The Times

===From 1981===
In 1981, ''The Times'' and ''The Sunday Times'' were bought from Thomson by Rupert Murdoch's [[News UK|News International]].<ref name = acquisition>{{cite book|title= The History of the Times: The Murdoch years, 1981–2002|first1=Graham|last1=Stewart|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2005|isbn=0-00-718438-7| page=45|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eZZZAAAAMAAJ&q=The+History+of+the+Times:+The+Murdoch+years,+1981-2002}}</ref> The acquisition followed three weeks of intensive bargaining with the unions by company negotiators John Collier and [[Bill O'Neill (media)|Bill O'Neill]]. Murdoch gave legal undertakings to maintain separate journalism resources for the two titles.<ref name=BBC2019-04-11>{{cite news | title = Murdoch wins preliminary backing to merge his Times titles | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date = 11 April 2019 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47895062 | access-date = 12 April 2019 | archive-date = 11 April 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190411220201/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47895062 | url-status = live }}</ref> The [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] was reintroduced to the masthead at about this time, but whereas previously it had been that of the reigning monarch, it would now be that of the [[House of Hanover]], who were on the throne when the newspaper was founded.{{Sfn|Stewart|2005|p=63}}

After 14 years as editor, [[William Rees-Mogg]] resigned upon completion of the change of ownership.<ref name = acquisition/> Murdoch began to make his mark on the paper by appointing [[Harold Evans]] as his replacement.<ref name="Stewart, p 51">Stewart, p. 51</ref> One of his most important changes was the introduction of new technology and efficiency measures. Between March 1981 and May 1982, following agreement with print unions, the hot-metal [[Linotype machine|Linotype]] printing process used to print ''The Times'' since the 19th century was phased out and replaced by computer input and photo-composition. This allowed print room staff at ''The Times'' and ''The Sunday Times'' to be reduced by half.<!--from 375 to 186--> However, direct input of text by journalists ("single-stroke" input) was still not achieved, and this was to remain an interim measure until the [[Wapping dispute]] of 1986, when ''The Times'' moved from New [[Printing House Square]] in Gray's Inn Road (near [[Fleet Street]]) to new offices in [[Wapping]].<ref>Hamilton, Alan. "The Times bids farewell to old technology". ''The Times'', 1 May 1982, p. 2, col. C.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Good Times, Bad Times|last=Evans|first=Harold|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|year=1984|isbn=978-0-297-78295-7|location=London|pages= 182}}</ref>

[[Robert Fisk]],<ref>{{cite book|first=Robert |last=Fisk|year=2005|title=The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East|publisher=Fourth Estate |location =London|pages=329–334|isbn=1-84115-007-X}}</ref> seven times British International Journalist of the Year,<ref>{{cite news|date=3 December 2005|title=Viewpoint: UK war reporter Robert Fisk|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4393358.stm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051208212035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4393358.stm|archive-date=8 December 2005|work=BBC News}}</ref> resigned as foreign correspondent in 1988 over what he saw as "political censorship" of his article on the shooting-down of [[Iran Air Flight 655]] in July 1988. He wrote in detail about his reasons for resigning from the paper due to meddling with his stories, and the paper's pro-Israel stance.<ref>Robert Fisk, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/robert-fisk-why-i-had-to-leave-the-times-2311569.html Why I had to leave The Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019041959/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/robert-fisk-why-i-had-to-leave-the-times-2311569.html |date=19 October 2017 }}, The Independent, 11 July 2011.</ref>

In June 1990, ''The Times'' ceased its policy of using courtesy titles ("Mr", "Mrs", or "Miss" prefixes) for living persons before full names on first reference, but it continues to use them before surnames on subsequent references. In 1992, it accepted the use of "Ms" for unmarried women "if they express a preference."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MOykn3dMaJIC&q=%22the+times+of+london%22+%22courtesy+titles%22&pg=PA188|title=Writing Broadcast News: Shorter, Sharper, Stronger|last=Block|first=Mervin|date=1997|publisher=Bonus Books, Inc.|isbn=978-1-56625-084-9|language=en}}</ref>

In November 2003, News International began producing the newspaper in both broadsheet and tabloid sizes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2003/11/the-times-has-gone-tabloid-where-will-the-broadsheet-revolution-end/|title=The Times has gone tabloid: where will the broadsheet revolution end?|last=Glover|first=Stephen|date=29 November 2003|website=The Spectator|language=en-US|access-date=29 December 2019|archive-date=29 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229070529/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2003/11/the-times-has-gone-tabloid-where-will-the-broadsheet-revolution-end/|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the next year, the broadsheet edition was withdrawn from [[Northern Ireland]], [[Scotland]], and the [[West Country]]. Since 1 November 2004, the paper has been printed solely in tabloid format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/why-the-times-had-to-change-531639.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/why-the-times-had-to-change-531639.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Why the Times had to change|last=Snoddy|first=Raymond|date=1 November 2004|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>

On 6 June 2005, ''The Times'' redesigned its Letters page, dropping the practice of printing correspondents' full postal addresses. Published letters were long regarded as one of the paper's key constituents. According to its [[leading article]] "From Our Own Correspondents", the reason for removal of full postal addresses was to fit more letters onto the page.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-our-own-correspondents-st83m3tm08m|title=From our own correspondents|date=6 June 2005|work=The Times|access-date=28 December 2019|language=en|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228223304/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-our-own-correspondents-st83m3tm08m|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a 2007 meeting with the [[House of Lords]] Select Committee on Communications, which was investigating media ownership and the news, Murdoch stated that the law and the independent board prevented him from exercising editorial control.<ref name=Parliament070917>{{cite conference|title=Minute of the meeting with Mr Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, News Corporation |book-title=Inquiry into Media Ownership and the News |page=10 |publisher=House of Commons Select Committee on Communications |date=17 September 2007 |url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/us.doc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201082014/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/us.doc |archive-date=1 December 2007 }}
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In May 2008, printing of ''The Times'' switched from Wapping to new plants at [[Waltham Cross]] in Hertfordshire, and [[Merseyside]] and [[Glasgow]], enabling the paper to be produced with full colour on every page for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/08/newsinternational.rupertmurdoch|title=Fortress Wapping to Waltham Cross as News International moves its presses|last=Tryhorn|first=Chris|date=8 October 2004|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 December 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228224254/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/08/newsinternational.rupertmurdoch|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 July 2012, to coincide with the official start of the [[London 2012 Olympics]] and the issuing of a series of souvenir front covers, ''The Times'' added the suffix "of London" to its masthead.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

In March 2016, the paper dropped its rolling digital coverage for a series of 'editions' of the paper at 9am, midday and 5pm on weekdays.<ref name="Rawlinson 2016">{{cite web | last=Rawlinson | first=Kevin | title=The Times drops online rolling news for four editions a day | website=The Guardian | date=30 March 2016 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/30/times-rolling-editions-website-sunday-times-apps | access-date=16 April 2018 | archive-date=27 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212454/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/30/times-rolling-editions-website-sunday-times-apps | url-status=live }}</ref> The change also saw a redesign for the paper's app for smartphones and tablets.<ref name="News UK 2016">{{cite news | title=The Times and The Sunday Times launch new website and apps | website=News UK | date=30 March 2016 | url=https://www.news.co.uk/2016/03/the-times-and-the-sunday-times-launch-new-website-and-smartphone-apps/ | access-date=16 April 2018 | archive-date=27 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327213136/https://www.news.co.uk/2016/03/the-times-and-the-sunday-times-launch-new-website-and-smartphone-apps/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2018, IPSO upheld a complaint against ''The Times'' for its report of a court hearing in a Tower Hamlets fostering case.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=07966-19|title=07966-19 Water UK v The Times|website=www.ipso.co.uk |archive-date=24 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224045459/https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=07966-19}}</ref>

In April 2019, [[Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport|culture secretary]] [[Jeremy Wright]] said he was minded to allow a request by [[News UK]] to relax the legal undertakings given in 1981 to maintain separate journalism resources for ''The Times'' and ''The Sunday Times''.<ref name=BBC2019-04-11 /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Jeremy |title=Media Matters:Written statement – HCWS1677 |url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-06-27/HCWS1677/ |website=www.parliament.uk |access-date=28 June 2019 |archive-date=9 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309160047/https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-06-27/HCWS1677/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, IPSO upheld complaints against ''The Times'' over their article "GPS data shows container visited trafficking hotspot",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=08527-19|title=08527-19 O'Nion v The Times|publisher=IPSO|access-date=23 June 2020|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623043452/https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=08527-19|url-status=live}}</ref> and for three articles as part of a series on pollution in Britain's waterways – "No river safe for bathing", "Filthy Business" and "Behind the story".<ref name="auto1"/> IPSO also upheld complaints in 2019 against articles headlined "Funding secret of scientists against hunt trophy ban",<ref>{{cite web |title=08417-19 Cooney et al. v The Times |url=https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=08417-19 |publisher=IPSO |access-date=11 October 2021 |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002230133/https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=08417-19 |url-status=live }}</ref> and "Britons lose out to rush of foreign medical students".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=04817-19|title=04817-19 Wilson v Sunday Times|publisher=IPSO|access-date=23 June 2020|archive-date=25 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625102124/https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=04817-19|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, ''The Times'' published an article about Imam Abdullah Patel which wrongly claimed Patel had blamed Israel for the 2003 murder of a British police officer by a terror suspect in Manchester. The story also wrongly claimed that Patel ran a primary school that had been criticised by [[Ofsted]] for segregating parents at events, which Ofsted said was contrary to "British democratic principles". ''The Times'' settled Patel's defamation claim by issuing an apology and offering to pay damages and legal costs. Patel's solicitor, Zillur Rahman, said the case "highlights the shocking level of journalism to which the Muslim community are often subject".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Charlotte |first1=Tobitt |title=Times apologises and pays libel damages to imam who appeared on BBC debate |url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/times-apologises-and-pays-libel-damages-to-imam-who-appeared-on-bbc-debate/ |access-date=14 December 2020 |work=Press Gazette |date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120004736/https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/times-apologises-and-pays-libel-damages-to-imam-who-appeared-on-bbc-debate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, ''The Times'' published an article titled "Female Circumcision is like clipping a nail, claimed speaker". The article featured a photo of [[Sultan Choudhury]] beside the headline, leading some readers to incorrectly infer that Choudhury had made the comment. Choudhury lodged a complaint with the [[Independent Press Standards Organisation]] and sued ''The Times'' for libel. In 2020, ''The Times'' issued an apology, amended its article and agreed to pay Choudhury damages and legal costs. Choudhury's solicitor, Nishtar Saleem, said "This is another example of irresponsible journalism. Publishing sensational excerpts on a 'free site' whilst concealing the full article behind a paywall is a dangerous game".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/the-times-publishes-apology-to-sultan-choudhury-obe-15658 |title=The Times publishes apology to Sultan Choudhury OBE |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224052631/https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/the-times-publishes-apology-to-sultan-choudhury-obe-15658 |url-status=live |date=30 July 2020 |work=InPublishing |location=Eynsford, Kent, England}}</ref>

In December 2020, [[Cage (organisation)|Cage]] and [[Moazzam Begg]] received damages of £30,000 plus costs in a libel case they had brought against ''The Times'' newspaper. In June 2020, a report in ''The Times'' had suggested that Cage and Begg were supporting a man who had been arrested in relation to a knife attack in Reading in which three men were murdered. ''The Times'' report also suggested that Cage and Begg were excusing the actions of the accused man by mentioning mistakes made by the police and others. In addition to paying damages, ''The Times'' printed an apology. Cage stated that the damages amount would be used to "expose state-sponsored Islamophobia and those complicit with it in the press. ... The Murdoch press empire has actively supported xenophobic elements and undermined principles of open society and accountability. ... We will continue to shine a light on war criminals and torture apologists and press barons who fan the flames of hate".<ref name="ms041220">{{cite news |last1=Sabin |first1=Lamiat |title=The Times pays £30k damages over article defaming Muslim activists |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/the-times-pays-30k-damages-over-article-defaming-muslim-activists |access-date=8 December 2020 |work=Morning Star |date=4 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=24 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224054415/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/the-times-pays-30k-damages-over-article-defaming-muslim-activists}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Harroon |last=Siddique |title=Times pays damages to advocacy group falsely linked to Reading killer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/dec/04/times-pays-damages-to-advocacy-group-cage-over-false-claim-of-link-to-killer |access-date=7 June 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=4 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224054606/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/dec/04/times-pays-damages-to-advocacy-group-cage-over-false-claim-of-link-to-killer |url-status=live}}</ref>