Tabloid closure 'devastating' - NZer

NZ <i> News of the World</i> entertainment writer Dan Wootton with Kanye West. Photo / Supplied

A New Zealand journalist who works for the News of the World has come to the defence of the paper, saying it had been cleaned up over the past few years.

Around 200 staff have been left reeling by today's announcement that the 168-year-old Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid will close.

Some have already voiced their disappointment on social networking site Twitter

"Just lost my job on the News of the World. Absolutely devastated that a talented group of people are suffering right now..." reporter Tina Campanella wrote.

The paper's entertainment editor, New Zealander Dan Wootton, has come to the defence of the tabloid, telling Radio New Zealand the paper had changed since the phone hacking incidents took place.

"I've been at the News of the World for four years, I was brought in by the current editor Colin Myler, he took over after the phone hacking allegations were first made.

"I have to tell you that the newspaper that has been talked about in the press ... is not the newspaper I work for, in any way. The newspaper has been utterly, completely cleaned up.

Mr Wootton said he was "disgusted" by the allegations of phone hacking, however stressed the actions took place under the previous regime.

"Many of the allegations date back nine years.

"I think what was so devastating to the News of the World staff today is we know we were putting out a brilliant paper.

"The fact is unfortunately, for political reasons essentially, some incredible journalists at the News of the World have had their careers sacrificed today."

Mr Wootton said staff are not aware of any moves to redeploy staff at another News International Sunday tabloid.

"At this point we're in a three month holding pattern where we've been assured by the company that for the next three months we are employed as normal, but there are expected to be massive job losses.

"I have to stress we are proud employees of News of the World.

"Believe me, the News of the World is not a newspaper in decline. We have 7 million readers a week."

Mr Wootton blamed the "media storm" which had "whipped up by rivals of the newspaper, people who have political motivations" for the paper's closure.

Subeditors at The Sun, another Murdoch-owned newspaper, have walked off the job in solidarity with their News of the World colleagues, the National Union of Journalists said in a statement.

The union said staff they will receive a 90 day payment which covers the legally required consultation period for job cuts.

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet condemned the closure of the paper.

"Closing the title and sacking over 200 staff in the UK and Ireland, and putting scores more freelances and casuals out of a job, is an act of utter cynical opportunism. Murdoch is clearly banking on this drawing a line under the scandal, removing an obstacle to the BskyB deal, and letting his senior executives off the hook. That simply won't wash. It is not ordinary working journalists who have destroyed this paper's credibility - it is the actions of Murdoch's most senior people."