The Daily Mail is reporting today that multi-million-dollar severance packages are in store for many of the top News Corp. executives claimed as early casualties of the phone hacking scandal now engulfing Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. Rebekah Brooks, the fiery-haired former boss of the company’s British newspaper division who resigned just yesterday, is said to be in line for a $5.6 million payout. Others likely to leave with a well-padded envelope (or, rather, bank account) include the final editor of News of the World, the Sunday tabloid at the center of the hacking allegations, two top News Corp. lawyers, as well as recently departed Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton. One condition of the severance deals: gagging orders, so none of them get the company in any more trouble than it’s already in.
Rebekah Brooks in line for £3.5m pay out [Daily Mail UK]
