MUMBAI: UK media watchdog Ofcom has stepped up its investigation into whether James Murdoch is a "fit and proper" person to sit on the board of BSkyB.

The open ended Ofcom investigation is examining mounting evidence of wrongdoing at Rupert Murdoch?s British newspapers and whether it impinges on BSkyB as a "fit and proper" holder of a license.

It will increase the scrutiny on Murdoch?s position at the pay TV service provider. Reports add that this could eventually lead to News Corp selling down its 39.1 per cent stake in a company it wanted to buy outright last summer.

Ofcom has formed a project team to examine evidence of phone hacking and corrupt payments emerging from the police and the Leveson inquiry.

The media regulator set up a dedicated group of seven or eight staff under the name Project Apple.

MUMBAI: James Murdoch has stepped down as the executive chairman of News International, the publisher of the now defunct News of the World, to focus on the broadcast business of News Corporation, the parent company of News International.

The junior Murdoch will relocate to News Corp?s headquarters in New York as the deputy chief operating officer, News Corp said in a statement.

Tom Mockridge, CEO of News International, will continue in his post and will report to News Corporation president and COO Chase Carey.

"We are all grateful for James? leadership at News International and across Europe and Asia, where he has made lasting contributions to the group?s strategy in paid digital content and its efforts to improve and enhance governance programmes," said News Corporation chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch.

"He has demonstrated leadership and continues to create great value at Star TV, Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia, and BSkyB. Now that he has moved to New York, James will continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates, with particular focus on important pay-TV businesses and broader international operations."

James Murdoch, who was under fire from the UK authorities following the phone hacking scandal that had engulfed the News of the World, said he was looking to his relocation to News Corp.

"I deeply appreciate the dedication of my many talented colleagues at News International who work tirelessly to inform the public and am confident about the tremendous momentum we have achieved under the leadership of my father and Tom Mockridge," he said.

"With the successful launch of The Sun on Sunday and new business practices in place across all titles, News International is now in a strong position to build on its successes in the future. As Deputy Chief Operating Officer, I look forward to expanding my commitment to News Corporation?s international television businesses and other key initiatives across the Company."
NOTW ceased publication after 168 years following its final print edition on 10 July which resulted in the loss of around 200 jobs.

The News International publishes three news papers, The Times, The Sun and The Sunday Times besides the launch of Sunday edition of The Sun.

MUMBAI: After the arrest of several of its senior staff in a corruption case, Rupert Murdoch, owner of the Sun Tabloid, is under pressure but insiders may pose a threat similar to the public outrage that forced the closure of its sister paper, the weekly News of the World.

Shutters of News of the World were closed down after allegations that it hacked the phone of a murdered schoolgirl prompted a public outcry last year. Resultantly, advertisers cancelled contracts and Prime Minister David Cameron set up an inquiry into media practices.

Police have arrested nine current and former Sun staff in the last two weeks including the deputy editor and other senior employees as part of an investigation into the bribing of police and other public officials for information.

The arrests came after News Corp passed information to police, angering employees, some of whom are already briefing against Murdoch.

Incidentally, the News of the World scandal led to a chorus of condemnation from the public and politicians of all stripes.

In a sharp contrast to the mood that prevailed at the height of the NoW scandal last summer, the British minister responsible for the media praised Murdoch for increasing British media plurality through his Sky satellite broadcasting network.

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate News Corp has named Lex Fenwick as Dow Jones CEO. He will take over the new role from 13 February.

Fenwick joins Dow Jones from Bloomberg where he spent 25 years, most recently as Bloomberg Ventures CEO.

Based in New York, Fenwick will report to News Corp president, COO Chase Carey. He succeeds Les Hinton, who left the company in July.

News Corp chairman, CEO Rupert Murdoch commented, "We have clearly established WSJ as the premium consumer newspaper and we are thrilled that Lex will be driving our plans to grow all our Dow Jones franchises into true innovative market leaders for today?s digital world. We believe our enterprise business has the potential to follow the brand?s success in the consumer space, and be the premier product in providing the kind of hard-to-find, premium content that the financial customer demands. We are committed to making it happen and we think Lex is the executive to get us there."

Carey added, "Lex has been a driving force in the financial news and information industry for more than two decades. His aggressive and bold leadership will be invaluable to Dow Jones at a time when digital technologies are making information ever more important. We have a great opportunity to build enormous value around Dow Jones? unique expertise and franchises."

MUMBAI: US media conglomerate News Corp has announced that its Group Director, Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Europe and Asia Matthew Anderson will step down from his position in London effective 31 March 2012.

Anderson will fulfil plans to return to the San Francisco Bay Area with his family and pursue new opportunities. He will continue his relationship with News Corp. as a senior advisor to the company focusing on select international initiatives and relevant directorships.

News Corp. chairman, CEO Rupert Murdoch said, "For more than a decade,Matthew has made a valuable contribution to building News Corporation?s businesses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He is a tenacious and effective executive whose counsel and skills have made a real difference".

Anderson began working with Star TV and News Corporation in 2000 when he was chief executive for the Asia Pacific region of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide based in Hong Kong.

In 2005, he joined British Sky Broadcasting, where he served as Group Director, Communications and Brand Marketing, playing a role in developing Sky?s ?Believe in better? brand positioning and ?The Bigger Picture? social and environmental initiatives. Sky became the world?s first carbon neutral
media company - a target that News Corporation achieved several years later. Matthew joined News Corporation in April 2008 with a broad remit across Europe and Asia. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Anderson represents News Corp on the Boards of Moby Group and Sky Pro Cycling.

News Corp Deputy COO and Chairman and CEO International James Murdoch said, "Matthew has played a key role in many of our most important projects for more than ten years. He has ranged across varied and wide terrain, and has been a versatile, resourceful and highly insightful colleague. The whole team will miss him greatly. Upon his long planned return to California with his family we wish him the very best and look forward to the next chapter."