( CNN ) -- Rupert Murdoch has stepped down from a string of company boards of directors just one month after his embattled News Corporation announced plans to separate publishing interests from its lucrative television and film operations . The Australian-born media mogul made the move last week , according to a spokesman for News International , a British arm of News Corp . While Murdoch is expected to remain chairman of both companies , he will be CEO of only the television and film side , further distancing himself from the print business that first brought him fame and fortune . It 's not clear who will be CEO of the publishing company , which would be less than one-third the size of its counterpart . The News International spokesman on Saturday played down Murdoch 's boards resignation , calling it `` nothing more than a corporate house-cleaning exercise prior to the company split . '' Murdoch grilled on power , influence . News Corp. , a Murdoch-controlled media conglomerate , is expected to be divided in the next 12 months . The split comes after some of its U.K.-based newspapers were thrust to the center of a recent phone-hacking scandal . His British operations have remained under intense scrutiny after revelations of widespread phone hacking , which included celebrities and public officials , by people working for his newspapers . Gordon Brown lashes out at Rupert Murdoch , son and tabloid . The controversy prompted News Corp. to shut down its venerable British tabloid , News of the World , last year , and preceded a decision to withdraw a multi-billion-dollar bid to take over British Sky Broadcasting . The coming split would separate operations like 20th Century Fox film studio , Fox broadcast network and Fox News Channel from the firm 's newspapers holdings such as Britain 's The Sun , the London Times and the London Sunday Times . News Corp. 's American media holdings include The Wall Street Journal , the New York Post and Barron 's . Its book publishing assets include such companies as HarperCollins . Rupert Murdoch put pressure on Tony Blair , ex-prime minister says . CNN 's Richard Quest contributed to this report .
Rupert Murdoch stepped down as director from a string of corporate positions . A spokesman said it ` ` nothing more than a corporate house - cleaning . '' News media is expected to be divided in coming years .