News International phone hacking scandal

News International phone hacking scandal. The scandal involved the illegal interception of mobile phone voicemail messages by News of the World journalists, including Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, who were employed by News International, a subsidiary of News Corp. The scandal led to a widespread investigation, involving Scotland Yard, Metropolitan Police Service, and the Leveson Inquiry, which was established by Prime Minister David Cameron to investigate the scandal. The scandal also implicated other News International executives, including James Murdoch and Rupert Murdoch, who were called to testify before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

Background

The scandal began to unfold in 2005, when Clive Goodman, the royal editor of News of the World, was arrested and charged with phone hacking along with Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator who worked for the newspaper. The investigation, led by Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman of the Metropolitan Police Service, resulted in the conviction of Goodman and Mulcaire in 2007. However, the scandal did not gain widespread attention until 2011, when it was revealed that News of the World had hacked into the voicemail of Milly Dowler, a missing schoolgirl who was later found murdered, and had also targeted the families of 7/7 London bombings victims, including John Yates and Paul Stephenson. The scandal also involved other high-profile victims, including Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Sienna Miller.

Investigations and arrests

The investigation into the scandal was led by Operation Weeting, a Metropolitan Police Service inquiry that was established in 2011 to investigate allegations of phone hacking and corruption. The investigation resulted in the arrest of several high-profile individuals, including Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, and Stuart Kuttner, the former managing editor of News of the World. The investigation also involved Operation Elveden, which focused on allegations of corruption and bribery involving News International journalists and Metropolitan Police Service officers, including John Yates and Paul Stephenson. The scandal also led to the establishment of the Leveson Inquiry, which was chaired by Lord Justice Leveson and included Shami Chakrabarti, Elinor Mills, and George Jones.

Affected individuals and organizations

The scandal affected a wide range of individuals and organizations, including News International, News of the World, and other News Corp subsidiaries, such as The Sun and The Times. The scandal also implicated other organizations, including Scotland Yard, Metropolitan Police Service, and the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which was chaired by John Whittingdale and included Tom Watson and Paul Farrelly. The scandal also affected high-profile individuals, including David Cameron, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown, who were all called to testify before the Leveson Inquiry. Other affected individuals included Hugh Grant, Steve Coogan, and J.K. Rowling, who all gave evidence to the inquiry.

Closure of the News of the World

In July 2011, News International announced that it would be closing News of the World due to the scandal. The final edition of the newspaper was published on July 10, 2011, and the closure resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs. The closure was seen as a attempt to limit the damage to News International and News Corp, but it was widely criticized as a cynical move to protect the interests of Rupert Murdoch and his family. The closure also led to the establishment of a new Sunday newspaper, The Sun on Sunday, which was launched in 2012 and edited by Dominic Mohan.

Aftermath and repercussions

The scandal had significant repercussions for News International and News Corp, including the resignation of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson from their positions as chief executive and editor of News of the World, respectively. The scandal also led to the withdrawal of News Corp's bid to acquire BSkyB, a British satellite television company, and the establishment of a new regulatory body, Ofcom, to oversee the British media industry. The scandal also had significant implications for the British government, including the resignation of Jeremy Hunt as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the establishment of a new inquiry into the scandal, led by Lord Justice Leveson.

Trials and convictions

The scandal resulted in several high-profile trials and convictions, including the conviction of Andy Coulson and Stuart Kuttner for phone hacking and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The trial of Rebekah Brooks and Charlie Brooks ended in acquittal, but the scandal led to the conviction of several other News International journalists and executives, including Glenn Mulcaire and Clive Goodman. The scandal also led to the conviction of several Metropolitan Police Service officers, including April Casburn and Darren Egan, who were found guilty of corruption and misconduct in public office. The trials and convictions were widely covered in the media, including BBC News, Sky News, and The Guardian.