Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

The Guardian: I'm boycotting it

113 replies

Merchfach · 17/04/2018 10:24

I've been reading the Guardian since I was 16, so that's 40+ years — and now I'm boycotting it. Every week there seems to be a pro-trans article on the front page of the online version and not a mention of the difficulties WPUK are having holding perfectly legal meetings to discuss changes to legislation. All power to Hadley Freeman and the other feminist staffers trying to raise the issue but it's too little and too late.

I'm looking for an alternative news source and for the first time in my life I'm actually considering the Times or the Telegraph, neither of which have been allowed over my threshold till now. I'm told the FT is good source of well-researched news but I don't think I can afford it.

Any other Mumsnetters in a similar situation? Any recommendations? I don't even want to click on the Guardian on line: it's dead to me and I'm not going to forgive and forget this betrayal.

OP posts:
Elendon · 17/04/2018 13:54

I liked the 'Living with Teenagers' until I read the aftermath, then I felt sullied.

I gave up when that awful man Tim Lott began his postings in Lifestyle. He gave me the rage every weekend.

LassWiADelicateAir · 17/04/2018 13:45

I stopped reading the Guardian when their family pages at the weekend disappeared up it's own arse

The rot set in with that dreadful Living with Teenagers series by Julie Myerson and earlier the series about "Precious" by Michelle Hanson.

Man with a Pram infuriated me and I never even read it.

terfing · 17/04/2018 13:11

I agree entirely with the comments here. I also no longer read THe Independent for the same reasons.

I still can't get over the Guardian's victim-blaming of Cologne. It really was jaw-dropping.

Funnily enough, since I've become a terf, I've started clicking on DM links, which I would never have done before. Whilst I don't read the DM, they do seem to report on both sides of the trans debate. It's funny how life turns out!

lucydogz · 17/04/2018 13:10

let us know what you decide merchfach!

WeAreGerbil · 17/04/2018 13:09

I actually used to pay a subscription to The Guardian (just in case they're reading) but won't even look at it now. I have a cheap subscription to The Times, tbh I think they've always been better for arts / health / lifestyle stuff anyway. I just don't read many of the opinion pieces.

SpartacusOfEtruria · 17/04/2018 13:04

I have been boycotting the Guardian for a while now. I don't click on links to any of its articles. I took out a subscription to The Times, in support of Janice Turner, and I am quite pleased with it. Some of the articles are very far from my personal politics, but I have no desire to live in an echo chamber, and I like to have my views challenged.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 17/04/2018 12:55

Another one here.
I grew up with the Guardian and I loved the women's page. But it's come a long way from its feminist past - pure brocialism. With the honourable exception of Hadley they mostly only seem to give space to women writers who know our place at the bottom of the heap. Cologne was a disgrace, as was the recent coverage of the transwoman prisoner.
Times and Telegraph have a stronger stable of feminist writers and a stronger commitment to representing women even if there are also some awful old sexists in there.

Original poster
Merchfach · 17/04/2018 12:42

This is what I've heard about the FT too. I think there's an element of getting what you pay for.

I'm going to sign up to a four-week £1 trial with the FT and also an eight-week cheap trial with the Times. When those end I'll try the Torygraph and decide which is best. Signing up to the Times in support of Janice Turner feels like an important move.

It's going to be hard to do: I really don't want any of those proprietors to make any money out of me but needs must. And I've just realised that all this is happening on the watch of a woman, Katharine Viner. Talk about the added irony!

OP posts:
Winewinewinegin · 17/04/2018 12:33

My peak Guardian moments include:

The article failing to even mention that a trans prisoner wanting to be moved to the women's prison was arrested for a sex related crime.

Reading an article about consent that had a young you tuber recommending resources for teachers. Clicked through and one was a book with a guest section from Riley J Dennis about how transphobic it would be not to have sex with his lady penis.

SianRunner · 17/04/2018 12:28

The Guardian is utterly bizarre these days.

lucydogz · 17/04/2018 12:25

I gave up on it post Cologne NYE, but am now again drawn back to the website to see what bonkers stance they might take on certain issues.
The FT is a great paper IMO - the best. I buy it on Saturdays, and spend the week reading it. That wouldn't work for those who want a daily fix of the news, but once a week is plenty for me.
The journalism is unbiased and excellent quality, with a good balance of foreign and domestic news.

Elendon · 17/04/2018 12:00

I'm going to have to stop the habit of a lifetime and give up on the quick crossword.

AngryAttackKittens · 17/04/2018 11:54

Just don't read the annoying ones? Proportionally speaking there's probably less of it than there are articles about gender/sex work yay so empowering/oh look there's some guy's navel lint again isn't it fascinating that the Guardian is currently putting out there.

SirVixofVixHall · 17/04/2018 11:52

I’ve also stopped buying the main paper, but I do still buy the Observer, and sometimes the Saturday Guardian. I’m going to drop the Saturday one and possibly the Observer too. I subscribe to the Times now, they are the only paper with any balance on women’s issues.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 17/04/2018 11:48

Pick a bit here, a bit there. No loyalty to any particular site.
I don't really trust any news sources, so I read them all with skepticism.
The most mainstream one I will look at is bbc news website.

Original poster
Merchfach · 17/04/2018 11:47

I thought the New Statesman might be the answer but I found it too cosy. I like my news hard — factual, complicated if the situation is complicated, with insight into historical/ political context. If I'm going to watch any news on TV it's Channel 4. Newsnight has lost any edge as far as I'm concerned.

Have an uncomfortable feeling that I might actually enjoy the Telegraph or Times, if I can deal with the right-wing opinions of certain commentators. Just wish my money wasn't going to the vile Murdoch or the Barclay brothers but if the left can't keep its standards up then what are we to do?

OP posts:
MsMcWoodle · 17/04/2018 11:44

Yup. Gave up the Guardian ages ago. Full of brocialists who couldn't give a shit about women as long as they can virtue signal in peace.

Viago · 17/04/2018 11:35

Sorry, just seen OP asked that earlier Blush

Viago · 17/04/2018 11:34

deydo which ones do you recommend?

BeUpStanding · 17/04/2018 11:34

Another one here who's swapped from the Guardian to The Times. Took a little while to get used to but now I love it. Some of the columnists don't reflect my views, but it's interesting reading their perspective and the tone is generally respectful and reasoned.

On the rare occasion I check out the Guardian online it now seems so shrill, like sticking your head into a kitchen when there's a stovetop kettle shrieking away

Trousersdontmakemeaman · 17/04/2018 11:20

I an recommend the New Statesman - weekly

Trousersdontmakemeaman · 17/04/2018 11:15

Yes, dumping the Guardian, it's got worse and worse.

Original poster
Merchfach · 17/04/2018 11:15

deydododatdodontdeydo, what would those alternative sources be, please?

I do want something with some editorial control and accountability. I met someone who worked for Buzzfeed the other year who was leaving because of concerns about lack of editorial standards. The Telegraph and FT and Economist have always had a good reputation for the standard of their reporting and they seem accountable in a way that online sources aren't.

Agree with all those who are lamenting the decline of the Grauniad. It's now a general interest website full of recipes and sex tips and lifestyle stuff with a bit of news attached. Breaks my heart and I'm sure it breaks the hearts of many working there too.

OP posts:
mimivanne · 17/04/2018 11:09

Merch

Same here.I now have a weekend subs to the Times ,clinched by Janice Turners brave pieces.
Despite 50 years with the Guardian,it has been surprisingly painless.

ALittleAubergine · 17/04/2018 11:08

Surely you should anyways be getting your news from a variety of sources. And be flexible when it comes to voting preferences rather than just always voting for one party. Keep them on their toes.