Times also criticized for research methods
The scandal surrounding illegal investigative practices at News International's media outlets continues to spread. With *The Times*, a quality newspaper owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has now come under fire for the first time.
The newspaper had admitted that one of its reporters had tried to gain access to confidential data, said the Labour MP Tom Watson, citing Scotland Yard. In this particular case, a police blogger was affected. The reporter has since left the newspaper, Times editor-in-chief James Harding wrote in a letter to the judicial committee investigating the Murdoch affair.
"When the reporter informed his superiors that he was trying to gain unauthorized access to an email account on his own initiative in the course of his research, he was told to use legitimate means if he wanted to pursue the story," the letter reads.
Last Saturday, four journalists from the Sun tabloid were arrested on suspicion of making illegal payments to the police, including the current head of news, a department head and two former executives, as reported by the Guardian. However, no charges have yet been brought and the detainees have been released on bail.
The Murdoch affair broke out at the tabloid News of the World. After more and more details about illegal wiretapping methods became known last spring, Murdoch shut down the traditional Sunday paper. High-ranking managers of the newspaper holding News International, including publishing director Rebekah Brooks, were temporarily arrested and lost their jobs. (SDA)
