Quotes of the Week: News of the World, Daily Sport, James Franco
This week The News of the World publisher apologises for phone-hacking, the Daily Sport is forced to close and a Hollywood actor says social media has had its day.
"News International has decided to approach some civil litigants with an unreserved apology and an admission of liability in cases meeting specific criteria ... past behaviour at the News of the World in relation to voicemail interception is a matter of genuine regret. It is now apparent that our previous inquiries failed to uncover important evidence and we acknowledge our actions then were not sufficiently robust."
In a sensational development in the phone-hacking row, publisher News International apologises for the News of the World's behaviour.
"It started off as fun - you know, it wasn't against the law, so why wouldn't you?"
Former News of the World hack Paul McMullan is given a taste of his own medicine by Hugh Grant, who covertly recorded this exchange about how phone-hacking started at the paper.
“The last thing [DMGT] are going to do is buy the Daily Express. They’ll just steal its readers.”
Analyst Lorna Tilbian believes there is no chance the mooted Daily Mail and Express newspaper merger will go ahead.
“Social media is over. Still up there. Going down ... My thought was ‘this is my Twitter. I can do whatever I want.’ But certain companies I work with contacted me about what I was saying.”127 Hours actor James Franco declares the end of social media after getting into trouble over his Tweets. "The Companies have been exploring restructuring and sale options and, regrettably, the cash flow problems experienced as a result of historic trading difficulties, coupled with limited interest from third party investors or an acquirer for the businesses, have resulted in the Companies ceasing to trade."Administrator Dermot Power confirms the closure of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport newspapers.
The surprise following the news that Sport Media group have ceased trading with immediate effect, is how they managed to survive so long.
MediaVest planner Lee-anne Salisbury is not shocked by the Sport's demise.
"Like every other newspaper publisher, the MNA is facing very difficult trading conditions and there seems to be no sign of improvement. If we are to continue to invest for the future in our publications, both in print and online, then we must make some cost savings."
Midland News Association, publisher of the Express and Star in Wolverhampton, confirms its intention to axe around 90 jobs. "Twitter will be a tiny part of the job. To call this role a Twitter Tsar is like calling Richard Branson a flight steward."A cabinet spokesperson defends the £142,000 executive director of digital role being advertising by the government and ridiculed by the press.
“I think it's a bit of shame to lose the line because it was a classic, and sat underneath some of the best advertising in this sector. There was a wonderfully quirky and understated element in the ‘probably’, which led to some highly entertaining and engaging work."Influential adman Steve Henry laments Carlsberg's decision to drop its 'Probably...' slogan.