After 168 years of print, the UK’s most widely read weekly newspaper News of the World published its latest issue on Sunday, after a phone-hacking scandal forced its owner, Rupert Murdoch, to close the tabloid.

The tabloid of the United Kingdom sensationalist yellow press admitted in its last edition that phones were really intercepted. Continuing revelations regarding phone hacking at one of the UK’s biggest newspapers has forced its closure, with the final edition hitting newsstands.

Phone Hacking Scandal Killed the 168 year old tradition

The inquiry on phone-tapping jumped to a different level last week after it was revealed that families of the people killed in the terrorist attacks in London in July 2005 as well as families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq were among the victims. Revelations about the phone hacking grew in seriousness in recent days, causing many companies to cancel advertising contracts with the publication. A police investigation regarding the scandal is underway, with those involved facing possible jail terms.

So far, five people were arrested, although two of them were released on bail, among them Andy Coulson, Prime Minister David Cameron’s Press chief until he resigned earlier this year and the newspaper’s director between 2003 and 2007, when the irregularities are supposed to have occurred.Cameron has accepted full responsibility for hiring him.

Rupert Murdoch : Overtime in Media Barony ?

Amidst the scandal, Murdoch arrived in this capital on Sunday in an attempt to avoid problems to other media of his own in the UK and to support his son James, chairman of the News International media company.

Media baron Rupert Murdoch flew into London on Sunday to tackle a phone-hacking scandal that has sent tremors through the British political establishment and may cost him a multi-billion dollar broadcasting deal. Murdoch fears the crisis prompted by News of the World could also affect the rest of the group that includes The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times and part of Sky TV.

The Sunday Telegraph affirms that Murdoch’s son James could be charged after admitting that he ordered extrajudicial payments to phone-tapping victims and told lies to the British Parliament.

According to the denunciations, the News of the World journalists paid British police agents for information.The front cover of the final edition read: “Thank You & Goodbye – After 168 years, we finally say a sad but very proud farewell to our 7.5m loyal readers.” The headline appeared against a backdrop of various front page scoops printed by the paper over the years.

James Murdoch may also have to face charges in the United States, where he is listed as deputy chief operating officer of News Corp, the parent company of paper publishers News International.

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