Statement from News Corporation and its Management and Standards Committee

Published on Saturday, 28 January 2012 08:40 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

NEW YORK-( Business Wire )-

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers from Operation Elveden today arrested four current and former employees from The Sun newspaper.

Searches have also taken place at the homes and offices of those arrested.

News Corporation made a commitment last summer that unacceptable news gathering practices by individuals in the past would not be repeated.

It commissioned the Management and Standards Committee (MSC) to undertake a review of all News International titles, regardless of cost, and to proactively co-operate with law enforcement and other authorities if potentially relevant information arose at those titles.

As a result of that review, which is ongoing, the MSC provided information to the Elveden investigation which led to today’s arrests.

No comment can be made on the nature of that information to avoid prejudicing the investigation and the rights of individuals.

The MSC gave the MPS every assistance during the searches of News International premises while ensuring that all appropriate steps were taken to protect legal and journalistic privilege.

It also provided the option of immediate legal representation to those arrested.

News Corporation will continue to give its total support to the continued work of the MSC and to ensure that legitimate journalism is vigorously pursued in both the public interest and in full compliance with the law.

Notes to Editors:

The MSC was established by News Corporation in July 2011 to take responsibility for all matters in relation to phone hacking at the News of the World, payments to the police and all other related issues at News International.

The MSC structure is independent and autonomous from News International.

The MSC is authorised to conduct internal investigations to fulfil its responsibilities in relation to News International's papers. It has powers to direct News International staff to co-operate fully with all external and internal investigations, and to preserve, obtain and disclose appropriate documents.

These internal investigations are being conducted by the law firm Linklaters, who are the strategic legal advisers to the MSC.

For more information about the MSC go to the following link: http://www.newscorp.com/corp_gov/MSC_news.html

News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets as of September 30, 2011 of approximately US$60 billion and total annual revenues of approximately US$34 billion. News Corporation is a diversified global media company with operations in six industry segments: cable network programming; filmed entertainment; television; direct broadcast satellite television; publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Latin America.

News CorporationMiranda Higham, +44 (0) 7825 078 212orTeri Everett, +1 310-990-8856