Who even buys The Sun in 2023?

[Brrrrrrrrrrrr]

In light of the current situation and given The Suns track record of generally being a terrible newspaper with diabolical unscrupulous form to manipulate stories, I am curious to know who actually buys it and reads it?

It’s a genuine question because what is bothering me is the disturbing thought that there are people who read The Sun and actually believe what it publishes or even thinks it’s ok to publish it in the first place. Anyone who buys it is essentially saying they are ok with the methodology and lengths The Suns journalists go to in order to get a front page story and I’m wondering what it is they get from absorbing that kind of bad energy every day?

That the Nation and the press were so distracted by this story whilst other far more newsworthy issues were being ignored or lightly reported on is in itself mind boggling and frightening, they literally created a storm out of very little and scores of people were drawn in like it was a cliff hanger from Line of Duty.

Surely it’s time all the major retailers reconsidered selling it, what good does it actually bring to society? I agree there’s the freedom of speech aspect and this is my opinion but the tactics they employ to manipulate and cause divide amongst people are truly despicable and outdated, is it just ok and accepted to be this low?

I know. Fortunately I don’t need to read tabloids that would put my blood pressure through the ceiling to know exactly what’s caused the current shitshow.

The current shitshow has a lot more to do with Zuckerberg selling your data to Cambridge Analytica, and the like, than anything the British tabloids are doing.

Maray are you connected with restaurants of same name in the Pool? V fine establishments

I was wondering the same

Sorry just realised that could be an invite to out yourself! Let’s just say we’re both fans …

It’s got more to do with who’s sitting in Downing Street than anything anyone else is doing.

Maybe if as much effort was put into reporting on, say, climate change or massive government corruption, or the horrendous swing to the right across the world, we might get somewhere.

Good quality reporting takes time and money.

With newsroom staff cut to the bone and people who think the news should be free, how should it be financed and staffed?

Good quality reporting takes time and money.
With newsroom staff cut to the bone and people who think the news should be free, how should it be financed and staffed?

I don’t think it should be free, but I don’t want to commit to a subscription for any one paper either. In the old days when I bought papers, it would be a choice- not always the same one. The only thing for it is advertising. It’s a shame.

@Artycrafts if you would to experience a 'closed mind' then maybe you'd like to spend some time with my FIL?

It’s been interesting catching up on the responses, clearly ruffled some feathers I see, I wonder how many of those leaping to its defence have ever read a copy without laughing or cringing? Some of the responses seem quite articulated and well constructed…

Back to the original post though, are the readers comfortable with the shady tactics the reporters of The Sun use to garner attention? Was this recent debacle something you’re willing to overlook or did they simply go too far this time?

I have read the sun but not regularly. If people buy it with their own hard-earned money, read it and enjoy it, where is the problem?

The Sun has always been deeply unpleasant in a plethora of ways but people read it, or at least have a glance at the headlines, because it's not behind a paywall and it often gets scoops (or dishes the dirt, whichever way you want to look at it). Let's not forget that all newspapers have their agendas and scandals. Robert Maxwell owned the Mirror, the Independent employed Johann Hari and his fabricated stories, the Guardian reporting over Cologne and the Wi Spa incident was deeply misogynistic and they have a record of treating their female journalists very shoddily. I guess people know the Sun is a muck-raker but they, perhaps misguidedly, expect better of papers like the Guardian.

The Huw Edwards story?

Yes the Huw Edwards accusations

What about them? As a TV licence payer, I'm very invested in how my money is being spent. Aren't you?

Indeed, I think his salary is a good investment, his work is impeccable and he did not deserve in any way the shameful behaviour by the sun. So again, back to the question, are you comfortable with the tactics they use to conjure stories that ruin lives?

I think there may be some difficulty with use of the word “conjure” in this particular case, but we’ll see 😆

Given that it seems some BBC employees are now coming forward with complaints, describing his work as “impeccable” might also turn out to be problematic
a disregard for facts worthy of any tabloid here

There certainly is. His behaviour in his personal life and his professional performance are two entirely different things. His work is impeccable, nobody could have handled the Queen’s death and funeral half as well, it was a masterclass.

one imagines his fellow employees coming forward with complaints about his conduct might take a different view..,

They can take whatever view they like they can’t change the facts.

Yes! Excellent post. And murdoch is an evil tosser!

Are you suggesting they aren’t telling the truth?
or merely that if he is a sleazebag in the office it doesn’t matter?
either way, risible.

Neither. I’m not actually suggesting anything, I’.m stating facts. His work is impeccable, as a broadcaster he’s at the very top of his game and that’s been proved beyond doubt over the last year, to say anything else is risible as the proof is right there for anyone to see and that’s why the BBC audiences hugely outnumbered those of other channels for state occasions.

His behaviour off screen is an entire different matter. If the allegations are true it certainly doesn’t look great but his professionalism in his actual job is undeniable to any fair minded person.