The University of Tuzla

English language and literature

Introduction to British cultural studies I

A critical analysis of the Sun newspapers and its influence on British society
in the 1980s and 1990s

Professor:

Student:

Dr.sc.Jasmina Husanovi

Admir Husi

Date: January 5th, 2011.

A critical analysis of the Sun newspapers and its influence on British society
in the 1980s and 1990s
-Introduction
This essay critically analyzes the influence of the Sun newspapers on British society
during the 1980s and 1990s. Its aim is to present to people how these newspapers influenced a
lot, not only on British society, but on European people or on the whole world. First part of
this essay contains the beginnings of these newspapers, when it was first published, who
owned them etc. After this part there is a critical analysis during the 1980s and then the 1990s.
In the part where is contained the most influence of the Sun on British society in the 1980s,
there is also represented the influence of the Conservative or Tory Party but in the 1990s part,
there is described almost each year because there were a lot of interesting headlines in these
newspapers which influenced on the society. At the end of this essay, there is a short
paragraph which contains an authors thought about the Sun.
-The beginnings of the Sun
The Sun was first published in 1964 and it was launched by IPC (International Press
Corporation) to replace the failing of the left-wing Daily Herald and it was bought by Rupert
Murdoch. It is the best-selling newspaper in the history of Britain. When it was first
published, it had been printed in the large, broadsheet style. The style of writing is unusual for
foreign readers but funny for those who were born in Britain because the language which
journalists used is often imaginative with alliteration and misspellings. This is unusual for
foreigners because they could understand it as their illiteracy or usually disregard while it was
being publishing. But the publisher did it just to attract attention of readers. At the beginning
of publishing these newspapers, Murdoch has tried to attract readers by focusing on sex and
sport. Because of that, there was a topless model picture which was published every day on
page 3 including all major sports events. The Suns first aim was to give the latest
information, but later it has become an entertainment with a lot of gossips. The newspaper has
also been used as academic study about football.
A lot of cultural products have influenced on British society during the 1980s and
1990s. Newspapers occupy the most significance during these years, especially the Sun
newspapers. The main themes of newspapers were usually linked with British politics so the

Sun depended of the Conservative (Tory) Party during the 1980s, but when the Tory
government became more and more unpopular, the publishing of the Sun expectedly fell in
the 1990s.1
-The influence of The Sun in the 1980s
Because of the influence of the Tory Party, The Sun became its supporter and thats
why these newspapers often attacked the Labour Party. From 1981 to 1994, the editor of the
Sun was Kelvin MacKenzie who made a combination of gossip, celebrity, television and sport
and after him, the editor was Stuart Higgins (1994-1998). The success of The Sun newspaper
was based on popular stories such as sport and celebrity. In 1981, Murdoch sacked Larry
Lamb who was the editor of the Sun because he resisted introducing bingo and Kelvin took
the job from him who had more aggressive strategy in editing and publishing.2
In 1982, when started Falkland War between the UK and Argentina, there was the
headline Kill an Argie and Win a Metro that represents the real support to British military
and its success of taking the lead of the Falkland Islands.3
The Sun published an article about the partisan belligerence in the 1980s which
supported Margaret Thatcher but most people of Fleet Street were against the Conservative
Party. Since 1985 the sales of newspapers have fallen suddenly because of the development of
technical machines, especially, when increased an amount of production of TV equipment. So,
the Sun was becoming less important in British society and these newspapers have lost nearly
one-quarter of its readers.4
-The headlines which most influenced on British society from 1983-1989
On February 1983, the Sun was against the left-wing gay rights activist Red Pete
Tatchell which later culminated in Labours loss. The Suns reporters published the biggest
illustration of partisanship which came in attitudes to political leadership in 1983. At the same
year, during the campaign of election for Prime Minister, there was the headline Do You
Seriously Want This Old Man To Run Britain? which referred to the candidate of Labour

British Culture, An Introduction 2nd Edition by David P. Christopher, pg.49-50

Read all about it! A history of the British newspaper by Kevin Williams, pg.204
3
Popular Newspapers, the Labour Party and British Politics by James Thomas, pg.89
4
Read all about it! A history of the British newspaper by Kevin Williams, pg.206
2

Party, Michael Foot, who was over 70. It meant he was inefficient being the Prime Minister
and this was obviously one more attack on the Labour Party.5
Twisted, Evil, Treacherous was the headline published in March, referred to Tony
Benn, who was British left-wing politician. It was published just to be like a red rag to a bull
before the election. There appeared a new title Why Red Ken Is The Real Leader Of The
Labour Party as soon as published the article about Tony Benn. Here was explained why
Red Ken Livingstone should be the leader of its Party because it was thought he was not
going to be the real menace to the Conservative Party. There were a huge protests by the
Labour Party after the publishing of the headline When The Red Rose Turns Yellow but it
was still the Suns front page news. Another interesting event happened when the Sun
published a piece of news about Denis Healeys wife. It was an old story how his wife had
had a hip operation which he denounced it later and then he had a conflict in the public, on
television, about that. Because of that, the Sun soon published the headline Healey The
Hypocrite.6
Rupert Murdoch stopped the Suns premises of the Bouverie Street in 1986 and moved
operations to East Londons Wapping complex and he got the sack to many of his employers
and the workers protests were obviously unsuccessful. When 74 Liverpool fans had died at a
football match at Hillsborough in Sheffield in 1989, the Sun offended the citizens of
Liverpool who had not liked the Conservative Party and there were huge protests in which the
copies of this edition were burnt and the editors would not sell it. There was an ugly
movement of its editor when he published a mortuary picture of British reporter who was
killed in San Salvador, but it was not the only picture of dead people. Kelvin published some
pictures of people who died in Sheffield, Rwanda and Japan and there is no privacy of death,
whatever he had found out, he put it in the newspapers without regarding of often protests by
readers.7
-The influence of the Sun in the 1990s
There was a big downfall in popularity of all newspapers especially of the Sun because
it was the most popular newspaper in the UK and Europe. Less people have bought any
newspapers because they were informed by television, radio and the Internet. The Sun has
become much less aggressive than in the 1980s. Murdoch has invested in film and television
5

Popular Newspapers, the Labour Party and British Politics by James Thomas, pg.89-90
Popular Newspapers, the Labour Party and British Politics by James Thomas, pg.95-96
7
Read all about it! A history of the British newspaper by Kevin Williams, pg.214
6

more than in the newspapers and he was under financial pressure. But while the Sun was still
most popular newspaper, he used its success to make a profit for loss of other newspapers.
Because of these influences, the Tory Party has also become less popular but it did not
prohibit on their success on election in 1992.8
At the beginning of the 1990s, the Sun has usually written about Prince Charles life
and about the royal families in general. Queens Guards Eat Pub Pet Fish was one of the
royal headlines being published in the Sun. It was a story about drunken soldiers who were
eating tropical fish but considering that they were Queens soldiers, this story was erased.9
-The influence on the election and other events
The Labour Party leader was Neil Kinnock before the election in 1992. "If Kinnock
wins today, will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights" was published on
the day of the general election by the Sun and it meant nobody will stay if the Labour Party
leader wins. But when the Conservative Party unexpectedly won, there was a title Was It The
Press Wot Won It. When Tony Blair became the leader of the Labour Party in 1995, he
helped a Murdoch News Corporation to gain the media moguls support as well as a
commitment to open new media markets.10
In 1992, Princess Diana's relationship with James Hewitt was revealed by the Sun. A
few day later, it was printed the transcript of a telephone conversation between Diana and her
former friend James Gilbey and she had denied having an affair with him of course.
The Sun was still the most popular paper with 3.5 million editions per day during the
first 6 months in 1993 which was followed by the Mirror and it referred to the homocentrism
of the press which was preoccupied with the issues of society and politics. The Sun reported
on the bombing of Baghdad which was against the pressure of international crises. At the
same year, many photographs of football players published where they were shown as men
with physical strength even though any of these players did not fit its description. It was
criticized by government because of the headlines such as State House To Get Luxury
Vehicles and , Guns Saga: Police Tortured Women and Minister Grabs Vehicle.11

British Culture, An Introduction, Second Edition by David P. Christopher, pg.50

Talking of the Royal Family by Michael Billig, pg.6
10
Popular Newspapers, the Labour Party and British Politics by James Thomas, pg.87, 97
11
Press Freedom and Communication in Africa edited by Festus Eribo & William Jong Ebot, pg.142
9

-The Sun from 1996 until 1999

There was Football European Championship in England in 1996 and the Sun had
many critics on play of the representation, especially, when England defeated from Germany
in a semi-final match. The Sun reported Lets Blitz Fritz two days before the match. It
meant there is no chance for Germany to win again. We Beat Them In 45 Now The Battle
of 90 was the headline before a semi-final match also against Germany in World Cup 1990
and they were beaten. Every English person was furious when they lost the game and football
hooliganism took the important action after this defeat.12
In 1996, not linked with football, the Sun announced that it has had a video tape of
Princess Diana and James Hewitt. In this video tape, they have sex, but it was obvious that
was made by amateur actors just to make them ashamed.13
-Conclusion
The Sun is one of the most controversial newspapers in Britain. We can see many
cruel headlines which could dangerously effect on society and because of those headlines
there were a lot of incidents in the country. These newspapers usually used to provoke people
who are not the partisans of the Conservative Party or just to make people furious or satisfied.
It tries to make differences between Labours and Conservatives, also tries to prove that
Conservatives are best. The Sun also makes a good job because it usually gives people what
they want. They want to be up-to-date with information and they want to hear some
interesting events whether it is true or not and thats why it was the most popular newspaper
in Britain.

-Bibliography
12

Is The Novel Football Factory by John King An Authentic Picture of British Football Hooliganism?
by Aggy Gartner, pg.8-9
13
British Culture, An Introduction, Second Edition by David P. Christopher, pg.48

1. Read all about it! A history of the British newspaper Kevin Williams
2. Popular Newspapers, the Labour Party and British Politics James Thomas
3. Is The Novel Football Factory by John King An Authentic Picture of British Football
Hooliganism? Aggy Gartner
4. Talking to the Royal Family Michael Billig
5. British Culture, An Introduction, 2nd Edition David P. Christopher
6. British football and social exclusion edited by Stephen Wagg
7. Press Freedom and Communication in Africa edited by Festus Eribo & William Jong
Ebot