The Sun's and The Times' Reporting of the Plot to Destroy a Boeing 747

          Both newspapers have varied in the way of content. Overall it seems that ‘The Sun’ has continued its theme of hating the suspect, even though it has not been proven that the man is guilty. The headline suggests that this man is dangerous and is wanted by the investigators of the incident. The sub-headline has the most effect on the reader. The first three words of the sub-headline indicates that the man is Middle Eastern, even though he comes from Libya, and that he is a rat [indicating that he is cunning, dangerous and shrewd]. These words seem to classify that everyone from the Middle East is someone like a rat. This would induce hatred. Also ‘The Sun’ shows that the victim of the incident was the suspect’s girlfriend, and adds to the sympathy for the woman and hatred against the man, by saying that the woman was pregnant. ‘The Sun’ brings the news really home, by saying that the blast would have occurred over London. This would mean that people in the street would have been hurt and may even be killed, because of the man. This would make the reader feel insecure and frightened of the man. ‘The Sun’ basically tells the entire story in the story in the headline, but the language and emotive words it uses makes the reader want to read on.

During the actual detailed description, ‘The Sun’ keeps on referring to the woman. ‘The Sun’ describes her as a girl. Making her seem innocent and not knowing anything of the plot. The newspaper also uses the phrase ‘the sobbing girl’. This makes the reader believe that the woman is distraught about this whole incident especially when it involves her. The first three paragraphs are dedicated to the girl and the unborn baby. ‘The Sun’ makes the story seem like a soap opera. This makes the story unrealistic but the reader knows it is true, adding the sense of fear. After all this description, the word ‘PRIMED’ comes along. This reminds the reader [if he/she has drifted] that there was a bomb was aboard, and could have been potentially lethal. ‘The Sun’ then concentrates on the man and what could have happened. The paper also makes claims, which have not been conformed. An example is the reference to the attack of Libya. This makes like that this plot was an act of revenge on the part of someone who sympathised with the Libyans, or someone who worked for them. The newspaper lastly leaves the reader with the frightening thought, what the bomb could have done to them our others they know.

‘The Times’ makes this article a sort of appraisal to the workers at Heathrow and the police who took part of diffusing the plot, also this article is a sort of assurance to the reader that the people in Heathrow know how to stop terrorist attacks.

Overall this whole article is also based around the known facts of the plot. The headline is extremely clever. On one side is the sad news that people have died somewhere, while the other side shows the happy side of the headline, by telling the reader that the authorities have stopped a plot.  

The first two paragraphs focus on the story, while the third and fourth paragraph concentrates on the woman, and what is known about her. The rest of the paragraphs are featured on the people who helped stop the problem. The quoting of the head of anti-terrorist branch, gives even more assurance the reader that the situation is highly important. The last paragraph just describes the man.  

        Both newspapers have completely different ways of presenting the story to the reader. Both use trademarks of their reporting. ‘The Times’ is a broadsheet newspaper. ‘The Times’ is an objective paper. This means that the article will be based around the fact, and no gossip or make-believe. ‘The Sun‘ is a tabloid. This article shows that the newspaper has a subjective manner. This means that the newspaper bases some of its story around the facts and other parts around fictitious writing.