I felt compelled to write to complain after seeing your despicable insensitive news coverage of the awful crime of the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
Just to clarify I did not buy the paper and would not recommend it to any one as its a newspaper that regularly treats women as sexual objects objectifying them in the Page 3 feature which does not belong in a "news" paper. Unfortunately though other people do buy The Sun, and I had to listen to the comments when they were reading the front page yesterday Friday 15th February 2013. The headline was shocking in itself:
"3 shots. Screams. Silence. 3 more shots. Blade runner Pistorius 'murders lover'"
The fact that the victim was not even referred to by her own name says it all. Then there was the unforgivable and inappropriate photo that was chosen, reducing this horrific crime into more titillation in order to sell "The Sun" newspapers. Sexualising the murder victim just distracts from and belittles the crime. I saw men look at your paper and then say things like: "she was fit, what a waste", the complete lack of respect in the article backs up this thought process that she was there for men's viewing pleasure alone. Yes she was a model but on this occasion she did not pose for The Sun, she did not consent to this photo being the one used to accompany an article about her horrific murder, she did not agree to the ultimate crime of violence against women being sexually portrayed in this way.....lets not forget that this woman could not have made this choices as she is now dead. This is a crime in which a woman's life was needlessly taken in a brutal crime allegedly by someone she trusted. It deserves to be reported with sensitivity, respect and compassion both for her and for her loved ones whose lives will be devastated. It should not be treated as erotic sensationalism.
This woman is currently being morned for by family, friends, acquaintances. They will be remembering her NOT as Oscar's "lover", not Oscar's "girlfriend" of a few months , but as "Reeva" an individual whose memory deserves far more respect than The Sun newspaper gave.
The murder of a woman by her partner is not just a South African crime,in the UK 2 women per week die at the hands of their partner or ex partner. 1 in 4 women in the UK suffer domestic abuse and these women will be also thinking about Reeva and may be thankful that they escaped their abusive relationships and are now safe. These women, like me, will have seen your shocking front page, the day after "One Billion Rising" protests all over the world to end violence against women and will wonder how we can end these crimes against women when Newspapers like The Sun portray women's lives as disposable commodities.
The Sun should apologise for this article and for its treatment of women in general.
Just to clarify I did not buy the paper and would not recommend it to any one as its a newspaper that regularly treats women as sexual objects objectifying them in the Page 3 feature which does not belong in a "news" paper. Unfortunately though other people do buy The Sun, and I had to listen to the comments when they were reading the front page yesterday Friday 15th February 2013. The headline was shocking in itself:
"3 shots. Screams. Silence. 3 more shots. Blade runner Pistorius 'murders lover'"
The fact that the victim was not even referred to by her own name says it all. Then there was the unforgivable and inappropriate photo that was chosen, reducing this horrific crime into more titillation in order to sell "The Sun" newspapers. Sexualising the murder victim just distracts from and belittles the crime. I saw men look at your paper and then say things like: "she was fit, what a waste", the complete lack of respect in the article backs up this thought process that she was there for men's viewing pleasure alone. Yes she was a model but on this occasion she did not pose for The Sun, she did not consent to this photo being the one used to accompany an article about her horrific murder, she did not agree to the ultimate crime of violence against women being sexually portrayed in this way.....lets not forget that this woman could not have made this choices as she is now dead. This is a crime in which a woman's life was needlessly taken in a brutal crime allegedly by someone she trusted. It deserves to be reported with sensitivity, respect and compassion both for her and for her loved ones whose lives will be devastated. It should not be treated as erotic sensationalism.
This woman is currently being morned for by family, friends, acquaintances. They will be remembering her NOT as Oscar's "lover", not Oscar's "girlfriend" of a few months , but as "Reeva" an individual whose memory deserves far more respect than The Sun newspaper gave.
The murder of a woman by her partner is not just a South African crime,in the UK 2 women per week die at the hands of their partner or ex partner. 1 in 4 women in the UK suffer domestic abuse and these women will be also thinking about Reeva and may be thankful that they escaped their abusive relationships and are now safe. These women, like me, will have seen your shocking front page, the day after "One Billion Rising" protests all over the world to end violence against women and will wonder how we can end these crimes against women when Newspapers like The Sun portray women's lives as disposable commodities.
The Sun should apologise for this article and for its treatment of women in general.