Smells of preemptive FUD to me.
Dow Jones CEO and Wall St. Journal publisher Les Hinton is stepping down amidst the escalating News Corp phone-hacking scandal.
"Dear Rupert,
I have watched with sorrow from New York as the News of the World story has unfolded.
I have seen hundreds of news reports of both actual and alleged misconduct during the time I was executive chairman of News International and responsible for the company. The pain caused to innocent people is unimaginable. That I was ignorant of what apparently happened is irrelevant and in the circumstances I feel it is proper for me to resign from News Corp, and apologize to those hurt by the actions of the News of the World.
When I left News International in December 2007, I believed that the rotten element at the News of the World had been eliminated; that important lessons had been learned; and that journalistic integrity was restored.
My testimonies before the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee were given honestly. When I appeared before the Committee in March 2007, I expressed the belief that Clive Goodman had acted alone, but made clear our investigation was continuing.
In September 2009, I told the Committee there had never been any evidence delivered to me that suggested the conduct had spread beyond one journalist. If others had evidence that wrongdoing went further, I was not told about it."
http://www.businessinsider.com/les-hinton-wsj-murdoch-phone-hacking-2011-7