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The News of the World prints 5 million copies of final edition

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

July 9, 2011 | 2 min read

The News of the World was printing five million copies of its final edition, almost double the normal figure, as the Drum went to press last night.

The newspaper is closing after 168 years, many of them as Britain's No 1 in sales. News International passed the death sentence as advertisers pulled out with public opinion mounting against the paper for hacking the mobile phone of murdered school girl Milly Dowler amongst others.

Inside, the paper apologised to its readers: “We praised high standards, we demanded high standards but, as we are now only too painfully aware, for a period of a few years up to 2006 some who worked for us, or in our name, fell shamefully short of those standards.

“Quite simply, we lost our way.

“Phones were hacked, and for that this newspaper is truly sorry.”

On the day of its death, the News of the World sat at the top of the ABC charts , with a circulation of 2.6 million.

In all 280 members of staff are currently employed by the newspaper, with around 200 involved in the consultation process. News International has promised to redeploy as many as it can. The Sun is heavily tipped to become a seven-day newsroom and The Sun on Sunday is expected to appear, taking the place of the News of the World.

After the paper went off stone for the last time, editor Colin Myler went to the pub with his staff "for a drink or three."

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