Help me choose a newspaper.

[falcon]

I used to read a newspaper or two daily, usually The Daily Record,but I've since decided it's complete nonsense and would like to go back to reading a newspaper again but I'm unsure which is best.

While I do enjoy keeping up to the date with the news, I also love to read to articles about a variety of subjects from special needs to food to travel.

I'm very much a liberal, at least in regards to most subjects, and ideally the paper when opened would be somewhat smaller than the wingspan of your average albatross.

Times

If you're a liberal, I'd go with the Guardian. That's what I read (though I read it online).

It's a weird 'Berliner' size - not as small as a tabloid, but smaller than a traditional broadsheet.

the Independent. Although you might start to feel like slitting your wrists...

There's also a weekly news-roundup paper - can't remember what it's called. "The week" maybe?!

I have a very cheap subscription to Time magazine - it's a liberal American news magazine with an international slant and quite interesting.

How left wing or right wing is The Times?

Times is pretty right wing IMO (or at least pro-people with lots of cash) but has some great writers. And it's owned by Murdoch whcih may or may not influence you.

The Indie is dull dull dull

The Graun is hideiously right on

The Torygraph is entertaining but v v right wing

I tend to read the Times as I always find something of interest and would consider myself pretty middle of the road politically.

The Times isn't half as right wing as it used to be (but The Sunday Times is a little more to the right, I find).

The Indie is rather thin and dour. Looks like they've not got much money to lash around (which is true).

I can't read The Guardian anymore. Horrendously pleased with itself. I have gone from reading it every day to writhing when it's even mentioned.

Telegraph nice and fat with good features, but yes, pretty rw.

I vote The Times. The Saturday Times is particularly enjoyable so I'd buy that tomorrow and see what you think.

yes smuggery pours out of the Graun in a viscous mess

'where to buy your designer recycled bog roll holders'

(and yes I used to read it regularly too)

The Independent and The Guardian would probably chime with your outlook. But, having bought both for a while (before discontinuing) they've certainly got their flaws.

The Independent is basically one long editorial which means that (a) it gets rather dull rather quickly (b) it only really focuses on stories which are in it's areas of editorial focus and (c) all your news is served up in a partisan manner which means figuring out the true situation is quite difficult.

The Guardian is better but the level of journalism is (to my mind) quite weak and their level of analysis of situations (especially business and international) can be very poor. Their editorials are also pretty average. They're great at certain things though, for example, domestic politics, green issues and media, Once again though it is clearly quite partisan albeit not as much as the Independent.

Personally, I share your outlook and tend to end up getting The Times (or FT) - it's very good for business, sport and International issues and has some really high quality columnists (like Anatole Kaletsky, Martin Samuels and David Aaronovitch). Bear in mind it is a Murdoch paper though, so it will always reflect his views to some extent, e.g. on Europe, capitalism, foreign policy so they need to be read through a Murdoch-filter. That being said, I find it significantly less partisan than most other papers.

Most objective paper to be honest is the FT - great at delivering the facts, not just in business but also international. It can be very dry though if you like a slightly more lively paper and obviously focuses most on economic issues.

oooh - I want a paper that'll keep me busty! will I have to put in a special order with my local newsagent?

Are you using it to stuff your bra, MaloryTowers?

If you read the Daily Record, why not start getting the Scotsman or Glasgow Herald.

never got on with the Scotsman myself