News International may shutter thelondonpaper

Posted by Simon Day on August 20, 2009 at 12:12 PM

New International Ltd. is discussing closing its free evening newspaper thelondonpaper, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The News Corp. subsidiary revealed it has begun a 30-day consultation period on the ongoing viability of the free daily, which has 60 staff from the company's Free Newspaper branch.

News Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive for Europe and Asia James Murdoch said "the performance of the business in a difficult free evening newspaper sector has fallen short of expectations," according to the Wall Street Journal, also owned by News Corp.

News International has a workforce of around 2,200 employees and hopes to find new jobs in the company for the 60 employees; however, there was no guarantee of new posts.