Newscorp Sets Up Employee Hotline to Report 'Illegal Activity'

The company attempts to change during a bribery investigation

Journalists at News International, and other staffers employed by Rupert Murdoch have been told to dial a hotline to report suspicious or illegal activity. The news of a hotline comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the U.S. and U.K. into their reporting practices. Murdoch's now defunct newspaper, News of the World, reportedly bribed police officers for information. Eugenie C Gavenchak, News Corp's chief compliance and ethics officer, stressed the need for employees to report their peers. "Employees who suspect ... violations of this policy must report them to the legal department of the business unit or of News Corporation, or to the News Corporation alert line." The media company also promised to give legal support to those who wrongly accuse a fellow employee. The policy reads: "If you make an honest complaint in good faith, even if you are mistaken as to what you are complaining about, the company will protect you from retaliation." The policy also warns against entertaining celebrities and government officials, any act that could be viewed as bribery. "Gifts and hospitality that may be perfectly acceptable among private parties can be completely forbidden when the other party is a government official," it states. Amidst investigation and several lawsuits, NewsCorp offered to pay $4.7 million to the family of Milly Dowler, a teen who was murdered. NewsCorp journalists hacked into her voicemail to receive information. If settled, this would be the largest payout by a newspaper in history.