Rupert Murdoch has today made a welcomed announcement to staff at The Sun offices. Murdoch, Head of the News Corporation made the announcement during talks at the London, Wapping offices of News International. Murdoch plans to launch 'The Sun on Sunday', "very soon", a new weekend tabloid that will fill the gap left by the closure of the News of the World last year due to impropriety."We will build on the Sun's proud heritage by launching the Sun on Sunday very soon."
"Our duty is to expand one of the world's most widely read newspapers and reach even more people than ever before. Having a winning paper is the best answer to our critics."
He has lifted all staff suspensions pending current police inquiries. This is his way of showing support for the ten senior staff who were arrested since November charged in connection with alleged corrupt payments to public officials.
"We are doing everything we can to assist those who were arrested - all suspensions are hereby lifted until or whether charged and they are welcome to return to work."
"News Corporation will cover their legal expenses. Everyone is innocent unless proven otherwise."
Murdoch plans to show his "unwavering support" for his staff by staying in London for the following several weeks. He also praised them when talking of the "superb work" Sun journalists do, adding "the Sun is a part of me". However he did recognise the current situation saying "illegal activities simply cannot and will not be tolerated" admitting the recent arrests have been a "source of great pain".
"I remain grateful for your superb work and for the stories you uncover to inform and protect the public. None more so than over the last three weeks."
"Illegal activities simply cannot and will not be tolerated - at any of our publications. Our board of directors, our management team and I take these issues very seriously."
Steve Hewlett, media commentator, has revealed Murdoch's relationship with The Sun newspaper to be an emotional one but points out he is a businessman first. Murdoch had no option but to be seen to "clean house" a move which angered some journalists as he appeared to be putting traditional loyalties at risk.
"They are creating wider concerns about handing information about journalists' contacts to police just because an internal committee thinks there may have been a payment that was illegitimate or unlawful to a public official."
Article by Michelle
Photo by David Shankbone via Wikipedia.
