The Daily Sport
Encyclopedia
The Daily Sport was a tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom by Daily Sport Ltd., which specialised in celebrity news and softcore
pornographic stories and images. The daily paper was launched in 1991 by David Sullivan, following its former Sunday sister title, Sunday Sport (first published in 1986). It ceased publication and entered administration on April 1, 2011. Following the purchase on 7 June by the telecom, travel and internet entrepreneur Grant Miller, the new online Daily Sport http://www.dailysport.co.uk was re-launched on 17 August 2011 with sports coverage plus classified advertising for the first time in its 20 year history. Plans are now advanced for a print re-launch.
(the former Liberal Democrat MP) began a regular weekly political column. Instead, its news coverage indulged more in yellow journalism
, with an emphasis on celebrities
, bad behaviour and toilet humour.
The Daily Sport and Sunday Sport were known for their ridiculous headlines that referred to fabricated stories, such as "World War Two Bomber Found on Moon". Later editorial practice meant an end to such stories and an increased focus on celebrity news and sexual revelations.
Daily Sport often published fake nude pictures of celebrities and also paparazzi
'upskirt
' and 'downblouse
' or nipple slip pictures. The fake nude pictures were published with the appropriate disclaimers and captions, although the front cover image was often accompanied by a titillating caption. In 2008 The Sport was criticised by the Press Complaints Commission
for glamourising suicide
by publishing a "Top yourself tourism list".
A large portion of advertising was for adult goods and services, such as phone-sex chat lines and Internet chat and cam sites. A feature of the paper was the classified advertisements, which in reality were a series of short advertisements for massage parlours and escort services across the country. In later years, the classified adverts had also become a place for swingers
to advertise, as the swinging scene has grown.
The Sport claimed to have launched the careers of numerous models, among them Linsey Dawn McKenzie
, who began posing topless for the newspaper in 1994, and Cherry Dee who began posing topless for them in 2003 when they were both 16 (the legal age for such activity in the UK at the time). Among recent popular Sport models were Kelly Bell
, Hannah Claydon and Lauren Pope
; however, very few Sport models also appeared in the other tabloids which the paper regarded as its rivals.
The Daily Sport and Sunday Sport were sold by David Sullivan to Sport Media Group in 2007. The papers were relaunched in April 2008 under the editorial leadership of Barry McIlheney and James Brown
, the founder of loaded
. In October 2008, Pam McVitie was appointed the first female editor of the Daily Sport. In 2009, SMG had to be bailed out by David Sullivan
and Gold Group International, after having been put up for sale by its owners.
Softcore
Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
pornographic stories and images. The daily paper was launched in 1991 by David Sullivan, following its former Sunday sister title, Sunday Sport (first published in 1986). It ceased publication and entered administration on April 1, 2011. Following the purchase on 7 June by the telecom, travel and internet entrepreneur Grant Miller, the new online Daily Sport http://www.dailysport.co.uk was re-launched on 17 August 2011 with sports coverage plus classified advertising for the first time in its 20 year history. Plans are now advanced for a print re-launch.
Focus and content
The Sport did not focus on political news or world events, although in 2008 Lembit OpikLembit Öpik
Lembit Öpik is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until he lost his seat in the 2010 General Election...
(the former Liberal Democrat MP) began a regular weekly political column. Instead, its news coverage indulged more in yellow journalism
Yellow journalism
Yellow journalism or the yellow press is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism...
, with an emphasis on celebrities
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
, bad behaviour and toilet humour.
The Daily Sport and Sunday Sport were known for their ridiculous headlines that referred to fabricated stories, such as "World War Two Bomber Found on Moon". Later editorial practice meant an end to such stories and an increased focus on celebrity news and sexual revelations.
Daily Sport often published fake nude pictures of celebrities and also paparazzi
Paparazzi
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...
'upskirt
Upskirt
Upskirt refers to the practice of making unauthorized photographs under a female's skirt, capturing an image of her crotch area and underwear. The term "upskirt" can also refer to a video, illustration or photograph which incorporates the upskirt image. The term is also sometimes used to refer...
' and 'downblouse
Downblouse
Downblouse refers to the practice of making unauthorized photographs down the top of a female's dress, capturing an image of her breasts.The practice is regarded as a form of sexual fetishism or voyeurism and is similar in nature to upskirting....
' or nipple slip pictures. The fake nude pictures were published with the appropriate disclaimers and captions, although the front cover image was often accompanied by a titillating caption. In 2008 The Sport was criticised by the Press Complaints Commission
Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
for glamourising suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by publishing a "Top yourself tourism list".
A large portion of advertising was for adult goods and services, such as phone-sex chat lines and Internet chat and cam sites. A feature of the paper was the classified advertisements, which in reality were a series of short advertisements for massage parlours and escort services across the country. In later years, the classified adverts had also become a place for swingers
Swinging
Swinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...
to advertise, as the swinging scene has grown.
The Sport claimed to have launched the careers of numerous models, among them Linsey Dawn McKenzie
Linsey Dawn McKenzie
Linsey Dawn McKenzie is an English glamour model, pornographic actress, and minor celebrity.McKenzie made her topless modelling debut in The Sunday Sport tabloid newspaper on her 16th birthday in 1994...
, who began posing topless for the newspaper in 1994, and Cherry Dee who began posing topless for them in 2003 when they were both 16 (the legal age for such activity in the UK at the time). Among recent popular Sport models were Kelly Bell
Kelly Bell
Kelly Bell is an English glamour model. She has been described as the United Kingdom's "number-one glamour model."...
, Hannah Claydon and Lauren Pope
Lauren Pope
Lauren "Popey" Pope is an English glamour model, disc jockey, music producer and entrepreneur. She appears in the ITV2 show The Only Way Is Essex....
; however, very few Sport models also appeared in the other tabloids which the paper regarded as its rivals.
The Daily Sport and Sunday Sport were sold by David Sullivan to Sport Media Group in 2007. The papers were relaunched in April 2008 under the editorial leadership of Barry McIlheney and James Brown
James Brown (editor)
James Brown is a British journalist. He is best known for creating the modern men's magazine market with the launch of his title Loaded in 1994, a magazine that was said to define a generation...
, the founder of loaded
Loaded
Loaded may refer to:In music:* Loaded * Loaded * Loaded * "Loaded" * "Loaded" * "Loaded"...
. In October 2008, Pam McVitie was appointed the first female editor of the Daily Sport. In 2009, SMG had to be bailed out by David Sullivan
David Sullivan
David Sullivan is a Welsh-born British businessman and pornographer, who is also joint-chairman of West Ham United.He graduated in Economics from Queen Mary College, University of London. From 1986 until 2007 he owned the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport which he sold for £40 million...
and Gold Group International, after having been put up for sale by its owners.
Circulation
Circulation levels in 2009 were 84,000 and rising, but they then fell sharply with the company's financial difficulties.External links
- "Daily Sport shares plunge" Roy Greensalde, The Guardian 22 April 2008
- "Daily Sport unveils £1m redesign", The Guardian, 21 April 2008