Sun

17 Pages 4140 Words

The Sun daily newspaper is a success! It may not be every ones idea of a
success; in fact to many The Sun is a disaster. This essay will explore
the differences between these two views of what is the United Kingdoms
largest circulation newspaper. It will reach into the past to discover its
roots and follow its growth to the present day as Britain’s and possibly
the Western worlds largest circulation of a Nation daily newspaper How
national newspapers like the Sun ‘fit’ into the large media conglomerates
and the restraints and freedoms encountered and enjoyed in an expanding
world of media technology Whether this technology has created a fourth
estate and as James Curran and Jean Seaton would have it ‘Power without
Responsibility’. (2) Finally it will address the future of newspapers as
we approach the 21st century The first object of the media, any media is
to attract an audience. In this the Sun has certainly succeeded six days a
week month in month out it has attracted that audience in large numbers.
It was not always so! The Sun was built on the ashes, or rather the
remains of the Old Daily Herald. The International Publishing Company,
which had acquired Oldham’s shares in the paper in 1961, gained a
controlling interest by persuading the Trade Union Council to part with
their substantial holding in 1964. (3) Up to this time The Daily Herald
with its links with labour, and part ownership by the T.U.C. was the sole
remaining outright supporter of the labour party. It radical views
attracted a mainly working class readership which compared to its
capitalist rivals had a larger circulation than most, and certainly a more
loyal one. However despite the fact that The Daily Herald had grown to be
the daily newspaper with the largest circul...