The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

How the Sun reported on the Milly Dowler scandal

News of the World's stable-mate the Sun buries the Milly Dowler story on page two,

By Duncan Robinson Published 05 July 2011 11:36

A private investigator working for the News of the World is alleged to have hacked into murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's voicemail while police were searching for her. He is alleged to have deleted messages and, in doing so, hindered the police investigation, as well as giving Dowler's parents false hope that their daughter was still alive.

The Guardian, Independent and Telegraph had the story on their front page, while the Daily Mail and the Mirror both had large inside stories. One paper, however, saw fit to give the story just 100 words and wrote it as a tiny "news in brief" on its second page. That paper? The Sun.

Here's how the Sun reported on it. On page two, opposite some tits.

The Sun's page two.

If that's too small, here's the a slightly larger version of the story.

UPDATE: Read the full-text of Rebekah Brooks's apology to staff here.

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Tags: Milly Dowler News Corporation Newspapers The Sun

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12 comments

Tue, 2011-07-05 13:17 — Peter Nicklin (not verified)

I notice that the Sun piece didn't mention that Mulcaire had also deleted some of Milly Dowler's messages, thus making her family and the police think she might still be alive. Re boycott - I have been boycotting News International for 20 years.

Tue, 2011-07-05 13:07 — john (not verified)

Viz comic had it right. They used to refer to the The Sun as The Scum, not sure whether they meant the readership or the arse rag itself?

Tue, 2011-07-05 22:05 — Graeme Hancocks (not verified)

Well it is the Beasts Ugly Sister so what do you expect? The truth? But if we tolerate this, what will be next from this evil organisation.

Tue, 2011-07-05 23:03 — PaulH (not verified)

The report on their website is even more bizarre, it is quite literally just a press statement from Rebekah Brooks - Millys parents are mentioned though - in the penultamate sentence where it states that they are suing the NOTW. Maybe they should point out the devastating effect that this would have had on them.
Also important to notice that this is the ONLY story on the whole of the webiste that does not allow reader comments.....

Tue, 2011-07-05 11:43 — Ed West (not verified)

Next to "beast gets boot". say no more

Tue, 2011-07-05 11:45 — Lou (not verified)

The good people of Liverpool boycotted The Sun and still do following their Hillsborough coverage. Any decent human being should boycott everything connected with News Inc and the odious man at the helm of these companies.

Tue, 2011-07-05 12:15 — capt-price (not verified)

If anyone is called up to jury duty part of the vetting process must include a question of whether the prospective juror reads either The Sun or The Daily Mail.

If the answer to that question is yes then that should exclude them straight away. On the grounds that they are completely unhinged and would believe absolutely any bull shit put to them.

Tue, 2011-07-05 12:29 — 1R4M

on page two, opposite some tits - haha!!!!
I love NS

Tue, 2011-07-05 12:57 — Adam Wilson (not verified)

"The newspaper's owners have co-operated with police hacking enquiries."

Took them long enough...

Also, got to love the way they refer to News International, as if these guys have NOTHING to do with The Sun.

Sun, 2011-11-27 19:02 — SanfordValentino

This girls phone was being hacked into as she lay dead, I can't believe anyone would authorise this, it's appalling. The people involved should at least be sacked or face criminal charges. http://www.trainingreiki.com/

Tue, 2011-07-05 13:19 — ang (not verified)

They have no respect for poor Milly and her grieving family.
This girls phone was being hacked into as she lay dead, I can't believe anyone would authorise this, it's appalling. The people involved should at least be sacked or face criminal charges.