The Periscope Post | 8 July 2011
Rupert Murdoch’s sensational decision to shutter The News of the World, the best-selling English-language newspaper in the world, over the escalating phone hacking scandal came as a complete shock to almost all, including the newspaper’s 200 staffers. Explanations for Murdoch’s dramatic action to turn off the lights at the 168-year-old Sunday tabloid range from suggestions that News Corporation is spiralling out of control to verdicts that it is all part of the media mogul’s masterplan. The shuttering is highly unlikely to bring to an end the furore over the newspaper’s phone hacking of the families of crime victims and dead soldiers, which has shocked and outraged the British public. News International is under investigation for alleged telephone hacking and illegal payments to police officers and Scotland Yard has 50 officers on the case. This morning, Labour leader Ed Miliband again demanded a public inquiry into the culture and regulation of the press. Later today, Andy Coulson, former editor of The News of the World and David Cameron’s former director of communications, is expected to be arrested.
UPDATE 1-Murdoch rivals jump, BSkyB wavers as paper shut
Suzie-Que's Truth and Justice Blog 