UK tabloid News of the World writes own obit amid hacking scandal
Writing the obituary for their own newspaper, Britain's News of the World went to press for the last time on Saturday, ending its 168-year history of scoops and scandal.
The last edition came out with the headline "Thank You and Goodbye."
In a full-page editorial published online, Britain's top-selling weekly tabloid apologised to readers for the phone hacking scandal that caused its closure, saying: "Quite simply, we lost our way."
But the row is far from over, and as owner Rupert Murdoch headed to London to take personal charge of dealing with the crisis, it was reported that police would soon be questioning one of his top British executives, Rebekah Brooks.
After an emotional final day on Saturday, News of the World editor Colin Myler led staff out of its offices in Wapping, east London for the last time.
"I want to pay tribute to this wonderful team of people here, who, after a really difficult day, have produced in a brilliantly professional way a wonderful newspaper," Myler told reporters outside.
The recent revelations culminated in the decision to close the paper and put 200 journalists out of work.
The paper's editor, Colin Myler, offered words of encouragement and sympathy to his staff on a ‘very difficult day.’
"It's not where we want to be and it's not where we deserve to be," he said in a memo to staff seen by Britain's Press Association. "But I know we will produce a paper to be proud of."
He held up the final front page, a wrap-around montage of some of the paper's best-known splashes and a simple message saying: "After 168 years, we finally say a sad but very proud farewell to our 7.5 million loyal readers."
Inside, a editorial highlighted a long history of scoops and campaigns, but admitted: "Phones were hacked, and for that this newspaper is truly sorry.
"There is no justification for this appalling wrong-doing. No justification for the pain caused to victims, nor for the deep stain it has left on a great history."
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