News International

2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: Media

News International Ltd is a British newspaper publisher owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Until June 2002, they were called News International plc.

The company's major titles are published by three subsidiary companies, Times Newspapers Ltd, News Group Newspapers and NI Free Newspapers Limited. These newspapers are published at a large site in Wapping in east London, near Tower Hill, which earned the nickname " Fortress Wapping" after a fierce dispute with the union to which the workforce had previously belonged. Between 1987 and 1995, News International owned, through its subsidiary News (UK) Ltd, Today, the first UK national newspaper to be printed in colour. All of News International's newspapers (with the exception of thelondonpaper, launched in 2006) were founded by other owners, in some cases hundreds of years ago.

In October 2005 News International sold TSL Education, publishers of Times Educational Supplement and other education titles, for £235m ($415m). The Times Literary Supplement, previously part of TSL Education, has been retained by News International as part of this deal. Darwin ltd, who had took over the company, continued to produce the same product. It's main competitor is Associated Newspapers, who are subsequently owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust.

News International Newspapers Limited

Times Newspapers

Times Newspapers Limited publishes the compact daily newspaper The Times and the broadsheet The Sunday Times.

Times Newspapers was formed in 1967 when The Thomson Corporation purchased The Times from the Astor family and merged it with The Sunday Times, which it owned since 1959. This company was purchased by Murdoch's News International in February 1981. In 2006 an American edition of The Times was launched in New York, Boston and some other east coast U.S. cities.

Murdoch states that the law and the independent board prevents him from exercising editorial control.

News Group Newspapers

News Group Newspapers publishes the tabloid newspapers The Sun and the News of the World.

The News of the World Organisation was purchased in January 1969. The Sun was acquired in October 1969 from Mirror Group Newspapers.

Murdoch states that he acts as a "traditional proprietor"; exercising editorial control on major issues such as which political party to back in a general election or policy on Europe.

NI Free Newspapers Limited

thelondonpaper was the first newspaper to be launched by News International rather than bought. It is an evening freesheet for the London Zone 1 area.

Other holdings

• News International (Advertisements) Limited
• News International Associated Services Limited
• News International Distribution Limited
• News International Newspapers (Knowsley) Limited
• News International Newspapers (Scotland) Limited
• News International Pension Trustees Limited
• News International Supply Company Limited
• News International Television Investment Company Limited
• News International Television Limited
• NI Syndication Limited