Murdoch denies responsiblity for scandal
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China.org.cn, Xinhua, July 20, 2011
Rupert Murdoch on Tuesday apologized for the phone-hacking by the now-closed News of the World (NoW) tabloid, but denied responsibilities for the scandal saying the "people he trusted or perhaps those they trusted" were to blame.
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BSkyB Chairman James Murdoch, News Corp Chief Executive and Chairman Rupert Murdoch (R) appear before a parliamentary committee on phone hacking at Portcullis House in London July 19, 2011. |
"This is the most humble day of my life," said Murdoch in a hearing with his son James Murdoch held by the culture, media and sport committee of British House of Commons.
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Full coverage: UK news scandal |
However, asked who should bear the blame, the 80-year-old media baron said "the people he trusted or perhaps those they trusted" are responsible.
He emphasized that the News of the World was "just one percent" of his entire worldwide business and that he employed people he trusted to run these divisions.
News of the World, once the most popular weekly newspaper in Britain for years, was accused of hacking into phones of celebrities, politicians and other journalists.
The scandal reached a boiling point when the paper was found to have hacked into the phone of 13-year-old murder victim Milly Dowler, sparking widespread public furore.
Shortly after the Murdochs' three-hour hearing ended came the session for Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of Murdoch's News Corp's British arm News International.
She resigned last week under mounting pressure of phone hacking allegations on the NoW, which is published by News International.
The 43-year-old former executive, like the Murdochs, also expressed deep sorrow for phone hacking scandal.
Brooks told MPs that the NoW used private detectives just like most papers on Fleet Street, and denied having sanctioned any payment to police officers.
Brooks was accompanied by her lawyer during the entire hearing as she is now on bail after being arrested last Sunday on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and corruption allegations.
Earlier on Tuesday, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson also confirmed that 10 of the 45 public relation staff at Metropolitan Police were former employees of the NoW when being questioned by the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Stephenson resigned last Sunday after being criticized for hiring former News of the World Deputy Editor Wallis, who was questioned by police investigating phone hacking, as a communication adviser.
It was also alleged that Stephenson spent time at a health farm where Wallis was working as a PR consultant after an operation on his leg before Christmas.
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