This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/may/01/colin-myler-phone-hacking-report

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
NY Daily News editor Colin Myler misled MPs over hacking, report finds NY Daily News editor Colin Myler misled MPs over hacking, report finds
(about 4 hours later)
Shockwaves from the British newspaper hacking scandal have spread to the media business of the American entrepreneur Mort Zuckerman, after the editor-in-chief he appointed to head the New York Daily News only four months ago was accused of misleading the British parliament.Shockwaves from the British newspaper hacking scandal have spread to the media business of the American entrepreneur Mort Zuckerman, after the editor-in-chief he appointed to head the New York Daily News only four months ago was accused of misleading the British parliament.
The censuring of Colin Myler in the final report into phone hacking by the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee puts the spotlight on his new editorship of the Daily News, a prestigious position in American journalism.The censuring of Colin Myler in the final report into phone hacking by the House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee puts the spotlight on his new editorship of the Daily News, a prestigious position in American journalism.
Zuckerman, who has so far declined to answer questions about the appointment, is now put in the uncomfortable position of having given the top job in his media stable to a man accused of "answering questions falsely" to Britain's elected assembly. Zuckerman, who issued a short statement of support for Myler on Tuesday, is now put in the uncomfortable position of having given the top job in his media stable to a man accused of "answering questions falsely" to Britain's elected assembly.
Myler issued a statement after publication of the report in which he maintained he had given "accurate and consistent" evidence and said he expected to be cleared by the police investigation and the judicial inquiry led by Lord Justice Leveson. Myler maintained on Tuesday he had given "accurate and consistent" evidence and said he expected to be cleared by the police investigation and the judicial inquiry led by Lord Justice Leveson. Zuckerman said he "fully supports" Myler.
In their report, the MPs accuse Myler of giving false information when he said in 2009 that phone hacking was limited to a single "rogue" reporter. They also make clear at the end of their report that they are considering punishing him for contempt, along with other witnesses who they say misled them.In their report, the MPs accuse Myler of giving false information when he said in 2009 that phone hacking was limited to a single "rogue" reporter. They also make clear at the end of their report that they are considering punishing him for contempt, along with other witnesses who they say misled them.
"It is for the House to decide whether a contempt has been committed and, if so, what punishment should be imposed. We note that it makes no difference – in terms of misleading this committee – that evidence was not taken on oath. Witnesses are required to tell the truth to committees whether on oath or not," the report said."It is for the House to decide whether a contempt has been committed and, if so, what punishment should be imposed. We note that it makes no difference – in terms of misleading this committee – that evidence was not taken on oath. Witnesses are required to tell the truth to committees whether on oath or not," the report said.
Myler and Zuckerman might hope that the phone-hacking scandal, and Myler's role in it, can be geographically ringfenced as a UK issue. But the connections across the Atlantic are now starting to be made.Myler and Zuckerman might hope that the phone-hacking scandal, and Myler's role in it, can be geographically ringfenced as a UK issue. But the connections across the Atlantic are now starting to be made.
In a press conference following the launch of the report, a leading Conservative member of the committee, Louise Mensch, said: "I would point out Mr Colin Myler is editor of the New York Daily News and we have just found that he has misled a select committee of parliament."In a press conference following the launch of the report, a leading Conservative member of the committee, Louise Mensch, said: "I would point out Mr Colin Myler is editor of the New York Daily News and we have just found that he has misled a select committee of parliament."
Myler was the final editor of the News of the World when it was closed by Rupert Murdoch in July 2011 in the wake of the billowing phone-hacking scandal. Myler had in 2007 been sent from his job on Murdoch's New York Post to edit the News of the World after the hacking crisis first erupted, replacing Andy Coulson, who had resigned.Myler was the final editor of the News of the World when it was closed by Rupert Murdoch in July 2011 in the wake of the billowing phone-hacking scandal. Myler had in 2007 been sent from his job on Murdoch's New York Post to edit the News of the World after the hacking crisis first erupted, replacing Andy Coulson, who had resigned.
The report notes that both Rupert Murdoch and his son James, who was chairman of News Corporation's UK media holdings from 2007, said that they had had high expectations of Myler when they placed him in the News of the World. His role, as they put it, was to "find out what the hell was going on".The report notes that both Rupert Murdoch and his son James, who was chairman of News Corporation's UK media holdings from 2007, said that they had had high expectations of Myler when they placed him in the News of the World. His role, as they put it, was to "find out what the hell was going on".
James Murdoch said he was "an outside person who had a responsibility and remit to both clean up and investigate the issue, and move the company and the newspaper forward in a way that made sure that these things could not happen again".James Murdoch said he was "an outside person who had a responsibility and remit to both clean up and investigate the issue, and move the company and the newspaper forward in a way that made sure that these things could not happen again".
Les Hinton, James Murdoch's predecessor as chairman of News International, told the committee: "Colin had come in from New York, a very experienced editor with a clear remit to do two things: make sure that any previous misconduct was identified and acted upon, and [make sure] that the prospect of any future misconduct would be ruled out".Les Hinton, James Murdoch's predecessor as chairman of News International, told the committee: "Colin had come in from New York, a very experienced editor with a clear remit to do two things: make sure that any previous misconduct was identified and acted upon, and [make sure] that the prospect of any future misconduct would be ruled out".
But the culture select committee found that although Myler identifed what was going on, he ended up trying to contain the phone hacking crisis rather than sound the alarm.But the culture select committee found that although Myler identifed what was going on, he ended up trying to contain the phone hacking crisis rather than sound the alarm.
The MPs cite Hinton's later description of Myler, which they say they believe to be more accurate, that he "would just settle down the company and get people back on track".The MPs cite Hinton's later description of Myler, which they say they believe to be more accurate, that he "would just settle down the company and get people back on track".
"Within the corporate culture of News International, it seems clear to us that there were no incentives to convey unwelcome news, if problems could be contained," the report says."Within the corporate culture of News International, it seems clear to us that there were no incentives to convey unwelcome news, if problems could be contained," the report says.
The report notes that in evidence he presented to the committee, "Myler gave repeated assurances that there was no evidence that any further News of the World employee, beyond [the jailed royal reporter] Clive Goodman, had been involved in phone hacking. This was not true."The report notes that in evidence he presented to the committee, "Myler gave repeated assurances that there was no evidence that any further News of the World employee, beyond [the jailed royal reporter] Clive Goodman, had been involved in phone hacking. This was not true."
The committee adds that Myler would have known it to be untrue when he made these statements. In its conclusions, the MPs accuse Myler of misleading the committee "by answering questions falsely."The committee adds that Myler would have known it to be untrue when he made these statements. In its conclusions, the MPs accuse Myler of misleading the committee "by answering questions falsely."
In his statement, issued in New York, Myler said: "I stand by the evidence that I gave the committee. I have always sought to be accurate and consistent in what I have said.In his statement, issued in New York, Myler said: "I stand by the evidence that I gave the committee. I have always sought to be accurate and consistent in what I have said.
"The conclusions of the committee have, perhaps inevitably, been affected by the fragmented picture which has emerged from the various witnesses, and by the constraints within which the committee had to conduct its procedure."The conclusions of the committee have, perhaps inevitably, been affected by the fragmented picture which has emerged from the various witnesses, and by the constraints within which the committee had to conduct its procedure.
"These issues remain the subject of a police investigation and a judicial inquiry and I have every confidence that they will establish the truth in the fullness of time.""These issues remain the subject of a police investigation and a judicial inquiry and I have every confidence that they will establish the truth in the fullness of time."
A spokesman for the New York Daily News said: "Mort Zuckerman has made it very clear that he fully supports Colin Myler. He believes he is doing a great job as editor of the Daily News."