Weekly News Of The World: History of Success and Downfall

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Wikipedia

From time immemorial, people have been drawn to sensationalism and gossip. Today, the internet, television, and tabloids feed on such material daily. Readers and viewers must carefully choose the information provided by media outlets. Serious newspapers verify their reports through multiple sources, yet even they occasionally fall victim to fake news. So-called tabloids are less concerned with truth, focusing instead on drawing readers in. They are abundant in every country. The story of one of them began like this…Once upon a time…

On January 3, 1808, 31-year-old Londoner John Browne Bell fulfilled his dream. He started publishing the Sunday weekly National Register, becoming a competitor to his own father, publisher John Bell.

Unfortunately, his joy lasted only two years. Browne went bankrupt and had to sell his company. However, he didn’t stop dreaming. He worked, learned from his mistakes, and in 1824 launched a new publishing house, Bell as J B Bell & Co. Cultural monthlies such as Le Beau Monde, The Planet, and Literary & Fashionable Magazine appeared on the market. In 1831, he began publishing the weekly Bell’s New Weekly Messenger. Although the publication was successful, Bell envisioned a different kind of newspaper, one that appealed to all classes, from the poor to the wealthy. Years later, he achieved his goal. At 64 years old, on October 1, 1843, in London, he published the first issue of The News of the World, a weekly for everyone.


In the editorial article, Bell outlined the newspaper`s, or rather the weekly`s, principles:

• A publication for all classes
• The cheapest product of its kind on the market (3 pence)
• No patronage from any political party
• Stories that are exciting, shocking, criminal, and sensational
• Available once a week

- Our motto is truth, our practice is fearless advocacy for the truth - declared Bell.

First issues featured an ornate title and had eight pages with six columns each. The first page included the editorial article, a political section called The Politician, humorous essays under Jokes, and advertisements. Page two carried foreign news under Foreign News. The following pages contained domestic news labeled Country News, stock market updates under The Money Market, columns, crime news, men’s fashion notes from Paris and London, verdicts of the Central Criminal Court, and police activity reports from across England. Every page had advertisements and a list of product prices. In short, as promised by the publisher, a bit of everything for everyone.

Each week, News became more refined, especially expanding its crime chronicles. Bell had access to reports from criminal proceedings, so descriptions of what happened on London’s streets, particularly in impoverished areas rife with prostitution, theft, and God knows what else, appeared on all pages in various forms. By the third issue, dated October 8, they were already on the front page.

Gossip from high society also had its fans. Reports on banquets, outfits, and competitors` downfalls amused wealthier readers. The weekly’s popularity grew, gaining readers and increasing its circulation, which rose from 12,000 to 35,000 copies within three years—an impressive achievement that delighted its owner.

Initially, the weekly was published on various days of the week. Early issues came out on Fridays, then Saturdays, but Sunday editions proved the most profitable, so they stuck with it. Readers also disliked royal announcements and decrees published for a time, so these were discontinued.

"For the intelligent reader, cheaper than any newspaper"

NOTW (as the weekly was abbreviated) was appreciated not only by readers but also by its competition. In the 1846 issue of the Newspaper Press Directory, one could read this opinion:

Its purpose is to deliver news of a general and political nature. It pays some attention to literature and includes a small selection of sports news. It is suitable for a respectable and intelligent audience and is cheaper than any newspaper.

Bell had both supporters and critics. Some called NOTW The Novelty of Nations and the Wonder of the World, while others referred to it as rich man`s journalism at a price affordable to the poor. Most readers considered it a varied, family-friendly paper, joyfully read by the fireplace.

Bell`s entire publishing house operated successfully, and News brought profits. Consequently, in 1852, the editorial office moved to a new building on Exeter Street in London and acquired a modern printing press. The weekly`s popularity grew, its circulation exceeded 60,000 copies, and it was distributed across England.

Although the weekly still delivered news from home and abroad, and since 1851 included a Literature column, sensationalism occupied more and more space. When the price was reduced in July 1855, the weekly itself became an attraction, and its circulation reached 110,000 copies. Unfortunately, John Browne Bell did not enjoy this success for long. He passed away the same year, and his son John William Bell took over the business.

Price and credibility wars in the press

John managed News for 22 years, adhering to his father`s principles. The 1860s were challenging for previously cheap newspapers. In 1861, the newspaper tax was abolished. All publishers lowered their prices, making them competitive with cheaper publications. Many readers switched their press subscriptions. John Bell couldn`t afford another price reduction; NOTW already cost 2 pence. Retaining readers required other strategies. Thus, the weekly needed to be engaging in its content but also credible.


Despite strong competition and a drop in ranking, Bell managed to maintain circulation and, therefore, the company`s finances. He even launched an illustrated version of London News, The Illustrated News of the World (Illustrated World News), which featured articles and engravings. Unfortunately, few issues of this edition have survived. The available copy dates back to February 4, 1860.

In 1877, John handed the company and the newspaper to his younger brothers, Walter John and Adolphus William Bell. The brothers worked hard to remain in the market, but the 1880s brought a crisis for the weekly. Fierce competition, price reductions, high paper costs, and the introduction of free advertising all caused The News of the World`s circulation to plummet significantly. Although the content remained engaging, it failed to attract new readers since similar material appeared in other newspapers. Adding engravings and even photographs, such as those accompanying a February 23, 1879 article about the Zulu War, did not help. By 1880, circulation had fallen to just 30,000 copies.

Farewell to the Bells, Welcome to the Carrs

The company began to incur losses, but in 1890 the weekly was still described as a truly excellent paper, reputed as a source of exciting, shocking, and criminal news. Perhaps thanks to this good reputation, the Bell brothers found a buyer for their newspaper in 1891. The new owner was Welsh businessman and journalist, and owner of the Western Mail, Henry Lascelles Carr.

Carr, already owning one newspaper and holding various public roles in Cardiff, entrusted the management of his new acquisition to his nephew Emsley Carr. This choice proved successful. The younger Carr, just 24 years old, excelled as an organizer and leader. With significant support from the newspaper`s lawyer, George Riddell, he created a new nationwide publication.

• Changed the format
• Removed "The" from the title, leaving News of the World
• Introduced a seventh column
• Redesigned fonts for headlines and text
• Added spacing in columns
• Framed important ads and announcements
• Regularly included engravings and drawings, and soon photographs
• Improved article content
• Expanded news, entertainment, and economic sections

These changes were not implemented all at once. A large group of readers, accustomed to the newspaper`s traditional style, resisted change. However, attracting new buyers necessitated gradual updates over nearly two years. Meanwhile, George Riddell began his activities.

An explosion of popularity: A million-copy circulation

A solicitor by profession, Riddell was involved in Carr`s consortium during the 1891 acquisition of NoW (the new abbreviation). After the purchase, the elder Carr remained in Cardiff, the younger Carr took over the London editorial office, and Riddell became the newspaper`s legal representative in London. Yet, legal work alone did not satisfy him. Riddell became deeply involved in creating a distribution network for the newspaper, not only in Wales but also in Scotland. His enthusiasm and dedication led to NoW`s incredible popularity and the formation of a joint-stock company in 1903, with Riddell becoming the managing director.

The Carr-Carr-Riddell trio worked so efficiently that by 1897, News of the World began yielding significant dividends for its creators. In 1899, the editorial office moved to larger premises on Bouverie Street. Along with this move, the newspaper adopted the slogan: More news than any other Sunday paper.

Entering the new century, NoW was revamped, illustrated, nationally renowned, and equipped with a new mission, boasting a circulation of one million copies. This was a rare success. Other newspapers praised it as from poverty to prosperity.

Henry Carr, experienced in managing newspapers, supervised his nephew and offered advice. Occasionally, Welsh journalists joined the London editorial team. These personnel exchanges brought fresh perspectives to the stability of both newspapers. Apart from journalists, illustrators worked on two fronts. A standout figure of that time was Joseph Morewood Staniforth.


Staniforth began working in the Carr family`s printing house at 15. Passionate about drawing, his work quickly caught the publisher`s attention. His illustrations, caricatures, and humorous sketches so impressed Henry Carr that the young apprentice printer was invited to join the editorial team, and his works were featured in all of the family`s newspapers. In 1893, Staniforth`s work appeared in News of the World, where he remained until his death in 1921. His most famous pieces include: General Elections (1895), Caricatures of the Welsh Coal Strike (1898), Caricatures of the Boer War (1900, 1902), and War Caricatures (1914–15).

Journalism of a New Era

Emsley Carr set many goals for journalism in the new era. One of them was WOMEN. The power of early 20th-century feminization was so significant that it could not be ignored. The Bell family had already identified this point on the British map. In the early years of the weekly’s edition, women were portrayed as subjects of criminal articles. Considering the mass audience, a newspaper for all classes, women were not initially regarded as readers. This changed under John Browne Bell’s leadership, who tried to reach them through advertisements for housewives. His sons later expanded the offerings, introducing articles for women focused on family, marriage, and children.

Emsley Carr went a step further—a big step. He introduced broad-based feminization into the weekly. It wasn’t just housewives but actresses, lesbians, and liberated women who found a place in NoW. Women fighting for their rights were making their presence felt—not just in England but worldwide—in their countries, cities, and especially in men’s lives. They wanted to work, even in roles traditionally held by men. The article Woman as Husband (A Woman as a Husband), published in April 1912, caused a nationwide sensation. A woman disguised as a man became a plumber`s assistant, but more shocking was that she not only pretended to be a man at work but also in life—she was her friend’s husband. This story of lesbian love, supplemented with a photograph, was detailed in a two-column article, with the weekly taking the side of women.

This article was not the only one. Numerous pieces on sexuality, gender, and related issues sparked disgust in some and interest in others. Circulation grew. When a full-page SPORTS section debuted, offering something concrete for men, circulation reached 2 million copies.

Guides for Readers and Expansion to the Scottish Market

Carr promoted his weekly extensively. He didn’t limit himself to NoW’s editions but organized reader contests, introduced free services, and added gifts to the issues.

The weekly sponsored the publication of textbooks for poorer readers. The first were Law for the Million and Medicine for the Million. Starting in 1942, advice was provided in the weekly. A dedicated section was created to answer reader queries, led by Professor John Hilton. This column thrived until 1974.

Thanks to George Riddell, the London publishing house entered the Scottish market, expanding its readership and content. Riddell himself became a prominent figure in British journalism, serving as a liaison between the government and the press.

The Most Popular Newspaper in Britain

During World War I, all newspapers covered the war fronts and included photographs. NoW was no exception. Emsley Carr supported Welsh soldiers in captivity and visited those on the front lines, delivering reports for his weekly. After the war, he wrote about the Peace Conference in Paris from 1919 to 1920.

Although the weekly continued to focus on sensational and criminal topics, which were carefully verified, the war was the priority theme from 1914 to 1918. Other topics, like fashion, sports, and culture, still occupied half of the 10-page weekly, which, despite its price increase, maintained a loyal readership.

The post-war years, though economically weaker, did not lead to a decline in NoW’s circulation. There were fewer photos but more content. Humor cartoons still graced the front page. Sports news attracted men, while women sought topics of interest to them. In 1921, a statement appeared under the title: Net circulation exceeds 3,000,000 copies. This was worth boasting about—the best-selling newspaper.

The Church as NoW’s Enemy. Ban in Ireland

For nearly two decades, Emsley Carr expanded the News of the World empire, reaching almost the entire globe. While it gained admiration from some, it faced hostility from others, particularly the Church in Ireland. For close to 20 years, a battle raged to protect morality from foreign influences. In 1930, the British weekly was banned and withdrawn from Ireland, along with other publications and authors like Samuel Beckett and Thomas Wolfe.


In December 1934, George Riddell passed away. This was a significant loss for the publishing house, but the work continued, especially as Europe faced a wave of burgeoning fascism. Amid information and jokes about Mr. M. from Italy and Mr. H. from Germany, the weekly reported on the Conservative Party’s return to power in Britain (1935), the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, King George VI’s coronation (1936), the trial of 17 communists in Moscow (1937), and the radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds (1938).

During these years, Winston Churchill, the future British Prime Minister, contributed columns to the weekly, earning an impressive £400 per article. His series Great Men of All Time garnered significant interest, while Great Events of Our Time caused alarm at the highest levels of government. His scathing critiques of Hitler and Stalin were so aggressive that the Foreign Office was in turmoil. Neither pleas nor threats worked, and News of the World continued to publish, publish, publish.

Frontline Reports and Entertainment for Relief

By 1939, the news brought increasing unease. Today could be zero hour, Chamberlain awaits Hitler’s response, Poles maintain their stance, Constant tension... were just some of the headlines from the September 3 issue. Soon, Churchill’s predictions came true.

In 1941, the publishing house faced its own tragedy. On August 5, at the age of 74, after five decades at NoW, Emsley Carr passed away. His deputy, long-time staff member David Percy Davies, took over.

Davies joined NoW in 1919 as a domestic news editor. By 1933, he was deputy editor-in-chief. When he took charge of the weekly, circulation reached 4 million. The paper had eight columns, dominated by war topics often infused with satire mocking Nazis, Russians, and Stalin. However, sentiments shifted slightly after the USSR was attacked the following year.

Throughout the war, the Special cablegrams to the News of the World section kept readers updated on all fronts, often through reports by correspondent Norman Rea.

Entertainment wasn’t neglected. American cinema premieres were discussed, golf and cricket were played, and sensational and criminal cases continued to be covered. The centennial anniversary of News of the World in 1943 wasn’t a time for celebration.

NoW Pays Criminal’s Bills for First-Hand Information

The end of the war brought a shift in topics—national economy, new prospects, accountability of war criminals—and another change in the editorial team. In October 1946, David Percy Davies passed away. Robert Skelton, from Daily Telegraph, briefly took over, but by the following year, Arthur Waters, a long-time journalist for the weekly, assumed the position.

Waters began his journalism career at Barry Dock News in Wales before joining NoW in 1914. At 59, he became editor-in-chief of Britain’s most-read Sunday weekly, a position he held for six years.

Waters focused on domestic and international news, especially as the East-West conflict persisted. However, he didn’t forget NoW’s reputation. The late 1940s and 1950s saw a series of transcriptions of sexual and murder trials. In 1949, a series detailed the life and crimes of John George Haigh, the acid bath murderer. The newsroom paid his bills in exchange for handwritten notes he penned in prison.

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Readers were also captivated by coverage of the Neville Heath and John Christie murders, diligently pursued by reporter Norman Rea (a former war correspondent).

Rea and other investigative journalists at NoW were part of the so-called Murder Gang, a group of reporters from various newspapers focused on crime stories. Sunday papers, including NoW, paid informants significantly more, securing fresher and more intriguing information. Rea even interviewed Christie, the murderer of eight people, while he was still at large and sought by British police (NoW, March 29, 1953).

World Record! 8.6 Million Copies Circulated

Sports were another popular domain during this period. The sports section, occupying the last two pages, featured nearly every discipline, though golf remained dominant since 1903. NoW sponsored various smaller tournaments in the sport, with the flagship being the News of the World Match Play. Since 1927, the weekly had also been involved in World Darts Championships and, from 1950, snooker tournaments, sponsoring the Nationwide Football Annual. In 1953, the Emsley Carr Memorial Athletics Meet was inaugurated.

On June 18, 1950, the weekly set an incredible world record. Circulation reached 8,659,090 copies, thanks to editor Arthur Waters’ understanding of his audience’s desires: sex, crime, beer, and cricket in the summer, football in the winter.

In 1953, Arthur Waters unexpectedly passed away. The weekly, whose slogan had recently become All human life is here, was taken over by Reg Cudlipp. At 43, Cudlipp was an experienced journalist, reporter, and correspondent. He had joined NoW in 1938 after working at Cardiff dailies. A year later, he enlisted in the army and, after the war, became NoW’s New York correspondent before returning to London in 1948 as a reporter.

Cudlipp spent six years as editor-in-chief, covering events like the August 1953 flood and creating colorful supplements, such as one with a map of the Amazon (January 25, 1954). Despite his efforts with sensational stories and crime chronicles, he couldn’t maintain circulation above 8 million. By 1959, it had dropped by 2 million copies. The board decided to replace him. Cudlipp left on December 29, and Stafford William Somerfield took his place.

The Photo They Tried to Ban

Somerfield, with a 15-year tenure at NoW, took upper management’s recommendations seriously. He focused on sensationalism and scandal, starting with British star Diana Dors. In January 1960, back-to-back issues featured stories from the star’s life. Intimate comments about her body (“The buttons often popped off my gym outfit”) sparked outrage. The article included a photo captioned:

The photo they tried to ban, with the word "ban" placed over her right nipple. Dors received an astounding £35,000 for her revelations. When both the article and the paper were criticized by the Press Council, Somerfield replied: The overseer’s role is not to control the newspaper’s content. I am proud of this paper.

The editor frequently clashed with the Council, appearing before it several times but remaining undeterred, continuing to provoke. Four years later, in 1964, he published The Confessions of Christine – the Girl Who Runs the Government, the story of Christine Keeler, a prostitute who simultaneously had affairs with Minister of War John Profumo and a Russian diplomat. When accused of harming people and the press, the editor responded: The extraordinary and growing number of readers silently acknowledges the validity of our course.

Goodbye to Athena`s Protection

The year 1960 brought changes to the weekly and the publishing house. In October, the Sunday newspaper The Empire News was absorbed. Printing facilities were established in Cyprus and Florida, and in December, the first completely revamped issue of News of the World was published.

• headline redesign
• removal of the logo
• new information layout
• no cartoon humor on the front page
• navigation introduced
• font changes
• more photographs
• additional pages (12)
• more sensational and controversial content

For 117 years, Athena on a chariot with a lion at her feet had been the weekly’s logo, symbolizing wisdom, just war, and the protector of cities. In 1960, Somerfield bid farewell to the goddess and discarded her services. Only the title remained: large NEWS and WORLD, with a small "of" and "the." Ads were placed on either side. The old logo and title persisted in advertisements and sponsorships (e.g., World Darts Championships).


Starting in 1961, NoW published the Football Annual, a sports yearbook that has existed in the UK since 1887 and continues today. Various publishers handled its editions over the years. News of the World managed it for nearly four decades, until 2008.

Despite its successes and a substantial circulation, NoW began to face financial troubles, a poorly kept secret. Several publishers, including Czech-born businessman Robert Maxwell, expressed interest in the scandalous weekly.

However, both the Carr family, still the owners, and Stafford Somerfield opposed selling the newspaper. In October 1968, the front page featured an article attacking Maxwell over the matter.

Dirty Tactics: Fake News and Wiretaps

To attract readers and improve circulation, Somerfield and his journalists sometimes resorted to questionable tactics. They eavesdropped, fabricated, and lied. This was evident in early 1967 with the three-part article Pop Stars and Drugs: Facts That Will Shock You. It described alleged drug parties involving pop stars like Donovan and Mick Jagger. While the musicians were no saints, the specific claims turned out to be rumors.

Such stories led to the arrests of musicians and protests against the newspaper and its journalists. After part of the Rolling Stones was arrested in May 1967, a protest outside NoW’s headquarters lasted several days, demanding the release of the bloody Stones and the closure of the bloody News of the World.

Somerfield opposed everything and everyone, constantly seeking more shocking topics. When Australian millionaire and publisher Rupert Murdoch appeared on the horizon, Somerfield strongly resisted selling the weekly and defamed Murdoch. However, Sir William Carr and his nephew Clive Carr had a different opinion.

The battle for News of the World between Maxwell and Murdoch lasted several months. In January 1969, Maxwell’s offer was definitively rejected by shareholders, most of whom were temporarily company employees. By June, with William Carr incapacitated by illness, Rupert Murdoch replaced him as chairman and rightful owner.

Rupert Murdoch Becomes NoW`s Owner

Somerfield couldn’t accept the change. He disagreed with Murdoch’s actions and refused to follow his directives. The final straw was publishing banned excerpts from Christine Keeler’s memoirs, known as The Profumo Affair. In February 1970, Stafford Somerfield was asked to resign as editor-in-chief and leave NoW. He received £100,000 as severance, and Cyril James Lear took over.

Lear, who had been with the Sunday weekly for 25 years, understood his readers well. Murdoch, who had also acquired the popular The Sun, appreciated the sensational reputation of his new acquisition. He readily supported the so-called checkbook journalism (paying for information), which the weekly introduced in 1966 during the widely covered Moors Murders.

Over the next decade, NoW gained new readers, partnered with The Sun to publish joint magazines, and occasionally uncovered scandals of national scale. The most famous include:

• the affair of Lord Lambton, exposed with the help of editorially installed cameras (May 1973)
• public exposure of Dr. Sunit Kumar Ghatak’s abortion business (October 1975)
• a nationwide pedophilia story (March 1977)
• Ku Klux Klan in Britain (March 1978)

Cyril Lear remained editor-in-chief until 1974. He was succeeded by Peter Stephens for a year and then Bernard Shrimsley. From 1975, occasional use of color appeared in the weekly, such as red letters, blue dates, or decorative green stars. However, readers had to wait several more years for full-color editions.

Tailoring Patterns and a Clothing Brand

Meanwhile, the weekly’s Football Annual enjoyed great interest among men. Women, too, wanted something for themselves. While fashion magazines were abundant on the market, NoW had its thematic corner. Unita Hall, known as Aunt News of the World, responsible for women’s textile matters, came up with an idea for an add-on to the newspaper: Dear Reader, I hope creating the NEWS OF THE WORLD pattern brings you joy and results in a “happy” outfit. Have fun every time you wear it.

This add-on was a self-sewing pattern. Designs for dresses, pants, or skirts were packaged in envelopes with an image of the specific garment. Over time, patterns for children were also introduced. Women were delighted, and NoW created its own brand.


Bernard Shrimsley spent five years urging Murdoch to transform the weekly into a tabloid. When Murdoch didn’t listen, Shrimsley left to create Mail on Sunday. Over the next decade, several editors-in-chief brought their ideas and scandals to the paper.

• Kenneth Donlan (1980-1981) launched the weekend magazine Sun Day in 1981
• Barry Askew (April-December 1981) clashed with Murdoch and Queen Elizabeth II but managed to introduce NoW’s red-and-white title and consistent colors within issues
• Derek Jameson (December 1981-January 1985) transformed NoW into a tabloid
• Nikolas Markley Lloyd (January-December 1985) relocated the editorial office to Wapping
• David Montgomery (January 1986-1987) computerized the newsroom
• Wendy Henry (1987-1988), the first woman in the role, notorious for her provocative journalism
• Patsy Chapman (1988-1993), creator of the Code of Conduct

Donlan and Lloyd were the more reserved editors of the 1980s. Askew, who was at odds with Murdoch from the start, brought to light the transgender identity of Bond girl Caroline Cossey (James Bond Girl Was a Boy) in June 1981. By July, his favorite editorial subjects became the royal couple, Diana and Charles.

"Murdoch is bad news"

Jameson increased circulation to over 5 million but also engaged in a libel lawsuit with the BBC while frequently publishing articles about politicians, actors, and other public figures, exposing their dirty secrets. He was fired in 1984, becoming not only an unemployed journalist but also financially strained due to legal costs.

Montgomery, during his tenure, oversaw articles about Prince Andrew’s love letters (June 15, 1986) and Boy George’s escapades (July 13, 1986), but he also endured a printers` strike. From January 24, 1986, to February 17, 1987, protests erupted in Wapping, Murdoch`s publishing hub, involving printers from all his newspapers. The protests began with slogans like Murdoch is bad news and Don’t buy, escalated to stone-throwing at police, and culminated in opposition to Margaret Thatcher’s government, which dispatched police reinforcements to Wapping. The strike ended with mass layoffs of printers and journalists, giving women more prominence in the newsroom.

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Wendy Henry established her reputation as a bold and independent journalist when NoW published her 1976 interview with the daughter of Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in the UK. Henry freelanced for the weekly for several years, exposing hidden secrets, such as Princess Margaret’s relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, though some stories, like her interview with Falklands war veteran Simon Weston, were fabricated.

After working at Woman and The Sun, she joined NoW. Within a year, she increased circulation by 400,000 copies, with features like topless celebrity stories (November 8, 1987). However, Murdoch remarked, "Sales, Wendy, aren’t everything." She left soon after.

The next woman at the helm, Patsy Chapman, stayed longer, leading the editorial team until 1993. Dubbed the nicest and funniest tabloid editor-in-chief, Chapman began her tenure with the sensational story of Pamela Bordes, a former Miss India and photographer. The March 1989 article, Call Girl Works in Commons, revealed that Bordes was working in a brothel, meeting high-ranking journalists and politicians, and had access to the House of Commons. The scandal was explosive.

A Code of Conduct for the Press

While leading NoW and publishing sensational stories like Murder Quiz for East End Sandy (July 20, 1990), the story of actress Sandy Ratcliff providing an alibi for a murderer, Freddie: I’ve Got AIDS (November 24, 1991), Queen frontman Freddie Mercury`s admission of his illness, and More to Come Warn IRA (April 12, 1992) about IRA bombings in London, Chapman also worked on a Code of Conduct for the British Newspaper and Magazine Industry. The code was implemented by the Press Complaints Commission in January 1991. That same year, NoW introduced more vibrant colors, attracting curious readers.

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Chapman left the newsroom for health reasons in 1993 but managed to organize the 150th-anniversary celebrations for the newspaper. A special 16-page issue featured memories, photos, and engravings from past editions:

"Our front pages have become as much a part of the national fabric as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding," the lead story proclaimed. "We hope our values—great stories well-told and dark secrets well-exposed—will remain unchanged."

For all Londoners, a fireworks display over the Thames marked the occasion.

Captain Cash: The Newsroom Hands Out Money

Among the secondary stars of the 1980s and 1990s was Dave “Nobby” Clark, Patsy Chapman’s husband. Clark joined NoW first, working with several editors-in-chief as a dependable deputy. Known for his sharp writing and unconventional thinking, he mentored younger colleagues, supporting them professionally and personally, often financially. He created the Captain Cash page, where readers with needs and ideas could receive money from the newsroom. The program was a resounding success.

Clark’s zany humor became part of the publishing house’s lore—there were no Christmas parties without his songs and stand-up acts as Teddy-Editor the bear. However, when Patsy became editor-in-chief, he stepped back. Not wanting to lose such talent, Rupert Murdoch transferred him to another division at News International, tasking him with creating new projects. After Chapman’s departure, Dave returned to his old stomping grounds. Journalist Fran Goodman reminisced about him:

"He sat completely calm as loud directors and lawyers paced back and forth, shouting instructions. While they fretted, he quietly turned thousands of words into pure tabloid gold. His combination of talent, generosity, and composure under pressure was unmatched."

Clark remained loyal to his weekly until its closure. He passed away on August 15, 2022.

Piers Morgan Went Too Far

After Patsy Chapman resigned in 1993, Stuart Higgins (1993) and Piers Morgan (1994) briefly took the editor’s chair. It wasn’t until Phil Hall (1995–2000) that stability returned. Higgins contributed more significantly to The Sun, but in December 1993, he broke the story of Prince Edward’s romance with Sophie Rhys-Jones in NoW.

Morgan, at 29, became the youngest editor-in-chief in half a century. He started his journalism career at The Sun in 1988. At NoW, he relied on publicist Maxwell Clifford, who, through his talent agency, leaked stories about his clients to the tabloid editor. Secret after secret was unveiled.

On May 14, 1997, the domain newsoftheworld.co.uk was registered, but digital archives show the first online issue wasn’t published until March 2, 2000.

Morgan was dismissed after publishing photos of Catherine Aitken, Princess Diana’s former sister-in-law, leaving a rehab clinic. The Press Complaints Commission ruled this violated the editors` code of conduct, and even Murdoch admitted, "The boy went too far." Allegedly, he apologized to Morgan privately but handed editorial leadership to Phil Hall.


Hall joined NoW two years before becoming editor, with a decade of experience at other newspapers. Under his leadership, the paper won two Scoops of the Year awards for 1995 and 1999.

On September 22, 1996, an article-interview titled Why I Sinned, featuring Bishop Runway and his lover, became a sensation. The four-page spread detailed the fugitive clergyman’s story.

A year later, Princess Diana’s tragic death in August dominated the global press. NoW mobilized a team of 55 journalists and reporters to cover every detail of her funeral. The paper provided maps, service notes, procession descriptions, and burial details down to the smallest aspects.

Anti-Pedophilia Campaign: NoW Accuses the Innocent

Phil Hall brought News of the World into the new century with a circulation of 4.2 million, exclusive articles, and a market-leading position. Yet in May 2000, he was dismissed. BBC correspondent Torin Douglas summarized: "Most editors at this paper didn’t leave voluntarily, and Hall is no exception." Hall himself stated: "Editing `News of the World` was an exhausting and exhilarating experience, breaking major stories and winning awards for the paper and its team. I wish the newspaper and its staff great success, which they richly deserve."


Hall moved to Hello!, and his successor was Rebekah Wade (later Brooks). Wade joined NoW in 1988 after The Post closed. At just 20, with no formal education and minimal experience at a French magazine, she started in the newsroom’s secretariat, eventually transitioning to the columnists` section. By 1994, she was a reporter, conducting the famous interview with James Hewitt, who admitted to an affair with Princess Diana. In 1998, she moved to The Sun for two years before returning to NoW as editor-in-chief in 2000, aged 31.

Wade’s tenure began with an anti-pedophilia campaign. The paper published names of convicted child sex offenders, provoking mob aggression. Some innocent individuals were also named. The campaign started after hacking the phone of a mother of a young victim (July 30, 2000). Wade sparked a national debate, with accusations of heartlessness and incompetent journalism against NoW. Wade defended herself, her team, and the newspaper, arguing that society needed to know about such things. Naturally, circulation increased.

Her editors deemed her a journalist with terrifying ambition and a knack for attracting readers. Later that year, the weekly published an article about tennis star Boris Becker’s illegitimate child (December 10, 2000), exposed secrets of the TV show IDOL (December 30, 2001), detailed Prince Harry’s drug use (January 13, 2002), reported Victoria Beckham’s alleged abduction (November 2002), and revealed Princess Diana’s secret love letters (February 9, 2003).

The Fake Sheikh of NoW

One of the most prominent and active journalists at NoW was Mezher Mahmood. Passionate about investigative journalism from a young age, he delivered a report on pirated films to NoW in 1981, aged 18. After a short stint at NoW, he worked for other media outlets, often disguising himself as a sheikh, earning the nickname The Fake Sheikh. Mahmood rejoined NoW permanently in 1991.

He conducted many investigations, often using controversial methods such as provocation to expose corruption, match-fixing, and drug abuse. The royal family was one of his favorite targets. He frequently collaborated with Conrad Brown, who managed hidden microphones and cameras.

In 1999, Mahmood received the Reporter of the Year award for his investigations. He uncovered footballer John Fashanu’s match-fixing, misconduct by Newcastle United managers, and drug trafficking at high government levels.


Despite missteps, like the fabricated Beckham kidnapping story that cost the newsroom hefty damages, Mahmood exposed a dirty bomb plot in 2004. However, in 2016, he was imprisoned for falsifying evidence in a failed drug trial involving singer Tulisa Contostavlos.

Of course, investigative journalism wasn’t the only focus of NoW under Wade’s leadership. The death of Diana in 1997, the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and support for soldiers in Iraq (March 18, 2003) featured in several non-sensational covers and articles. Wade returned to The Sun in January 2003, leaving NoW in the hands of Andy Coulson.

Phone Hacking: The Beginning of the End for NoW

Coulson joined the NoW team in 2000 after starting his career at The Sun. With 14 years of experience, he became editor-in-chief and, during his four-year tenure, earned the paper numerous accolades, including three awards in 2005, among them Newspaper of the Year at the British Press Awards. From 2004 to 2006, he also received recognition from the London Press Club.

His career in the scandal department began with stories about David Beckham’s alleged affair and a sex scandal in the Scottish Parliament. Both stories led to defamation lawsuits. While the first ended in a settlement, the second resulted in an MP’s conviction. Coulson, however, continued his work. PR advisor Mark Borkowski said in The Guardian (April 25, 2005): "His team shows fierce, almost cult-like dedication to the paper and its editor. One of his strengths is his `big ears.` He listens to those around him. He’s supported by a group of lieutenants with excellent connections. People are very loyal to Andy because they know he’s a great mentor."


For years, the publishing house relied on informants, who were generously paid. By the late 1990s, private investigators joined this circle. Their tasks included phone hacking of article subjects. One such hacker was Glenn Mulcaire, a former footballer who found his niche at NoW. Together with journalist Clive Goodman, Mulcaire became part of a duo that would ultimately lead to Coulson’s downfall.

In August 2006, Mulcaire and Goodman were accused of hacking royal aides’ phones, leading to articles about Prince William. They were tried in January 2007 and sentenced to several months in prison. Public outrage over the hacking scandal was intense, and the journalistic world heavily criticized Murdoch’s publishing empire.

Avalanche of Lawsuits and Reader Disdain

Andy Coulson took responsibility for the scandal and resigned. Colin Myler replaced him in December 2007. Myler, who had been running the New York Post in the U.S. since 2000, didn’t anticipate that the phone-hacking scandal would persist for years and eventually destroy the paper. Positive articles, such as one about Prince Harry’s military service (June 29, 2008), stories about Michael Jackson’s life and death (June 2009), and coverage of the World Cup (starting May 2010), couldn’t erase the public’s memory of the hacking.

Journalists at The Guardian led the charge, uncovering:

• hacking of nearly 7,000 phones
• the 2002 hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone, a teenager later found murdered
• the use of surveillance tools, often by Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood
• police paid for information by the publishing house

These revelations led to numerous defamation lawsuits. Individuals like Max Mosley (accused of sadomasochistic activities) and Barry George (falsely convicted of murder), as well as organizations like Norwich City Football Club, turned to the courts. The scandal snowballed, becoming unstoppable.

Colin Myler was tasked with conducting an internal investigation into phone hacking to prove Clive Goodman acted alone. However, it was evident that Goodman didn’t work alone; everyone, up to the highest levels, was aware of and tacitly approved these actions. Public dissatisfaction and criticism grew so intense that in early 2011, police launched an investigation into the paper and the publishing house. Major advertisers began pulling out.

Despite these issues, in April 2011, NoW celebrated its achievements, winning four British Press Awards:

• Scoop of the Year: Cricket Corruption
• Regular Supplement of the Year: Fabulous
• News Reporter of the Year: Mazher Mahmood
• Showbiz Reporter of the Year: Stephen Moyes

In the same month, the paper exposed child trafficking. However, the 2006 scandal overshadowed these successes, causing estrangement from readers, advertisers, and sponsors.

The End: Issue 8,674 Becomes the Last

Two former NoW journalists, Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, were arrested. In July, 10 more people, including Clive Goodman, Rebekah Wade Brooks, Neil Wallis, and Andy Coulson, were detained. Investigations and testimonies before police and Parliament revealed mounting evidence against individual journalists and the publishing house.

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On July 7, 2011, James Murdoch (son), CEO of News Corp for Europe and Asia, blamed Colin Myler and News International lawyer Tom Crone for the failures and announced the closure of News of the World. Reactions ranged from elation—"Good riddance, finally"—to disbelief—"The world has seen worse scandals."

The final issue of the Sunday paper was published on July 10. The cover featured a collage of past front pages with the words: THANK YOU & GOODBYE. Inside was a retrospective of its best articles and a farewell:

"On this historic day, after 8,674 editions, we will miss you. You were our life, our family. We reported the death of Queen Victoria, the Titanic’s sinking, two world wars, the first man on the Moon, Princess Diana’s death... But we also uncovered great scandals. Many of them are remembered in this final edition."

The day before, after the final issue was sent to press, Colin Myler gathered all employees outside the publishing house for a press conference. The last issue sold 3.8 million copies, with all proceeds donated to charity. In total, 200 employees lost their jobs, though some transitioned to The Sun on Sunday.

On February 26, 2012, the first Sunday edition of The Sun replaced NoW. After 168 years of publishing, the Sunday paper that once claimed to feature all human life ceased to exist.

Timeline of News of the World

• 1843, October 1 - First issue of The News of the World
• 1852 - Exeter Street becomes the headquarters and printing house
• 1860 - Approximate year of publication for The Illustrated News of the World supplement
• 1880 - First illustrations and photographs
• 1891 - The weekly passes into the hands of the Carr family
• 1899 - New headquarters on Bouviere Street
• 1903 - The publishing house becomes a joint-stock company
• 1914-1918 - Frontline reporting during World War I
• 1919-1920 - Direct coverage of the Paris Peace Conference
• 1927 - The weekly sponsors the World Darts Championship
• 1930 - Printing of the weekly is banned in Ireland
• 1930-1938 - Winston Churchill contributes columns to News of the World
• 1943 - Centennial anniversary
• 1950 - NoW sponsors snooker championships
• 1950, June 18 - Circulation surpasses 8.5 million copies
• 1953 - First Emsley Carr Memorial Athletic Meet, named after the long-time editor and owner
• 1954 - Introduction of colored supplements
• 1960, December - Revamp of the newspaper’s image
• 1961 - NoW publishes Football Annual
• 1966 - Introduction of so-called checkbook journalism
• 1967 - Protests outside NoW headquarters (articles contributed to the arrests of several musicians)
• 1969 - Rupert Murdoch becomes the owner of NoW
• 1970 - NoW launches its own women’s fashion brand
• 1975 - Introduction of color in dates and headlines
• 1981 - New red-and-white title and the Sun Day supplement
• 1984 - NoW transitions to a tabloid format
• 1985 - Another move to Wapping
• 1986 - Newsroom computerization
• 1986, January 24 - 1987, February 17 - Print workers strike throughout the publishing house
• 1987 - Wendy Henry becomes the first woman editor-in-chief
• 1991 - Introduction of color in the weekly
• 1993 - 150th anniversary of the tabloid
• 1995 - Scoops of the Year award
• 1999 - Scoops of the Year award
• 2000 - Anti-pedophilia campaign
• 2005 - British Press Awards, Newspaper of the Year
• 2007 - Glenn Mulcaire and Clive Goodman sentenced for hacking into royal family phones
• 2011, January - Police launch an investigation into phone hacking
• 2011, April - Four British Press Awards for NoW
• 2011, July 7 - James Murdoch announces the closure of NoW
• 2011, July 10 - Last issue of News of the World

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