Murdoch celebrates 'amazing' success of new tabloid as inquiry delivers new blow

Seven months after the disgraced News of the World (NOTW) newspaper folded, media company News International sought to woo back readers with its debut edition of The Sun on Sunday, a seventh day edition of its daily tabloid.

That its launch was followed today with the leader of an inquiry into press ethics saying reporters and editors at The Sun had paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to police officers and government and military officials for information illustrates how difficult it may be for News International to repair its reputation. 

The Sun on Sunday's publication followed a week of television adverts cheerily proclaiming that “In Britain The Sun comes out every day." The Sun is the United Kingdom’s biggest selling newspaper – and judging by the success of its first edition, the Sunday version will dominate the weekend market.

Yesterday evening Rupert Murdoch, chief executive of US-based News Corp., the parent company of News International, tweeted, “Amazing! The Sun confirmed sale of 3,260,000 copies yesterday. Thanks all readers and advertisers. Sorry if sold out - more next time."

Two days before he had tweeted that he would be happy with sales “substantially” above two million – which would put the Sun on Sunday comfortably ahead of the 1.9 million circulation of the Mail on Sunday – which had become Britain’s best-selling weekly paper following the demise of the NOTW.

Priced at 50 pence (70 cents), the Sun on Sunday has already started a price war with rival tabloids that cashed in on the cessation of the NOTW in the interim. Fifty pence is the price of a weekday tabloid in the UK, while the Mail on Sunday costs 1.50 pounds, nearly $2.40 USD. The Sunday Mirror, another big competitor, cuts its price Sunday from one pound to 50 pence. 

SCANDAL

The NOTW was abruptly shut down last year amid revelations that journalists employed by the paper had routinely hacked into the phones of celebrities and crime victims and used other illegal means of gathering information. The scandal sparked public outrage as well as three police investigations and a judge-led inquiry, all of which are ongoing.

Hacking allegations have since spread to The Sun. Ten of its journalists were arrested on suspicion of making corrupt payments to public officials, though none have been charged.

Today the police officer heading three criminal inquiries centered on News International said there had been a "culture ... of illegal payments at The Sun." 

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers told a wider inquiry into the British press headed by senior judge Justice Brian Leveson that systems had been put in place to hide the identity of officials who had received money. 

The arrival of the UK’s newest tabloid newspaper was announced only days ago by Mr. Murdoch. Its launch is seen not only as an effort to recapture readers and advertisers lost to other papers since the NOTW was shuttered, but as a reassuring indication to News Corp. shareholders in the US that the company is moving on from the scandal.

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