's pretty much a newspaper that's known by everyone. I'm sure everyone's bought it and it's just a household name. Even journalists will buy this paper to get the latest gossip to report in their own publications; this is actually quite big news.

Although, I'd suggest it's quite obvious why it's been done. Yes, it gets rid of the allegations as of late; but it will probably also allow News Corporation to buy the rest of BSkyB, which will only allow Murdoch to build his empire (which wouldn't have been possible beforehand due to having too much control of the news). He's killing two birds with one stone pretty much, and it's very clever. We've also seen how new allegations are coming in on a daily basis, so it wouldn't surprise me if there's a lot more they're trying to hide too! :P

I was about to suggest there would be a load of jobs being lost, but if Josh is right with it being re-branded then that's interesting and could change everything. Time will tell, but I'll be following this one closely. :D

[Imosae]

This is totally outrageous but then again it had to be done in some cases, I mean News of the World is the biggest newspaper or tabloid rather has to be the most familar and popular newspaper in the United Kingdom. However there is also some other rumours going around on the internet as well saying that there is going to be a Sunday Sun or something which is also i'd like to see and what other people would make of this if that did ever happen.

But then again on the BBC News Channel the Newscaster that is Gavin Esler has also announced that addresses such as http://www.thesunonsunday.com (http://www.thesunonsunday.com/) and http://www.thesundayonsunday.co.uk (http://www.thesundayonsunday.co.uk/) was also registered nearly two days ago, (http://www.whois.net/whois/thesunonsunday.com) which is clearly written as ''Registered on 5th July by 'Internet Protect Limited' which really does make other people think as well.

[Shar]

Murdoch's up to something.
BE AFRAID BE VERY AFRAID.

[DPS]

Murdoch will be one of them people that doesnt die... lol he will have a plan to live forever.

[Inseriousity.]

Murdoch will be one of them people that doesnt die... lol he will have a plan to live forever.

might have a few horcruxes tucked away :P lolol

Very clever move, moving the staff over to another newspaper while looking like they're taking action against it. Despite that, it's unfair to tar every journalist with the same brush. I buy the news of the world and their investigative journalism/undercover work is quite good. It's just a shame that everyone will wonder about the method in which the story was obtained so it's probably for the best to have a rebrand and start afresh. I do hope, however, that ultimately this has a negative effect on Murdoch's BSkyB bid, no individual or group should have too much control over the mass media.

[dbgtz]

Power! Pop!
Read about the things that happen throughout the world
Don't believe in everything you see or hear
The neighbours talk day in day out about the goings on
They tell us what they want, they don't give an inch
Look at the pictures taken by the camera - they cannot lie
The truth is in what you see not what you read
Little men tapping things out - points of view
Remember their views are not the gospel truth
Each morning our piece of the world comes through the door
More often it's just a comic, not much more
Don't take it too serious - not many do
Read between the lines and you'll find the truth
Don't believe it all - a' find out for yourself
Check before you spread
News of the world, news of the world
Never doubt, never ask
Never moan, never search
Never find, never know
The news of the world, news of the world
Read all about it, read all about it - news of the world

Anyway I guess it's for the best.

[Aaron]

Oooh, wasn't expecting that.

[Ajthedragon]

I think the news is sad given it's good (up until recently) history in Britain exposing naughty celebrity's and how the actions of so few have now cost up to 200 jobs, many of whom actually did the deeds have actually left the organisation. Furthermore its an iconic brand that has just always been there.

Generally it used to entertain me as a reader with all it's crap and gossip mixed in with some serious current affairs. And of course it was the cheapest!

Although all things taken into account, I feel it was the right decision as the company did wrong and the image has just been crushed and I'm sure many readers would have boycotted the paper anyway. And of course Murdoch also wants BSkyB so he didn't have much of a choice!

[Mathew]

It could have quite easily restored it's image. Let's be honest, the advertising boycott won't last forever before the companies realise they NEED advertising. The general public? Well.... it has a circulation of 2.8 million, so even if 800,000 people stop buying it, it's still a hefty amount! That paper could probably be free and make a profit from advertising anyway.

But yeah, I do suppose it came at the right time for Murdoch considering he's currently trying to acquire the rest of BSkyB. Might as well just get it all sorted out.

[Fez]

This doesn't change anything.

The journalists under the News of the World will lose their jobs, who are mostly decent, honest folk who work dishonestly, and Murdoch will likely profit morally from the whole "proceeds go to charity". The deal with BSkyB will go ahead and then Murdoch will have control over MOST of the British media and thus the public because that is how democracy works.

Individuals under News of the World are guilty as charged, but not EVERYONE who worked there revelled in the fact they pushed Murdoch agenda down the throats of the British public and I will be willing to bet that the vast majority of them were just trapped in the world of this little piece of journalism recently caught within conspiracy and corruption. Those responsible need to be held more accountable than an entire organization of people.

Murdoch will win, it is inevitable.

[Inseriousity.]

They won't lose their jobs, most of them will end up at the new one they're likely to replace it with.

[-:Undertaker:-]

that ultimately this has a negative effect on Murdoch's BSkyB bid, no individual or group should have too much control over the mass media.

In a way i'm in agreement, however people usually leave out the fact that the biggest monopoly in our media system is the BBC itself and not the Murdoch Empire which only owns two or three papers and BSkyB. I'm no big fan of Murdoch anyway seeing we he helped both Labour and the Conservative and Unionist Party get into office over the past decade instead of supporting a genuine right-wing party. The media should be unregulated including buyouts, if people do not wish to read certain views then they do not have to (as sales figures show that right-wing papers vastly outsell those on the left). At the same time however, all monopolies should be abolished, and monopolies only exist because of government.

On the News of the World shutting down, its rather sad considering they've had a few stings ver time even if they're not to my taste as well as it being a historic paper (over 160 years old) - a clever move by Murdoch however, selling the brand name would have meant he'd have lost the bulk of his readership whilst keeping the brand name would have meant a dented readership with other readers going elsewhere - by closing and reopening under another name, he'll be able to retain the bulk of his readership.

[Mathew]

In a way i'm in agreement, however people usually leave out the fact that the biggest monopoly in our media system is the BBC itself and not the Murdoch Empire which only owns two or three papers and BSkyB.
The BBC is supposedly neutral; is that so?


I'm no big fan of Murdoch anyway seeing we he helped both Labour and the Conservative and Unionist Party get into office over the past decade instead of supporting a genuine right-wing party.
You hate Murdoch because he doesn't support "a genuine right-wing party", i.e. UKIP? Do you hate the majority of the population due to their political views :rolleyes:?


The media should be unregulated including buyouts, if people do not wish to read certain views then they do not have to (as sales figures show that right-wing papers vastly outsell those on the left). At the same time however, all monopolies should be abolished, and monopolies only exist because of government.
Yeah, good luck with that one. The economy simply wouldn't tick without a monopoly. Even if people cared about what view they read they did, then they'd buy something like the Independent. Newspapers are indepdent companies and you're suggesting monopolies should be abolished, which is quite odd considering you preach about the freedom of saying what you like, how you like. The newspapers are doing exactly that.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The BBC is supposedly neutral; is that so?

Nope.


You hate Murdoch because he doesn't support "a genuine right-wing party", i.e. UKIP? Do you hate the majority of the population due to their political views :rolleyes:?

Who said hate?


Yeah, good luck with that one. The economy simply wouldn't tick without a monopoly. Even if people cared about what view they read they did, then they'd buy something like the Independent. Newspapers are indepdent companies and you're suggesting monopolies should be abolished, which is quite odd considering you preach about the freedom of saying what you like, how you like. The newspapers are doing exactly that.

I didn't say by force, most monopolies are held in place by government itself (ie. government regulations making it too expensive to set up a rival newspaper to challenge the Murdoch press). Also, an economy with monopoly is far better - we excel through competition.

[Misawa]

Have a friend who worked for the NOTW and he told me that he and colleagues think that has been in prep for months. The NOTW found an easy way to let everyone go without a chance of facing legal action.

[Catzsy]

Have a friend who worked for the NOTW and he told me that he and colleagues think that has been in prep for months. The NOTW found an easy way to let everyone go without a chance of facing legal action.

Agreed and it will be back on the shelves as Sun on Sunday. Cynical mood. Also theories that it is a way of get rid of the computers etc before a Judge is appointed for the inquiry. Don't like the man but he is very smart and business savvy.

[Robi]

It's all for the best, i mean what do they expect after what they did! I heard the police may be involved in the hacking process etc. :/

[flatface]

Dan Wootton (NOTW showbiz editor) has confirmed that 5 million papers have been printed for tomorrow

Oh and here's a picture of all the NOTW staff taken today

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/341890857.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1310231522&Signature=xtF9Tw95cfslsYORc6EdGOBE%2Feg%3D

[Mathew]

Dan Wootton (NOTW showbiz editor) has confirmed that 5 million papers have been printed for tomorrow

Oh and here's a picture of all the NOTW staff taken today

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/341890857.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1310231522&Signature=xtF9Tw95cfslsYORc6EdGOBE%2Feg%3D
It's quite odd how much NOTW's fortunes have changed overnight. If they opted to stay open, readers may have boycotted them and tomorrow's paper may have been the lowest circulation it's ever seen. Although now it's the last, it's expected that they will sell 50% more due to people buying it for keepsakes, etc.

Such a good photograph of them all, I feel sorry for them... unless they're staying at The Sun, obviously! :P

[Misawa]

Heh, can spot my mate Robbie Collin - right at the back in the middle. Lanky sod.

[Mathew]

Misawa can you get me in for work experience with him pleaseeeee?! :P

[wiffee1000]

Im actually pretty glad. I mean,wouldnt you be annoyed if you found out youre,or a relative-in-needs phone has or had been hacked, just for the benefit of the newspaper. Murdoch is up to Something. o.O

[flatface]

Final touches being made to the front page before it's sent to printing

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/342116700.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1310240898&Signature=HcaugCm2I%2B%2FVUmz3g1UtFOq85p4%3D

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/342119389.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1310241095&Signature=ed4B6G6bw%2B2%2B5iVE0CDLJ5OBx%2F0%3D

The last ever front page NOTW headline will read "Thank You and Goodbye"

[Mathew]

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg735/scaled.php?tn=0&server=735&filename=76jt.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

[GommeInc]

The last ever front page NOTW headline will read "Thank You and Goodbye"
Exactly what Gordon Brown said if I remember correctly :P Any connection by any chance?

[-:Undertaker:-]

I liked this page (see below), rather sad to see such an historic paper go with a bang and if you look into its history its uncovered many stings (the Profumo affair, Cricket corruption) so in my mind its provided a good service in general over its history even if its not my kind of paper.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/07/09/article-2012886-0CF0E1EA00000578-998_634x780.jpg


In my view its all rather a storm in a teacup over the 'hacking', the people who had their phones hacked left their default number as '1111' so its rather similar to leaving the keys in your front door and then being suprised somebody has robbed you, both sides were in the wrong. As for the politicians being 'hacked' they have no sympathy from me because in actual fact considering the amount of civil liberties they've given away of mine over the last decade; what goes around comes around guys.

David David wrote a nice tribute in the Mail today here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2013067/News-World-Dont-forget-exposed-rival-paper--state-organ.html).

[Technologic]

It was a piece of tat anyway, good riddance

[alexxxxx]

I liked this page (see below), rather sad to see such an historic paper go with a bang and if you look into its history its uncovered many stings (the Profumo affair, Cricket corruption) so in my mind its provided a good service in general over its history even if its not my kind of paper.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/07/09/article-2012886-0CF0E1EA00000578-998_634x780.jpg


In my view its all rather a storm in a teacup over the 'hacking', the people who had their phones hacked left their default number as '1111' so its rather similar to leaving the keys in your front door and then being suprised somebody has robbed you, both sides were in the wrong. As for the politicians being 'hacked' they have no sympathy from me because in actual fact considering the amount of civil liberties they've given away of mine over the last decade; what goes around comes around guys.

David David wrote a nice tribute in the Mail today here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2013067/News-World-Dont-forget-exposed-rival-paper--state-organ.html).



could not agree less. it was systematic breaking of the law. people are not in the wrong if they leave their passwords as easy to remember.. just like it isn't my fault if someone steals my TV if i left my door open. You, of all people, like to point out that people make their own decisions and these people broke the law which most people believe in. It's also claimed that some emails have been accessed too.


http://youtu.be/tSWHzGRksvo

The ex-editor shows no remorse and is exactly what is wrong.

When they deleted milly dowler's messages, making detectives thinking she might be still alive, that was dreadful and really very low. It's alleged that NI have paid people in the police too. Bribery and corruption is part of this scandal too.

[Misawa]

The scandal is an excuse to shut down the brand. It's been in the pipeline for a long, long time. You don't close an entire brand - moreso the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper - because of a scandal like that.

[Spuds]

Kiss bye bye to BskyB

http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/343103725.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJF3XCCKACR3QDMOA&Expires=1310339265&Signature=VJIX0TA0lXH8sxpvgLL%2FqV7SC4Y%3D

[wixard]

i had to remove my summer work for news of the world off of my cv cos of this
waaa

[Areva]

Murdoch is a vendictive man, whom controls most of the Media in this country; allowing him to have influence of our Political views and theories about the world.

It is deeply sad the News of the World is closing down, but on the other hand. Journalism needs to be above bored and do not support how the media has portrayed itself.

Besides why buy a tabloid? If I'm going to read a load of bogus exaggerated news, I might as well read the Metro.

I do personally hope, Murdoch does not get BSKYB and I do hope his next Sunday paper fail's. Purely on the grounds that the man is Evil, plain Evil I tell ya...

[Misawa]

He withdrew the BSkyB bid.

[xxMATTGxx]

He withdrew the BSkyB bid.

Where does it say that?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Gordon Brown, the man who's government tried to introduce ID cards among other things is now complaining about privacy.. it beggars belief.


could not agree less. it was systematic breaking of the law. people are not in the wrong if they leave their passwords as easy to remember.. just like it isn't my fault if someone steals my TV if i left my door open. You, of all people, like to point out that people make their own decisions and these people broke the law which most people believe in. It's also claimed that some emails have been accessed too.

I agree, but I disagree with the term 'hacking' on some of this where its made out that the News of the World used programmes etc to hack into phones, in many cases they simply took advantage of many people (such as the politicians) who should know better. At the end of the day, while NoTW is guilty as hell, the victims of this left themselves open of which they can only blame their own stupidity for.



http://youtu.be/tSWHzGRksvo

The ex-editor shows no remorse and is exactly what is wrong.

However, the likes of Grant, Steven Coogan and the politicians are using this as an attempt to usher in regulation of the media which is what they want. As Jon Gaunt said on Question Time, the likes of Mr Grant can't complain as they should keep their tackle in their trousers before they open their big mouths calling for regulation of the media. http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2011/07/politicians-want-fleet-street-to-be-tamed-you-need-to-ask-why.html


When they deleted milly dowler's messages, making detectives thinking she might be still alive, that was dreadful and really very low. It's alleged that NI have paid people in the police too. Bribery and corruption is part of this scandal too.

I don't disagree.

[Jordy]

The scandal is an excuse to shut down the brand. It's been in the pipeline for a long, long time. You don't close an entire brand - moreso the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper - because of a scandal like that.Yes you do, how else could it recover? It had no advertisers anymore and the readership would be next to nothing, a newspapers reputation is incredibly difficult to fix. The Sun is still unpopular in Liverpool due to the Hillsborough disaster apparently and that happened in the 80s; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster#The_Sun_newspaper

It may well have been in the pipeline to shut it down but that's purely coincidental, the paper had no economic future what-so-ever and would do nothing but generate large losses for News International week after week.

[Misawa]

Yes you do, how else could it recover? It had no advertisers anymore and the readership would be next to nothing, a newspapers reputation is incredibly difficult to fix. The Sun is still unpopular in Liverpool due to the Hillsborough disaster apparently and that happened in the 80s; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough_disaster#The_Sun_newspaper

It may well have been in the pipeline to shut it down but that's purely coincidental, the paper had no economic future what-so-ever and would do nothing but generate large losses for News International week after week.

That's funny, the News of the World was the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper with a readership of almost 3 million. The final edition sold over 4 million copies.

It was an excuse to shut the brand down - which is also the verdict given by my former NOTW staff member friend and most of his colleagues. Readership would barely have been affected. Like all scandals and hot topics, they blow over in time. No one has put much thought into The Sun and News of the World being seperate brands in over a decade because they were almost identical. Those who are that bothered by what's happened would also stop buying The Sun.

[Mathew]

Gordon Brown and a police officer are moaning about their phones now. Anyone else wanna jump on the bandwagon?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Gordon Brown and a police officer are moaning about their phones now. Anyone else wanna jump on the bandwagon?

Dave already has!

[Jordy]

That's funny, the News of the World was the biggest-selling Sunday newspaper with a readership of almost 3 million. The final edition sold over 4 million copies.

It was an excuse to shut the brand down - which is also the verdict given by my former NOTW staff member friend and most of his colleagues. Readership would barely have been affected. Like all scandals and hot topics, they blow over in time. No one has put much thought into The Sun and News of the World being seperate brands in over a decade because they were almost identical. Those who are that bothered by what's happened would also stop buying The Sun.The final edition sold over 4 million copies because it was exactly that, the final edition. All the money went to charity and it was a special edition, that's why so many people bought it. I've no doubt at all if it was a standard edition of the News of the World then readership would of been down enormously and you'd be a fool to think it wouldn't be. And it's not all about readership anyway, it had no advertisers left so the paper just wasn't economical. For someone who's involved in the media you seem to know **** all about it.

It was an excuse to shut it down yes but it was also the only option as the paper was not financially viable to publish any more and wouldn't be for many years to come, this is a far greater scandal than others they've been implicated in and they wouldn't just bounce back easily. News of the World focuses on scandal far more than The Sun which is more just the daily news or reporting of ongoing scandals rather breaking them. They had many different journalists for instance.

[xxMATTGxx]

"News Corporation has withdrawn its bid for BSkyB, the BBC's Business Editor Robert Peston says"