Rupert Murdoch ‘expected to unveil iPad newspaper next month’

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is expected to unveil a digital newspaper designed specifically for downloading to an iPad or other tablet device later this month, according to reports in the US media.

The digital newspaper – called The Daily – is reported to be the result of collaboration between Murdoch and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs which has seen the media businesses work in secret for several months while they develop what could be an entirely new form of news distribution.

According to reports on Women’s Wear Daily the beta version of The Daily will emerge around Christmas then launch to the wider public in the New Year as a title with a ‘tabloid sensibility and a broadsheet intelligence”.

The Daily – which it is thought will publish seven days each week – is expected to cost 99 cents (62p)a week or around $4.25 (£2.64) a month.

News Corp has been developing The Daily for three months at its New York headquarters with a staff now approaching 100 after a string of senior appointments.

After launch the tone of the editorial is expected to take an ‘optimistic, populist stance’as it covers national events across the US.

“Writers have been told to find topics, establish beats and break storiesâ€¦If the TMZ and Nikki Finke world is saturated, there will be intense coverage of cocktail parties, charity events, crime and politics.

“There will be no foreign bureaus, and there are no plans for a D.C. bureau at the moment, but it’s expected reporters from New York will take care of important political news. Daily reporters will certainly go on the campaign trail as the 2012 elections heat up.”

These latest reports come after months of speculation about News Corp’s digital newspaper preparations and seem to have been spurred by James Murdoch, son of Rupert and News Corp chief executive in Europe and Asia, confirming last week that News Corp was close to launching a digital newspaper especially for tablet computers aimed largely at the US market.