Journalists said to be shocked as ex-News of the World editor jailed over phone hacking gets job to promote truthfulness of papers

Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World who was jailed following the phone-hacking scandal, has been hired to do PR for the Telegraph Media Group (TMG).

His public relations firm, Coulson Chappell, has been awarded a contract to improve the standing of the company’s publications, the Daily and Sunday Telegraph. His main brief is thought to be to promote the papers as truthful and authoritative.

The appointment was overseen by TMG’s chief executive, Murdoch MacLennan, who is regarded as one of Coulson’s most loyal friends. He gave evidence on Coulson’s behalf at his trial.

MacLennan confirmed the appointment, saying: “We have a good working relationship with Andy, who has written for us a couple of times. We feel his company will add value to the business.”

Journalists working for the Daily Telegraph were said to be shocked and saddened by the decision to recruit such a controversial figure. One said: “This cannot do anything but harm to our brand. It will deliver a severe blow to the credibility of our journalism.”



Coulson, who was sentenced to 18 months in jail for conspiracy to intercept voicemails, was twice spotted recently at the Telegraph’s offices in Victoria, central London. For Coulson, the contract marks a significant step on the road back from the dark days of his imprisonment.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest (Clockwise from top left): Coulson with Rebekah Brooks (then Wade), Rupert Murdoch and former Murdoch executive Les Hinton in 2005. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian

His troubles began in 2007 when he resigned as NoW editor following the conviction of one of his reporters for intercepting voicemails left for royal aides. Six months later, he was recruited by the then Conservative leader, David Cameron, to be the party’s PR chief. When Cameron became prime minister in 2010, Coulson entered Downing Street as the government’s communications director.

He was dogged by continuing media controversy amid the growing phone-hacking scandal and was forced to resign in January 2011. He was arrested later that year and charged with conspiracy to intercept voicemails.

After an Old Bailey trial, Coulson was found guilty in June 2014 and sentenced to prison. MacLennan gave a character reference on his behalf, saying he admired him and had always found him “extremely honest and reliable”. He has often said that Coulson, and his NoW colleagues, should never have been arrested.

Cameron, by contrast, said he regretted hiring Coulson and issued a “full and frank” apology, saying: “I did so on the basis of undertakings I was given by him about phone hacking and those turned out not to be the case …

“I am extremely sorry that I employed him. It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that.”

Coulson was released in November 2014 after serving less than five months. As a condition of his early release he had to wear an electronic tag until he had served half of his sentence.

In January 2016, Coulson began his return to public life by launching a corporate PR agency with Henry Chappell, a former director of Matthew Freud’s agency and regarded as a sports specialist.

According to its website, Coulson Chappell offers “discreet corporate strategy and communications advice from a unique perspective”.