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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| James Murdoch quits News International | James Murdoch quits News International |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| James Murdoch has stepped down as executive chairman of News International, the UK newspaper business that owns the Sun and the Times titles. | James Murdoch has stepped down as executive chairman of News International, the UK newspaper business that owns the Sun and the Times titles. |
| The newspaper publisher has been tainted by phone-hacking allegations. | The newspaper publisher has been tainted by phone-hacking allegations. |
| The scandal led the company to close its News of the World title in July last year. | The scandal led the company to close its News of the World title in July last year. |
| Mr Murdoch will remain as deputy chief operating officer of parent group News Corporation, run by his father Rupert. | Mr Murdoch will remain as deputy chief operating officer of parent group News Corporation, run by his father Rupert. |
| 'Bigger picture' | 'Bigger picture' |
| James Murdoch, 39, said: "I deeply appreciate the dedication of my many talented colleagues at News International who work tirelessly to inform the public." | James Murdoch, 39, said: "I deeply appreciate the dedication of my many talented colleagues at News International who work tirelessly to inform the public." |
| He added that the launch of a new Sunday edition of the Sun and "new business practices" put the company in a "strong position" for the future. | He added that the launch of a new Sunday edition of the Sun and "new business practices" put the company in a "strong position" for the future. |
| Last year, James Murdoch twice appeared before the UK Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee to answer questions as part of its inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal. | Last year, James Murdoch twice appeared before the UK Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee to answer questions as part of its inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal. |
| Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, joined his son at one of the hearings. | Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, joined his son at one of the hearings. |
| Paul Connew, a former News of the World deputy editor, said he was not surprised that James Murdoch had stood down. | Paul Connew, a former News of the World deputy editor, said he was not surprised that James Murdoch had stood down. |
| "I think you've got to look at the bigger picture here," said Mr Connew. | "I think you've got to look at the bigger picture here," said Mr Connew. |
| "Quite clearly there's going to be criticism of James Murdoch in the culture and media select committee report, which presumably will be coming out in the not too distant future, and I think essentially he's been moved out of the firing line." | "Quite clearly there's going to be criticism of James Murdoch in the culture and media select committee report, which presumably will be coming out in the not too distant future, and I think essentially he's been moved out of the firing line." |
| 'Lasting contributions' | 'Lasting contributions' |
| James Murdoch's departure also comes as the separate Leveson Inquiry continues to investigate the culture, practices and ethics of the British press as a result of the phone-hacking allegations. | James Murdoch's departure also comes as the separate Leveson Inquiry continues to investigate the culture, practices and ethics of the British press as a result of the phone-hacking allegations. |
| This is continuing to throw a spotlight on activities at both the News of the World and the Sun. | |
| Earlier this week, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers told the inquiry that evidence suggested there was a "culture of illegal payments" at the Sun. | |
| Pulled out of the firing line to concentrate on pay TV in other parts of the Murdoch area? | Pulled out of the firing line to concentrate on pay TV in other parts of the Murdoch area? |
| Or fall guy for the series of increasingly damaging revelations about News International's past conduct? | Or fall guy for the series of increasingly damaging revelations about News International's past conduct? |
| The interpretations of James Murdoch's departure from the chairmanship of News International will range between those poles. | The interpretations of James Murdoch's departure from the chairmanship of News International will range between those poles. |
| Supporters of James Murdoch will argue that he has always been more interested in television than newspapers and that his move to New York is a natural progression. | Supporters of James Murdoch will argue that he has always been more interested in television than newspapers and that his move to New York is a natural progression. |
| But critics will say that the timing of his departure, with the Murdoch empire on the back foot in the UK, is no coincidence. | But critics will say that the timing of his departure, with the Murdoch empire on the back foot in the UK, is no coincidence. |
| The ongoing saga of the Murdoch family and who succeeds Rupert is far from over. | The ongoing saga of the Murdoch family and who succeeds Rupert is far from over. |
| BBC business editor Robert Peston said he had been told by a senior News Corporation executive that the company's UK newspaper business "did not need more than one Murdoch in charge". | BBC business editor Robert Peston said he had been told by a senior News Corporation executive that the company's UK newspaper business "did not need more than one Murdoch in charge". |
| "What he meant is that Rupert Murdoch, with the launch of the Sun on Sunday, is showing that he is back overseeing the group's British newspapers," said our business editor. | "What he meant is that Rupert Murdoch, with the launch of the Sun on Sunday, is showing that he is back overseeing the group's British newspapers," said our business editor. |
| "So James Murdoch can concentrate on what he is said to enjoy most, which is running News Corporation's television interests outside the US." | "So James Murdoch can concentrate on what he is said to enjoy most, which is running News Corporation's television interests outside the US." |
| In a statement, Rupert Murdoch said: "We are all grateful for James' leadership at News International and across Europe and Asia, where he has made lasting contributions to the group's strategy in paid digital content and its efforts to improve and enhance governance programs." | In a statement, Rupert Murdoch said: "We are all grateful for James' leadership at News International and across Europe and Asia, where he has made lasting contributions to the group's strategy in paid digital content and its efforts to improve and enhance governance programs." |
| He added that James would now "continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on pay-TV businesses and broader international operations". | He added that James would now "continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on pay-TV businesses and broader international operations". |
| James Murdoch also remains chairman at satellite broadcaster BSkyB, of which News Corporation owns 39%. | James Murdoch also remains chairman at satellite broadcaster BSkyB, of which News Corporation owns 39%. |