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Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images
Signs displaying the names of the newspapers at The News International Plant are displayed at Wapping in London.
By msnbc.com news services
Rupert Murdoch's company said Friday it has agreed to pay 2 million pounds ($3.2 million) to the family of a murdered schoolgirl whose phone was hacked by the News of the World tabloid.
News International, the U.K. newspaper publishing division of News Corp, and the family of Milly Dowler confirmed the settlement in a joint statement.
Murdoch shut down the 168-year-old News of the World in July after evidence emerged that its reporters had eavesdropped on the telephone voice mail messages of the 13-year-old who disappeared in 2002 and was later found murdered.
The statement said Murdoch also will donate 1 million pounds ($1.6 million) to charities chosen by the Dowler family.
"Nothing that has been agreed will ever bring back Milly or undo the traumas of her disappearance and the horrendous murder trial earlier this year," the Dowlers said in the statement. "The only way that a fitting tribute could be agreed was to ensure that a very substantial donation to charity was made in Milly's memory. We hope that projects will be undertaken so that some good can come from this."
The revelation that reporters eavesdropped on Milly Dowler's voice mail messages while police were searching for her — and mounting evidence that phone hacking was routine at the newspaper — shook Murdoch's media empire, and sent tremors through Britain's political, police and media establishments.
Murdoch’s News Corp will face pressure at the company’s annual meeting Friday. Many shareholders are unhappy about his dual role of chief executive and chairman, and some investors are calling for several directors -- including his sons James and Lachlan -- to step aside. Here's more on the issue from the Yale School of Management's Jeffrey Sonnenfeld:
The phone hacking scandal has already forced the resignation of two of London's top police officers, ousted executives at Murdoch's News Corp. and claimed the job of Prime Minister David Cameron's former spin doctor, Andy Coulson, an ex-News of the World editor.
Murdoch's global News Corp. has expressed contrition, launched an internal inquiry and set aside 20 million pounds ($32 million) to compensate victims, who could number in their hundreds. Detectives have informed more than 450 people that they might have been spied on by the newspaper.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
Looks like they got off easy, seeing as News Corp made $642 million in profits last year. It sure pays to have good high powered attorneys.
That's what I think. $3.2M? That is nothing for Murdoch. No wonder hacked phones with no fear.
Rupert Murdoch is a Fascist.
He believes in the mixing of governments and corporations.
He believes that fraud and corruption are good business plans.
He is a throwback to the 1930's.
His Fox Network is nothing more than a pure extremist rightwing propaganda outlet that would have made Joseph Goebbels envious.
What are governments so afraid of chasing injustice from Multi-National Corporate Conglomarates? If Corporations are people too, then shouldn't our laws also apply to them? We The People need to put a little more pressure on our Legal System and shake some of that corruption loose, as well.
And what do you guys think the Occupy movement is all about???? GET OUT THERE
Michael: We the people don't pour $$$$$$ into campaigns. Besides, the bankers OWN this country now.
Governments are afraid to bite the hand that feeds them.
People with money are never treated the same as the rest of us peons. We don't fork over the 10,000 a plate at functions for the politicians. Look at the news everyday and tell me the rich are treated equally to us.
murdoch should rot in jail.
Rupert Murdoch is an Osama Bin Laden in his own right.
Money rules, it's as simple as that. All of us backing the OWS movement need to make sure every one of this guy's offices are "occupied".
And I suppose you think that George Soros Obama is the lord and savior of mankind.
@Bob MN, and I suppose you think one of the Republican clowns debating each other every other day is?
I'll check back, Bob. I'm busy organizing an Occupy Walmart for tomorrow in my home town.
We're not talking about Obama here. We're talking about the evil Murdoch.
Soros actually cares Bob. He recognizes that lifting people out of poverty and pouring money into education and infrastructure is vital to the nations' health.
When was the last time the Koch brothers gave so much money to progressive causes rather than corporate take-over/fascist groups like the Tea party?
Imatthebeach - and I'm taking a break from occupying my desk right now for the 53rd year.
Are you rich Bob? How's your retirement portfolio looking? Happy with how much your healthcare plan costs? How about where your taxes go? Feel like others who make more than you pay their fair share?
Just askin'.
It'll be interesting to watch if the FCC is going to do anything about Murdoch's Fox News for their fraudulent 'news reporting.' It appears Murdoch, through Fox, has a heavy hand in our election process. I'll believe 'corporations are people' when one of them is hung in Texas.
yakfitguy - I thought you didn't want to talk about obama. Yes, I'm rich, rich in pride of what I've accomplished (without the help of government or unions). Money has never made me and will never make me rich or poor. I've been both an evil business owner and now I'm an evil productive employee. As far as my retirement, I may never retire. I might choose to work until I'm dead.
You say Soros cares. I assume you mean he cares about destroying America and that's not much of an assumption.
Lucky you, Bob, that you actually have a job that allows you a choice whether to retire or not. Congratulations, Bob, you're ahead of at least 60% of all U.S. Citizens in that.
But which America are the Tea Taggers going to take back -- the one that was formed and then run by, for and of the Rich Land Owners?
George Soro's isn't any better than Murdoch,Murdoch might of been caught with his hand in the Cookie Jar but is just as bad with his dealings.Progressive Causes are nothing but Big government handout's
So, Go4Broke -- you would rather see people suffer just so you can have your cake?
@Bob MN, Well, Bob, 53 years at a desk is just too long---even if the MN stands for Minnesota where it's cold all the time.
So............either you really love sitting at your desk or you have nothing else in your life you'd like to do?
You didn't answer my question about the Republican clowns.
Bob: You may have confused me with someone else. I never said we can't talk about Obama.
I also work. I have my own business. I'm not lazy.
But I AM someone who understands how the top 1% own this country and are impoverishing the rest of us. I know (it's my business that fights them) how much the banks are screwing us all.
@Bob MN, You must be taking a long break from your desk. You haven't answered my question.
Bob, it was Spartan 501 who wrote "I thought we were talking about the evil Murdoch," not yakfitguy.
Big deal that was like a 10 cent library fine to you and me.
@bob I supposed you noticed that Soros wasn't named in the lawsuit in the above article? I supposed you noticed that Soros hasn't implemented policy to terrorize people by hacking into their phones and reporting their personal information in the news? Or did that kind of slip through?
Quack I work for my Cake, The Family did get $3.2 million I guess you probaly thought they should of got more? maybe.
Soro's is still just like Murdoch two different Ideas,Soro's just funds his minons to do his Dirty work is all and hasn't been caught yet.
@ Go4Broke
Murdoch, was caught and is guilty. Soros....Not. You made the accusations so let's see your proof.
Easy is right. And it is interesting that this story broke just before the shareholders' meeting. Hopefully that will further affect the vote to get rid of most of the board, including the entire Murdoch family. The final paragraph should have read "set aside $320 million" or more. Every victim should get a minimum of $500K for the damage done.
While I am glad the family is being compensated, I hope this isn't all newsCorp has to pay, or the extent of their punishment..??
Well, there's the 1.6 million to charities of her family's choice. That's it on this particular case, I think. The guy's a slug. This amount of money means nothing to him.
Rupert won't be paying the bill though.
News Corpse also announced yesterday that they are laying off 200 employees in England.
And so the slimy Murdoch slips away again. It's hard to believe such people exist, but they clearly do.
Hush money is still as powerful as ever
nathing good will came out by killing your leader and dying is dying no matter how we die is not fun.for people of libia will find out real soon thear faith and all the hidden agendas for them.it will be fun to wach.the reason I'm saying this is becouse as somalian we have had those moments about 20+years ago .But they did'nt last long the rest was mestries.so good luck my brooos.
jammy,
And what the heck does your reply have to do with this story? just plain inappropriate and stupid.
Someone needs a new crack pipe, or at least clean the old one.
see we are not learning history are we? you don't have to read alot a history books to find out.just last few years what's been habanning in muslim world is enuogh look somalia,ciraaq,afganistaan, now libia.I mean qadaafi was what he was but there is holes that is hard to ged out.may be very long time.
jammy, this article has ZERO to do with Libya -- or anywhere else in Africa. Go learn to READ, please.
It may be just pocket change to them, but at least SOMETHING was done and it sets a precedent to those who think they are above the law, even in Britain.
I'm just posting as close as I can get to Jammy. Now why did you all go and collapse him? He thinks he's on the Libya page, poor thing. And he may actually be Somalian, as he says, which would mean English is a second language for him. :)
Jammymaybewrong, you're on the wrong feed, dear.
Poor ol' Jammy,
Hey everybody, would ya plz stop pickin' on them foreigners. This country needs all the tourist dollars we can get!
Hey, now........ You sure get around, TEX. :)
Let's hope this is just the beginning, this scumbag and his corporation needs to go away.
3.2 million won't bring back this school girl. This old fool should spend some time in jail, and everybody else at faux.
If all the people that hate fox would to stop watching it they would not even be a factor but As long as people like you keep watching fox, their rating will stay up, therfore helping them bring in more money.
And if people would stop spending all those hundreds of dollars for one seat at a sports event, maybe the world would be a bit saner, too. Here's a news flash for you: Just watching something does next to NOTHING to affect ratings.
Rupert Murdock didn't kidnap or murder this girl, get a grip people. Fox news is not the enemy. People that want everything for nothing are the enemy. The hackers should be punished for the crime they committed. not this poor child's murder but the manner these reporters chose to gather information, that was their crime. If you"re going to bash Fox News you better include NBC, ABC,CNN, CBS, & MSNBC too. And as far as the Occupy movement, tell them to put away their IPhones, IPads, cell phones and all their other electronics produced by the corporations they so hate if they want to sound more credible. 90% of them don't really know what they are protesting about. And they certainly have no solutions.
CNN is going downhill, but they're still far from what Fox Noise is. And the point of the Occupy movement isn't to reject consumer products. It's to make the government accountable and to ensure that corrupt corporations are justly punished.
Only someone who gets all of their information from Fox would ever say that 90% of the OWS protestors don't know what they are protesting about. that's why Fox news is the enemy and all of those other news organizations are different, although certainly not perfect. Fox, with it's strategy of willful lies is in a class all by itself.
Those hackers that should be punished will have to include James Murdoch, who knew about the practice for years, and did nothing to discourage it.
"truth", Rupert Murdoch is responsible for what happened -- even if only because HE is the one who pushed to get the "news" AT ANY COST. It's HIS Corporation, it's HIS responsibility.
Unless you now wish to say that the President of the United States of America is not at all responsible for what goes in the United States of America..........
What sickening is we have many Americans who are humans that actually defend and recieve marching orders from this foriegn company. Many of them running white churches ......
The Murdicks should all be in jail and their Propaganda Network should be dismantled for the betterment of all mankind..
What a ridiculous statement..
Faux News and the tabloids need to be taken down. They do nothing but cause harm to everyone anyways. Or at the very least they need to be accountable.
Your statement is ridiculous also.
Accountable Just Like: Msnbc,CBS,ABC,CNN,PBS,Barney Frank,Nancy Pelosi,Harry Reid,The Fed,Eric Holder,NCAA,SEIU,ESPN, and the Disney Channel can't forget the last couple of Illinios Governor's.....
Murdoch and his associates did get off easy considering the especially callous nature of the phone hacking in this one particular case. But, readers of this tripe continue to fan the fires of reporting such as this by buying those rags. As long as there is someone who'll want to read it and pay to read it, it will be published regardless of who is hurt.
Fair and balanced.
So when is the US Dept of Justice going to bring charges against the Murdoch's? It is an American company after all.The administration had better not drag its feet on this.
From what I've seen, don't expect anything form Eric Holder. Seems he is pretty worthless when it comes to fighting fascism on any front.
Rupert Murdoch is of Jewish Ancestry. His mothers real name was Greeenberg. (angloized Greene) You sound anti semitic.
What charges is the DOJ supped to bring against Murdoch? Don't get me wrong, I would like nothing better than to shut down his dangerous propoganda machine. But until he/his corporation has broken a law and there is proof, there really isn't much Eric Holder or ayone else can do is there? Who knows, maybe the DOJ is building a case as we speak. The DOJ can't file charges that cannot be subsantiated against anyone. Like it or not, that is our legal system. North GA, just because you evidently "know" Murdoch/his corporation has acted illegally in this country doen't make it true in court.
teutonic-tom, what the frack does his MOTHER'S name have to do with his own Fascism? And since you're going to be all politically correct here, it's ANGLICIZED. You sound anti Anglo, teutonic-tom, with your "angloized".
Rupert cannot buy out the fact he will soon die and be remembered for hacking phones and being a prick. Some legacy Rupert. No one will remember anything positive you ever did.
Did he ever DO anything positive????
He'll be remembered for running the most biased news channel we know.
Money is a great tool, keeps you ou to prison, pays off cops, give money to charity, pay the relatives, and list goes on. Murdock should be in jail.
this criminal hacking in england is just the tip of the iceberg. do you not think fox news and other fox outlets are not doing the same thing in the U.S.? watch the uproar at the shareholders meeting when tom watson presents his evidence of other illegal surveillance activities in england. can t wait.
The Murdochs should be in jail... this house of lies and corruption needs to fall.
keep smoking the crack buddy, its the only way you're gonna make it after the Tea Party takes this country back!
What sickening is we have many Americans who claim to be humans that actually defend and receive marching orders from this foreign company. Many of them running white churches
Take it back where? How many years? Maybe the 1800's when the Robber Barons ran it all?
Take it back from Americans?
Take it back from politicians?
Stop parroting and be specific.
Back from what, george? The BANKS and WALL STREET? I thought that's who the Tea Taggers are working for...........
Seems george has something to say... that none of us understand.
3.2 million? That is a number from the past, I remember all too well.
Giving away my age, but I fondly remember 3.2% beer.
As usual, the story nor the so called fine, means anything. Again, another financier of the right wing skates to the bank.
Slap on the wrist for those evil crooks. They should be behind bars and their newsroom doors boarded shut.
Alright! Another evil rich S.O.B., Lets get em, their part of the 1% @ss-holes now
Hey, george -- I'm still waiting for my part of that Reaganomics "trickle-down". Interesting how you Tea Taggers were all so silent when G.W. Shrub was ruining the U.S..........
By the way, georgie boy... How is it possible that over 70% of U.S. Citizens MUST get by on less than $50,000 a year - but your fat rich Tea Tagger heroes can't pay their bills with more than $300,000 a year?
@ The Quacked One: Because the fat rich in the $300 thousand to $300 million and above categories are all communists.
The Tea drinkers got suckered again. LOL ! ! ! !
All of these rich are lazy, they make their money by having others working for them.. They do not work.
you do realize that not having to work is what most people work for and that their work is the managing of people? not defending murdoch but essentially defending anyone that has employees...
You do realize that laying off employees just so the CEO can get a bigger bonus is NOT managing people -- but is instead managing their own wallet? But go ahead and "downsize" all you want, when nobody's making the product -- there will be no product to sell.
And when nobody can afford to buy the product, there won't be any product being bought.
In the large shadow of shame this mess has created. Murdoch has done the right thing by firing all of the employee's, closing the mewspaper down and paying the family compensation. Finally a CEO who has the stones to do the right thing. He could have tied this up in court on appeals for years.
Kenster, Murdoch doesn't want this tied up in court, better it just go away. The faster he pays off everyone and gives the appearance of doing something within the company, the sooner the short term memory of the public forgets. His fans, all those FOX news followers in particular, don't care about the phone hacking, they probably haven't even made the connection. They are likely not concerned in the least about something that happened in England. Murdoch's lack of conscience and lack of integrity are in no danger, any more than are his assets.
Exactly, no one has said a word about that. Murdoch did the right thing by firing those who were guilty and making restitution to the injured parties.He didn't lock down the process in the courts. John Edwards CEO of nothing. An ambulance chaser who was living off of other peoples presidential campaign money and trying to hide his "love" child after he had been busted sends his aide out there to lie and say it is his child. Right in the face of his wife dying of cancer. Your going to tell me the only news outlet who could figure this out was the National Enquirer in the United States of America??? The National Enquirer is certainly no bastion of conservatism. They just did there job as investigative journalists. You cant tell me that other news organizations didn't know what was going on. When Fox aired the report everybody went nuts with how irresponsible they were for airing such an accusation. Thank God they did. This guy would still be getting over on all the yellow dog democrats out there. It is amazing 1 news agency doesn't carry the same old lies in the same old ways and the entire left goes berserk over 1 news agency that isn't in there pocket. It is obvious most of the posters on here are no proponents of the 1st amendment. If it was up to them we would still be living under the Union Jack or possibly the Swastika after WW2.
RDC1974 - some of us don't put John Edwards bad acts in his personal life up there on the same level with hacking into the phone of a missing girl, leading her parents and police to the false hope that she was still alive, and jeopardizing the investigation to the point where the hacking may actually have hastened her death, we will never know.
Righties need to learn to separate immoral behavior that is not illegal and really is no ones business with actual criminal activitiy. Don't care where John Edwards "slept" nor with whom, don't care about any of their personal peccadillos. Really don't care if the National Inquirer or Archie Comics "broke the story" - gossip is gossip, and we have raised it to a level where gossip is more important than flat out illegal activity that impedes law enforcement investigation and may very well have contributed to the death of a child. Get off your moral high-horse.
And no one is saying the Murdoch conglomerate should be censored, we just think it is unfortunate that there is a significant number of people who believe their tripe. If people didn't tune in or buy the rags, either the tripe would go away, or Murdoch would turn his empire to legitimate journalism. Not one of us, I am sure, would ever suggest Murdoch and company be stripped of their 1st amendment rights, you RDC are way off base there, and totally missing our point.
Murdoch is NOT a hero at all. Murdoch is the one who gave the "thumbs up" to the hacking in the first place -- and if he didn't, then he was in charge and knew all about it.
Screw Fox News & anything/one associated with it! They get what they deserve & hopefully more! They should be paying out way more 3.2mil!