Newspaper Suggestions?

Paul,

A laudable request - would that there was a newspaper that so completely addressed your requirements. However, IMHO, the real world says different.

That said, I would rule out the tabloids completely and look at the broadsheets - or rather, the 'compacts' as the trend seems to be nowadays. Even then every paper has an agenda of some sort, usually unspoken but very much 'there' as demonstrated by their choice of news, the way their address particular news items and, more obviously, who the proprietor is!

One option could be the Guardian which is more obviously left-wing but still IMO a pretty good newspaper. I suppose it depends on whether you prefer to read a newspaper which reflects your own opinions or are happier being challenged by one with more 'contrary views'.

The Times is (currently) supportive of 'New Labour' but its politics change on Murdoch's whim - very much the UK's own Fox News. The Telegraph is as obviously Tory as the Guardian is left-wing. In my opinion, and I recognise this puts it very simplistically, two sides of the same coin. As long as you recognise their views inform the way they handle the news, they could be considered to have something to offer.

Of all of them I think the one that fits most what you may be looking for is the Independent. It follows a very 'campaigning' line these days which makes it very distinctive from the rest, it's available in 'compact' form making it easier to handle than a broadsheet and, to my mind, is the only one of the quality newspapers that doesn't have an obviously left-wing or right-wing view.

Hope that helps.

jon

I would suggest the Financial Times as facts and opinions are clearly seperated.
It also has a rather good world section and somedays runs simple business and IT sections.
The weekend section alone is well worth twice the publication price.

Not left wing just pink.

For current affairs The Times or Independent according to whether you like the page layout. The Times has a proper crossword if you like that sort of thing. The two broadsheets are too polarised, IMO. If your primary reason for reading a newspaper is sport, culture or public sector job hunting then that may affect your choice, or cause you to buy different papers on different days...

Paul

I must say I envy you chaps for the amount of choice you enjoy. Sadly our population down here supports only one major paper per centre of population. Each of these papers has an editorial bias but, because they have an effective monopoly over the area in which the paper sells, most people have never seen enough contrast in reportage to detect bias so most people assume there is none.

Deane

Ceefax or Teletext ?

Being a journalist (well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it), I have to say that although the quality of the press here in Blighty is not always as high as it should be, it is an extremely vigorous, and, as far as circumstances allow, a very independent press. We in this country probably have a greater choice of papers to choose from than any other nation.

It's not which paper you read, but how you use the papers. All the papers have their faults - we know about the Mail's misogyny, the Express' reactionary scare-mongering, the Star's sub-Nuts tits 'n' bums obsession, the Guardian's smug statism, the Telegraph's old High Tory tedium, etc. Take everything you read with a pinch of salt and make "allowances" for the prejudices of the title you're reading.

But I have to say, the best source of "real" news (anywhere on the planet) is the BBC World Service.

Kevin (BBC Radio 4)

quote:

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Originally posted by Kevin-W:
It's not _which_ paper you read, but how you _use_ the papers.

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This statement has hit the nail on the head for me. I gather information to inform my opinions. It's something I do consciously and methodically and I take it seriously as one of the duties I owe in return for enjoying being a citizen/subject of a free country.

I think the idea of unbiased news reporting is a fantasy and akin to the historians' idea of antiquarianism. I can live with any bias - tacit or express - it's up to me to have a large frame of reference and an open mind.

Deane

Some years ago,I would have originally said the Times but since "Murdoc"has taken over the media, the only "News Paper" worth reading is the Independent, in fact it is the only News Paper. The Finacial times occupies a differant sphere, the rest are just comics that either fawn to their political masters or their advertising masters and the only real purpose they can justify ,is to be torn into 6"x8" pieces and hung by the corner, in the smallest room in the house as they used to be.
oldie

I would agree that it's a good idea to read a range of newspapers and certainly there are, as one woul dhope, obvious differences of opinions and biases in the ed/op-ed.

However, I think that the serious UK newspapers (Times, Telegraph, Guardian, FT, Independent) by and large provide excellent and unbiased news coverage. Apart from that, and outside of the Tabs (which are obviously serving a different purpose), the only newspaper with flawed news coverage in my experience is the Daily Mail who regularly allows its editorial to pollute its news pages.

Matthew

Paul:

I'm another inky-fingered hack. Whenever I'm back in Blighty, I buy the Guardian and the Telegraph. I like the balance between the two; the Grauniad provides me with comfortable validation; the Torygraph challenges my assumptions.

For entertainment, it's The Sun and Viz.

But don't forget your local/regional offerings. You don't say where you live, but there's almost certainly some excellent journalism in your hometown paper.

Davie

Greetings Paul;

They are all predominantly full of tripe (old tripe at that). I don't bother with them. And why people pay over a pound for the even bigger load of tripe that is a Sunday paper is beyond me.

It is remarkable in our technological age where the newspaper is effectively superflous; (for spreading pertinent and fresh news to the populace) that it sells as well as it does.

Entertainment value and tradition I guess?

John.

I bought the Guardian for years until a while ago when I tended to buy a paper on my way home from work instead of on the way to. I found that the Guardian was often sold out, so started buying the Independent and I'm now glad that I did. That's what I buy now. My mother gets the Torygraph and has done for hundreds of years and, like most Tories, without ever questioning that there may be something else out there. I read it when I'm over there and admit to enjoying it even though it makes my blood boil.
(Actually, Tories don't buy the Telegraph, they take the Telegraph.

The Telegraph is an excellent newspaper. I almost always disagree with its politics but they are nowhere near as offensive as the Mail (and Evening Standard for thatLondon dwellers). I am rather reminded of the difference between Old Skool "Country Club" republicans like Bush Snr and his cultist son. But politics apart it's a fine, fine newspaper.

Of the broadsheets the one I really don't like is The Times. There's just something terribly mediocre and bland about it.

To rank them in order I would buy them:

Guardian
Independent
Telegraph
[gap]
The Mirror
The Sun
The Times
[big gap]
Financial Times
Morning Star
[Massive Gap]
Daily Express
Daily Star
[gap size of galaxy]
Daily Mail

Matthew

Although it's only one issue among many, The Independent's coverage of Iraq has been the best I've found on the web or anywhere else.

The ones not to buy IMO are The Mail and Express. It's scary that many of the readers of these papers actually believe them!! You would be Much Much better of with the Sun, Star or Mirror than either of these two.

Chaps

Despite Matthews pinko waffle, the Daily Mail is the best paper in the UK. it offers good coverage and supports the values of middle England. I welcome its recent attacks on the chavs.

Long may it prosper.

Regards

Mick

Glasgow Herald and The Scotsman are my papers of choice.

Daily Mail? Daily Malice more like. A nasty, nasty paper written by and for the small-minded, petty-minded, little-Englanders, racists, homphobes, europhobes and mysogynists everywhere. (No offence Mick.) Can you tell I don't like it?

Indy or Graun for me please.

Steve.

It's a grand old team to play for...

Oh, and you can add the S*n to my wouldn't-buy list as well. Still not forgiven for "The Truth" article post-Hillsborough.

Steve, feeling exceptionally grumpy tonight. Must be the change to GMT but that's a whole different thread...

It's a grand old team to play for...

I detest paying Murdoch's "shilling", but The Times is indisputably a great newspaper.

Sadly, as of today, it has gone "compact", that is, tabloid size.

G

I subscribe to "The Week" and find it to be an excellent read. It arrives each Friday and gives excerpts from the other newspapers, left and right. It also gives an idea of some of what is being written in newspapers overseas.

For a balanced summary and a good hour's entertainment and illumination, The Week is definitely worth the asking price.

Steve

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Bull:
Daily Mail? Daily Malice more like. A nasty, nasty paper written by and for the small-minded, petty-minded, little-Englanders, racists, homphobes, europhobes and mysogynists everywhere. (No offence Mick.) Can you tell I don't like it?

Steve.

It's a grand old team to play for...

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And the other thing about the Daily Mail is it's apparent lack of news coverage. Waste of time.

Mike

Well I tried the Observer on Sunday, and I have the Daily Telegraph sat next to me which I'll have a read through later.

As for the Daily Mail.. hmm.. Jowell on the front page.. Kate Beckinsale dressed as Superwoman on page 3, and somewhere in there the small matter of deciding the most powerful man on earth today

Paul

Sod the papers what you need is a clockwork radio and the World Service.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

I think so far I've settled on the Daily Telegraph, haven't worked out any political allegiances yet, but it seems to do a pretty good job of telling you the "real" news.

thanks again,
Paul