Why did the Whitechapel murders attract so much attention?

Likewise the fact that 19th century Whitechapel was over-crowded, unsanitary, polluted with smog and very maze – like, lead any person to become vulnerable. This information aided Jack the Ripper’s popularity and indeed it aided him with the murders themselves as people were not able to keep a clear eye out on the road. Moreover, these conditions suggest that the police found it immensely difficult to catch the criminal in question due to the smog, and the secrecy of the streets of Whitechapel, in which a killer could easily be enveloped and disguised. Inevitably this lead to the civilians becoming worried with fear, after all a serial killer was on the loose and his next victim was unknown. They were   much more upset due to the fact that they felt insecure and doubted the efforts of the police. Furthermore, divisions of social classes in 19th century London also added to the interest of the media, for The Ripper would only prey on the alcoholics - namely the prostitutes having to work the streets to survive and feed their addiction, there would be a high chance that if they heard a prostitute crying for help it would be likely that citizens would take notice- think it was a waste of time to go help them. However the fact that it was continuously the prostitutes of the streets that felt Jack the Ripper's wrath turned him into a serial killer and made the public think that there was clearly something about the low-life's that they were not seeing. Hence, media attention was drawn to the absurdities of this killer's choice and conditions of victims.

Additionally, another major possibility which should be taken into consideration is the role of the press. This is made known via features such as the graphic descriptions; and more so in cheap national newspapers exaggerating and sensationalising Jack the Ripper’s modus operandi. These newspapers toyed with the imagination of readers and enticed reader’s attention with intense descriptions and gruesome images which were pasted all around the country - this provoked panic. The disadvantages to the sensationalising of the facts and images are that they were presented in the interpretation of the illustrator. Therefore, it was made a biased image and also caused attacks on innocent citizens who had any resemblance to the inaccurate newspaper illustrations. The time of the police was also wasted when the media would bombard the police for their lack of progress with the investigation whilst the police could have been searching for the killer. Thus, I gather that the media’s involvement in "spicing up" stories and overall sensationalising them could have been the major reason for such interest to the Whitechapel murders, not only then but throughout history.

 I personally believe that Jack the Ripper’s modus operandi combined with the role of the press – gave the press the chance to emphasize the murders because of it being so out-of-the-ordinary. The conditions of Whitechapel helped Jack the Ripper’s modus operandi because of the maze-like streets, and more so the conditions of Whitechapel made victims more vulnerable targets and added to the common drunkenness and blind eye put to prostitutes. Altogether, these were the main reasons behind why the Whitechapel murders became so popular and they are all equally important in attracting the attention of the eager media.