News International have dramatically announced the closure of The News of the World.
Sunday’s edition will be the last ever of the newspaper which sells more than 300,000 copies of it’s Scottish edition.
A rumbling controversy over phone hacking and tapping has surrounded the paper for over a year but has escalated spectacularly this week putting actions from Andy Gray and Ryan Giggs in the shade.
In the course of the week there have been claims that the paper hacked the mobile phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, the phones of family involved in the 7/7 London bombings and also the victims of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A number of major advertisers had decided to withdraw advertising from this week’s paper which will have had a major bearing on the decision to close the title- without advertising newspapers cannot exist.
Announcing the closure to staff James Murdoch, son of Rupert, 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Former Celts Davie Provan and Craig Burley are currently columnists with the News of the World amongst other media commitments.
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Govan in shock, flags fly at half mast, the News Of The Huns shuts down. What a shame, it should have happened years ago.
Will miss the honest and frank davie provan column!
Couldn’t give a flying f**k about that clown burley tho!
The vacuum left behind will be filled by another incarnation of the same old format. Murdoch acting swiftly in order to protect his bigger money-makers.
The NoTW are no friends of Celtic. There won’t be many tears shed for their demise.
1 down and a shed load to go
closing down before the law suites start flying in!!!!
can we not somehow link the daily ranger and the sHUN to this as well!!!!!!
Good, hope it doesn’t prevent those scumbags involved facing the full force of the law, plus it can no longer run as a Rangers apologist outlet anymore, i can see why NOTW and Rangers FC got on so well all these years.
I am just delighted that the decision was taken purely on moral grounds….and had nothing to do with the fact that their advertising sources have deserted them in their droves….
well done the Murdochs….FUDS….!!
i can’t understand why anyone would read never mind buy trash like the notw the sun or indeed the rest of the garbage that call themselves newspapers
Closing the NOTW is nothing more than a smoke screen the Sunday Sun is already on the cards I am sure that when all is said and done it will emerge that Murdoch has done this before.
I’ve to state, Lets hope those guys end up getting precisely what they deserve, some people’s lives are getting demolished