Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Sun bares its Page 3 angst

 

Ian Burrell
Sunday 20 July 2014 19:27 BST
Comments
The Sun
The Sun

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Sun claims to be relaxed in dismissing the vociferous “No More Page 3” petition, which stands on the verge of 200,000 signatures.

Editor David Dinsmore’s line is that surveys show that readers enjoy Page 3 and vastly outnumber the critics – who don’t buy the paper in the first place.

But in recent weeks the tabloid has been using its news pages to campaign on the positive effects of going topless. Its “Check ‘em Tuesday” Page 3 breast cancer feature, which began in March in association with a charity called CoppaFeel, was afforded the first three pages on 8 July, after reader Wendy Bush discovered a lump. “I thought I was being paranoid – but The Sun saved my life,” she declared in the splash story.

Last Thursday, the red top gave page 8 to a feature on the #FreeTheNipple Twitter campaign, which is backed by singer Miley Cyrus and argues that women’s chests should be uncensored, like men’s.

“Deemed as offensive, the female nipple has spent years tucked away in bras and kept out of the press – other than The Sun’s Page 3,” said the paper as it noted that it was on the same side as a “new breed of feisty feminists”. It sounds rattled.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in