Sex (or at least the female form) obsessed Britain

  • Post

  • 23 May 2009

  • Posted by Alastair Campbell

  • 9

Having heard about the apparent suicide of former Korean President Roh, I thought Reuters might be the place to find out more. Sure, the story was there, very sad it was too, and reported in some detail. But what amazed me was the list of 'most popular stories' on Reuters UK. 1. Australian topless bathing ban urged. 2. Indian models dare to bare. 3. Bar Rafaeli designs perfect bikini. 4. Japan's latest bra push. 1, 3 and 4 are basically about women's breasts, 2 about women's bodies more generally. On Reuters? I was shocked. I shouldn't be. What a few years ago would have been seen as purely tabloid stories, or maybe an ITN News at Ten 'and finally'  slot, are now regularly most viewed/read on tabloid, broadsheet and broadcast websites. Not sure what if anything it means, but I felt like pointing it out.

9 responses to “Sex (or at least the female form) obsessed Britain”

  1. You would’nt see the PA filling it’s News Schedule with such content.

    It beggars belief with the huge range of news-worthy stories in the world at present. Perhaps the bank holiday and half term are creating a slow news day.

  2. Not very edifying is it?! Maybe people are more worried about getting laid, if they need implants, or if their husband secretly fancies Kylie Minogue (in the case of mine, not that secretly) than if Parliamentary integrity is intensive care and the economy feeling a bit peaky. Maybe everyone just needed cheering up?

  3. “Japan’s latest bra push” I think this was a typo from the original. Should have read “Japan’s latest paint brush”

  4. No, sea lion saved by panda in Saharan desert story? I thought animal stories would rank as high as sex stories. Oh well.

    Je sais que tu seras probablement incommunicado lundi alors permet moi de te souhaiter un joyeux anniversaire en avance. Bisous.

  5. None of these are NEWS stories… The Reuters I used to work for would not of given footer space to these. Dumbing-Down is alive & well & pandering to the lowest common denominator… Sad, very sad.

  6. Reuters

    This is a huge fall from grace from the organisation that first published reports of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

    What hope is there for the development of our young minds and souls if they are only feed drivel?

  7. Isn’t this what comes with the democratisation of the media? Its inevitable that the media will just feed us what we want to hear and see when their income relies on it. Documenting the truth just doesn’t fund papers. “Most read” lists on news websites just prove it, and possibly even more dangerously, encourage it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

177. Olaf Scholz: Putin, Power, and Far-Right Populism

Does the former German Chancellor think that Germany was wrong to rely on Russian gas in the run up to the war in Ukraine? What does Olaf Scholz think is behind the rise of the far-right Alternative f... Continue

23 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

Why Trump Wants Greenland

Why has Donald Trump considered invading Greenland? How does he think it will benefit him? What is the role of China in the Arctic? And what animals have Russia trained to spy for them? Listen as Alas... Continue

23 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

503. Andrew’s Arrest: What Next?

Why has the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor been arrested? How damaging is this unprecedented moment for the royal family? How effective was King Charles’ response? Join Alastair and the forme... Continue

19 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

502. How Nigel Farage Gets Away With It (Question Time)

Why is Reform UK's leader not being properly challenged by the press, and how does he get away with it? What does this reveal about the international populist playbook? How can our democracies be bett... Continue

19 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

176. How Close Are We To War With Iran? (Robert Malley)

How does the former US Special Representative for Iran think US-Iranian relations will improve? Is there a method to Trump’s madness when it comes to foreign policy? Why does Robert believe the “t... Continue

16 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

501. Is Starmer Too Soft on Trump? Inside the Munich Security Conference

Why did Trump's Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'love bomb' Europe at the Munich Security Conference, and how did it compare to JD Vance's infamous 'enemy within' speech this time last year? Is Europe ... Continue

16 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

The Battle for the Arctic

One of the most important political issues of our time - the battle for the Arctic. Why is Russia so dominant there? Why does Trump really want Greenland? And why is Climate Change right at the heart ... Continue

13 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger

500. Japan, China, and the Fight for Taiwan (Question Time)

Are Japan and China closer to conflict over Taiwan, after the landslide victory for Japan's 'Iron Lady', Sanae Takayichi? Does Trump’s crumbling American-Hispanic vote explain his extreme reaction t... Continue

12 February 2026

Post

Posted by Goalhanger