The Newspapers Coverage of Jimmy Savile

Jimmy Savile, who has posthumously been accused of abusing and
raping young girls and women.

The Sun and The Independent both featured stories about Jimmy Savile. This former TV legend of the 1970’s and 80’s, has been exposed as an alleged paedophile. These stories appeared in both newspapers on Thursday 11^th October 2012.

The Sun newspaper used this story on their splash page. This is because it is a follow-on story that has gripped the nation. It also keeps the readership of The Sun involved with the hysteria surrounding the allegations of Sir Jimmy Savile. Because of the story being at the front of the paper and a two page spread inside it is clear that this story is the most important for the publishers of this paper.

This could imply that the readership of The Sun like to keep reading drama that unfolds on a day-to-day basis. In addition, as Jimmy Savile is a celebrity, in which stories about celebrities often feature in The Sun, this appeals to the people that buy the paper on a regular basis.

Jimmy Savile's headstone before it is removed
from his grave at Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough.

The Independent does not feature the story about Jimmy Savile until page 12 of the paper. This indicates that the story is not of significant importance to their readership because the profile of The Independent reader being of a higher social class does not follow celebrity lifestyle with as much interest. Instead they focus on more important and intellectual issues.

This is evident in they language they use when writing their article. Their writing style uses more inventive terminology. One example of this is in the first paragraph they write: “facilitating Sir Jimmy Savile’s predatory abuse.” By using this language it will suit their readership as they would have had a better education and therefore have a more extensive vocabulary.

Jimmy Savile's headstone taken for disposal

The Sun on the other hand uses a more simplistic use of the English language. They have peppered their articles with phrases that force the reader to think a particular way. In a short paragraph of just 18 words they use no less than three remarks lead their readers train of thought.
The first paragraph of the article, The Sun reported: “The gravestone of pervert Jimmy Savile lies dumped in a skip after being shattered – just like his reputation.”

As the readership of The Sun is predominantly lower class their education would be of a lesser academic achievement. By using images that cover the majority of the pages it half tells the reader the story. The written text used in the story is short and almost gossip-like. The way the story is written and presented in the paper sensationalises and dramatises the event. The Sun is effectively telling the reader how to think.

The Independent on the other hand, has written a factual based article in which it allows their reader to draw their own conclusions.

Reporting the news is business and although it may appear that newspapers have sympathies with the alleged victims of Jimmy Savile they are more interested in making money and the use of the headlines, the images and how they use them, and the style in which the article is written is an attempt to entice their target audience to purchase their paper.

The unmarked grave of Jimmy Savile at
Woodland Cemetery, Scarborough