Best newspapers - worst newspapers

[Hunter]

The press was the catalyst in making the legend of Jack the Ripper.

Most of us have studied the various contemporay articles on the subject and many rely on portions as evidence. Since their contribution and effect were enormous:

Which of the contemporary London papers do you find most reliable?

Which do you find least reliable?

[Natalie Severn]

Hi Hunter,
On the investigation of the murders attributed to "Jack the Ripper" ,I tend to think The Times and Daily Telegraph were the most reliable .The Pall Mall Gazette is also priceless in another regard in that it was quite radical in its time and looks at the various events from a slightly different perspective and gives voice to those otherwise not bothered with or with alternative understandings about the way the investigation was going and it takes a look at who was saying what about who--if you know what I mean.Also it has to be remembered that The Times, in 1887 had run with articles and letters that defamed and libeled the Irish Home Rule MP Charles Parnell ,which was what The Special Commission of 1888/89 was all about.So in that area , it can"t be relied upon to be as objective and unbiased as can be desired.
[Incidently, Buckle, the editor of The Times, was besides himself when the newspaper lost to Parnell and had to pay him £5,000! That added onto their £250,000 legal fees to fight---and then lose the case must have set them back in all sorts of ways.In today"s money those sums would amount to approx twelve and a half million pounds ].
Best,
Norma