Sun heavily criticised for mocking Roy Hodgson’s speech impediment on its front page
On the day after Rupert Murdoch was declared “not fit” to have “stewardship of a major international company”, and he sent an email to staff, in which he said the report by the parliamentary committee “affords us a unique opportunity to reflect upon the mistakes we have made” , the Sun is under fire for attacking new England manager Roy Hodgson on its front page. Hodgson was named England manager yesterday.
The paper pokes fun at Hodgson’s speech impediment and seems to be a particularly shoddy way for the paper, and the company at large, to reflect on its past misfortunes and will endear it to few.
Among those criticising the Sun are former editor David Yelland and senior sports journalists including BBC Five Live’s Jacqui Oatley.
A tweet by Oatley criticizing the Sun’s has been retweeted more than a thousand times.
Charming front page of the Sun. Hodgson has won 11 major titles/trophies, speaks 5 languages but let’s mock his speech twitpic.com/9g5ru5
— Jacqui Oatley (@JacquiOatley) May 2, 2012
While journalist turned PR man Yelland called the Sun’s front page “pointlessly cruel, pointlessly hurtful”.
So little compassion for Roy Hodgson today, bullying language, pointlessly cruel, pointlessly hurtful.
— David Yelland (@davidyelland) May 2, 2012
Jon Slattery has a good collection of others condemning the Sun on his blog here.
