Another News Corp. executive has followed in the footsteps of Rebekah Brooks, former CEO of News International, and resigned as the media conglomerate tries to grapple with a widening phone-hacking and bribery scandal in Britain.
Les Hinton, the U.S.-based chief executive of Dow Jones & Co., said in a statement Friday that he was "ignorant of what apparently happened" but felt he should resign his position. He also apologized for the harm caused by journalists at the British tabloid News of the World, which ceased publishing on Sunday.
Hinton was executive chairman of News Corp.'s British arm for 12 years, overseeing the conglomerates' tabloid newspapers there. He moved on head Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, in late 2007. He said his resignation would take effect immediately.
Hinton had worked for News Corp. for 52 years and is considered one of Murdoch's most loyal allies.
The 80-year-old media mogul said he accepted Hinton's resignation with "much sadness."
Earlier Friday, Brooks publicly released a letter of resignation in which she apologized for her role in the scandal and said she was becoming more of a hindrance than a help. She had been editor of the tabloid at the centre of the scandal, News of the World, between 2000 and 2003.
Rupert Murdoch had staunchly defended Brooks in the wake of cascading phone hacking allegations, which have taken billions of dollars off the value of his company and forced him to cancel a bid for a lucrative British TV network.
Politicians had demanded that Brooks step down but Murdoch had refused to accept her resignation.
Murdoch also apologized publicly on Friday for "serious wrongdoing" by the News of the World, which was shut down last week.
"We are sorry for the serious wrongdoing that occurred. We are deeply sorry for the hurt suffered by the individuals affected. We regret not acting faster to sort things out," read the apology, which ran as a full-page ad Saturday in British newspapers.
Murdoch also met with the family of Milly Dowler, the murdered schoolgirl who News of the World staff are accused of hacking in 2002. That disclosure enraged public opinion towards the newspaper and escalated the scandal.
Rupert's apologies came a day after The Wall Street Journal ran an interview in which the media baron said his company had handled the crisis "extremely well" and that he was "getting annoyed" with the negative press
Following is the full text of Brooks' letter of resignation:
"At News International we pride ourselves on setting the news agenda for the right reasons. Today we are leading the news for the wrong ones.
"The reputation of the company we love so much, as well as the press freedoms we value so highly, are all at risk.
"As chief executive of the company, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for the people we have hurt and I want to reiterate how sorry I am for what we now know to have taken place.
"I have believed that the right and responsible action has been to lead us through the heat of the crisis. However my desire to remain on the bridge has made me a focal point of the debate.
"This is now detracting attention from all our honest endeavours to fix the problems of the past.
"Therefore I have given Rupert and James Murdoch my resignation. While it has been a subject of discussion, this time my resignation has been accepted.
"Rupert's wisdom, kindness and incisive advice has guided me throughout my career and James is an inspirational leader who has shown me great loyalty and friendship.
"I would like to thank them both for their support.
"I have worked here for 22 years and I know it to be part of the finest media company in the world.
"News International is full of talented, professional and honourable people. I am proud to have been part of the team and lucky to know so many brilliant journalists and media executives.
"I leave with the happiest of memories and an abundance of friends.
"As you can imagine recent times have been tough. I now need to concentrate on correcting the distortions and rebutting the allegations about my record as a journalist, an editor and executive.
"My resignation makes it possible for me to have the freedom and the time to give my full co-operation to all the current and future inquiries, the police investigations and the CMS (Culture, Media and Sport Committee) appearance.
"I am so grateful for all the messages of support. I have nothing but overwhelming respect for you and our millions of readers.
"I wish every one of you all the best.
"Rebekah"
With files from The Associated Press
