At News International, we have a rich history dating back as far as 1785. Today we combine the best elements of tradition and heritage with a leading-edge, ground-breaking culture that helps us drive the future of journalism.
26th March 2010
News International announces that The Times and The Sunday Times will start charging for their digital journalism in June.
1st March 2010
First issue of the redesigned Times.
5th October 2009
Launch of Times+, the UK newspaper industry's first membership and loyalty programme.
27th September 2009
Launch of the Heels that Heal charity campaign by Fabulous magazine to raise money for Wellbeing of Women (WOW), whose patron is Sarah Brown.
1st September 2009
Rebekah Brooks becomes Chief Executive Officer of NI.
23rd June 2009
First Times Spelling Bee Final.
20th April 2009
First broadcast of Sun Talk, the paper’s Internet radio station, presented by Jon Gaunt and featuring an interview with David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party.
13th January 2008
The first newspapers printed at Broxbourne, and the last in Wapping.
14th January 2005
The Sun launches its Sun Mobile WAP site.
12th November 2004
First Su Doku published in The Times.
12th October 2004
News Corporation announces the investment of over £600 million in new printing plants for News International at Eurocentral in Glasgow, Knowsley and Broxbourne (pictured right).
26th November 2003
First day that The Times is published in compact format alongside the broadsheet.
9th September 1999
The Times broke its first story on the Internet, running the Patten report on the RUC plus an article written by the Northern Ireland correspondent at 10am.
1st January 1996
The Times and The Sunday Times are launched on the Internet. The Sun follows in 1997.
25th February 1991
The Sun launches its first “Holiday for…” offer. Readers could get a 5-day holiday at a Holimarine Holiday Park for £6.50 by collecting four tokens in the paper and sending them off with the booking form coupon.
4th March 1986
First issue of Today, Britain’s first colour national daily newspaper, is launched by Eddie Shah and bought by Rupert Murdoch in 1987.
26th January 1986
The Times, Sunday Times and The Sun publish their first issues from Wapping.
20th August 1984
The new Sun Bingo red card is launched, promising a £1 million prize, in response to the Daily Mirror’s announcement on the 17th.
13th February 1981
Rupert Murdoch buys Times Newspapers Limited.
17th November 1970
Stephanie Rahn becomes the first topless page 3 girl in The Sun. Page 3 had been published since the first issue but the girls had been clothed.
17th November 1969
First issue of The Sun published in tabloid format and under the ownership of Rupert Murdoch.
2nd January 1969
Rupert Murdoch becomes Managing Director of News of the World Organisation Ltd.
12th September 1940
The Times’ offices at Printing House Square receive a direct hit from a German bomb. The production of that night’s issue is not lost.
1st February 1930
First crossword published in The Times.
2nd March 1922
First picture page published in The Times.
25th January 1911
First issue of the Daily Herald (later renamed The Sun).
28th July 1904
News of the World Limited, the earliest incarnation of News International Limited, is incorporated.
1st July 1904
The Times inaugurates “A Novel Plan of Newspaper Distribution” offering readers the opportunity to subscribe to The Times’ new home delivery service for one year at a 23% discount. The paper was to be delivered either by newsagents or by post. This is believed to be the first such scheme introduced in Britain. This scheme has since been re-opened in 2009 within the M25.
6th August 1844
The Times publishes its first story received by telegraph, the birth of Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred, at Windsor.
21st February 1821
First issue of The New Observer (later renamed The Independent Observer), this became The Sunday Times in 1822.
1st January 1785
First issue of The Daily Universal Register – this became The Times in 1788.