I'm having just way too much fun watching the implosion of Newscorp, but I'll punish myself for enjoying others pain later.
I have watched with sorrow from New York as the News of the World story has unfolded. I have seen hundreds of news reports of both actual and alleged misconduct during the time I was executive chairman of News International and responsible for the company.
The pain caused to innocent people is unimaginable. That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant and in the circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corp. and apologize to those hurt by the actions of News of the World."
When I left News International in December 2007, I believed that the rotten element at the News of the World had been eliminated; that important lessons had been learned; and that journalistic integrity was restored.
My testimonies before the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee were given honestly. When I appeared before the Committee in March 2007, I expressed the belief that Clive Goodman had acted alone, but made clear our investigation was continuing.
In September 2009, I told the Committee there had never been any evidence delivered to me that suggested the conduct had spread beyond one journalist. If others had evidence that wrongdoing went further, I was not told about it.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude to Rupert for a wonderful working life. My admiration and respect for him are unbounded.
He has built a magnificent business since I first joined 52 years ago and it has been an honor making my contribution.
Guardian link
Hinton has worked for News Corp for more than half a century as a journalist and executive in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In 1976, he moved from London to New York as a foreign correspondent for the group’s newspapers in Britain and Australia. After several executive positions, he was appointed President of Murdoch Magazines in 1990, two years later becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of News America Publishing, responsible for the company’s US publishing operations. In 1993, he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Fox Television Stations, returning to London in 1995 as Executive Chairman of News Corp subsidiary News International Limited, Britain’s largest national newspaper publisher.
In September 2009, Hinton was called to testify before a British parliamentary committee about the News of the World phone hacking affair, saying "There was never any evidence delivered to me suggesting that the conduct of Clive Goodman spread beyond him." Andy Coulson, the editor of News of the World, a News International's tabloid later closed, resigned at the time of Goodman's conviction in the affair. According to a later report in The New York Times, Coulson accepted "'ultimate responsibility' for the hacking during his watch."[4] On March 6, 2007, at the time of an earlier parliamentary hearing and soon after Coulson's resignation, Hinton had said "I believe absolutely that Andy did not have knowledge of what was going on" in the affair.[4]
Guess Wiki will have to update with resigned in disgrace
As suggested from the comments we're going to give this diary an official chant
RICO ROGER
RICO ROGER
RICO ROGER
1:34 PM PT:
Les and I have been on a remarkable journey together for more than 52 years. That this passage has come to an unexpected end, professionally, not personally, is a matter of much sadness to me.
On this difficult day we should appreciate that his extraordinary work has provided a platform for the future success of Dow Jones. And his great contribution to News Corporation over more than five decades has enhanced innumerable lives, whether those of employees hired by him or of readers better informed because of him.
News Corporation is not Rupert Murdoch. It is the collective creativity and effort of many thousands of people around the world, and few individuals have given more to this Company than Les Hinton.
Still from the Guardian Rupert Murdoch's statement.