Sun in bullish mood following announcement of new, Sunday sister

THE Scottish Sun today was today in understandably bullish mood, following an announcement that there would be a new Sun on Sunday newspaper to replace its sister title, the News of the World, which was closed in July.

The announcement – by Rupert Murdoch, chief of the Sun’s publishers, News Corporation – was sub-headed: ‘We’re launching new edition of No1 paper’.

And the story prompted extensive coverage in The Scotsman, by Brian Ferguson, on page three, who begins: “Its staff have spent the week fearing for their futures in the wake of a series of controversial arrests [over alleged corrupt payments to public officials].

“But just months after the News of the World was closed down in the midst of phone hacking claims, newspaper tycoon Rupert Murdoch has thrown his weight behind the Sun – and confirmed plans for a Sunday edition.

“The 81 year-old has told beleaguered staff that its new Sunday edition will start rolling off the presses soon. It is thought the new paper will launch within the next two months and will have a separate Scottish edition.”

The News of the World – which also had its own, Scottish edition – was closed amid allegations of phone-hacking.