News Corp. launches its new Sunday tabloid despite ongoing scandal

News Corp. officials announced Sunday that the tabloid The Sun on Sunday would replace the now defunct News of the World.

According to the Associated Press, News of the World will be succeeded by The Sun on Sunday after the former was shuttered last July during investigations revealing that reporters had hacked into phones and doled out bribes to get exclusive coverage.

The scandal shook British media and led to arrests and resignations within the organization, including the arrest of former editor Rebekah Brooks.

Murdoch visited News International's London offices on Friday to announce the launch to employees, reported AFP, and plans to stay the week in order to monitor the launch of its first issue next Sunday.

In a memo to employees Murdoch wrote: "We will build on The Sun's proud heritage by launching The Sun on Sunday very soon. Our duty is to expand one of the world's most widely read newspapers and reach even more people than ever before.

Having a winning paper is the best answer to our critics," he continued.

According to AFP, Sun Editor Dominic Mohan said that the launch of the new Sunday paper was "a truly historic moment in newspaper publishing".
"The Sun's future can now be reshaped as a unique seven-day proposition in both print and digital."

According to Bloomberg, News of the World was the best-selling Sunday newspaper in Britain when it was shutdown, leaving a gaping hole in the Sunday tabloid market.