Update 3:12 p.m.: It's official. The newspaper companies have publicly acknowledged that James Murdoch has stepped down from their boards, reports The New York Times.

After serving as the public face of News Corp. in the phone hacking scandal, James Murdoch has resigned from a number of New Corp executive positions, the London Evening Standard reports. The titles he's reported to have given up include director of News Group Newspapers, which operates The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, and director of Times Newspaper Limited, which operates The Times and Sunday Times. Former Sky Italia head Tom Mockridge replaces him in both positions. The Murdoch son is also out as director of News International Holdings Limited. The Standard calls the resignations a "surprise move," but the son of the media mogul has plenty of News Corp. titles left: he is still in executive positions at BSkyB, News International, and News Corp itself. 

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at dgrandoni at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.