Reading the Guardian

[littlebitupset]

Always read the Guardian but didn't fully realise what was happening to Suzanne Moore until she left. Am horrified at her treatment.

I'm now conflicted with some of the remaining columnists, who I previously admired but now wonder how they can stay and, in my opinion, look like they support the signature list that went around even if they didn't sign it. (I don't know who did sign it).

Hadley Freeman springs to mind the most.

Where is the solidarity?

Hadley has spoken out against Moore's treatment I think?

Oh I do hope so.

Apparently people had signed the letter who she thought were friends. Truly awful. I can't even imagine how betrayed she must feel.

I am sad to do it, but I try to avoid clicking on any guardian news stories.

I feel that the guardian should be for someone like me, but it isn't. Furthermore, because of Owen Jones and co, I actively want to avoid it.

Hadley has defended Moore, but no doubt has her own mortgage to think of. It’s not easy to replace a job like that but I’m sure it’s almost as shit working conditions for her as it was Moore.

Hopefully both will find more suitable work environments in the near future. Clearly the Guardian is a hostile environment for women who understand material reality.

Hadley has been very supportive of her. Another woman who's name I cant just remember has been very supportive too. Think it's been pretty unpleasant for them too.

It's a gloomy and depressing read anyway.

Hadley Freeman defended her from the start and I can well imagine she's feeling the heat right now.
Susannah Rustin (a leader writer) has recently spoken up for her (Moore) on Twitter and apologised for not saying anything sooner.
Polly Toynbee tweeted something pointed and very supportive when Suzanne left.
John Harris and Marina Hyde also tweeted in support when she left but in vaguer terms.
There may be more.

I'm just fizzing on her behalf. It's just so unjust. No place for debate, just a boot out the door.

These are icons for women ffs getting treated like pariahs.

It's an old fashioned witch hunt.

I suspect time will not be kind to those making the decisions. Justice has a way of working its way back.

I skimmed the list of signatories and really wish I hadn't. A couple who I really liked were on there, plus a good friend of a friend. Weirdly, a columnist I am quite critical of for being light weight and ill informed, was not there.

speaking as someone who took the paper as a default position for years, then stopped after their coverage of Cologne NYE, move on. Read other papers. There's good stuff out there. My OH reads the Guardian on Saturdays and, when I glance at it, the journalism always seems pretty poor (at least compared to the FT, which do read regularly).
I haven't missed the Guardian at all.

DH read Suzann Moore's article on UnHerd. I think that opened his eyes a bit: I've been telling him for months that it takes external funding from 'philanthropists', which I think is inexcusable in terms of press ethics.

I don’t get the guardian but read it occasionally when I visit my in-laws as they get the Saturday paper (which has shrunk considerably over the years). I have noticed a considerable decline over the last ten years, maybe helped by the fact I only read it every few months then read a lot of it (something to do at the in-laws). I think what made me realise the journalists lived in a separate world and could not see beyond their walls was an article on drugs. The starting point was everyone took drugs and the article was built on this assumption. There was not even a nod to the harms and damage of the illegal drug trade.

I think twice about clicking on guardian links now just like I do with daily fail links. Their misogyny really makes me sick.

Where is the list? I have subscribed to Letters from Suzanne, as I am horrified at her treatment. However, I’m hypocritical as I also subscribe to the online Guardian. I live overseas, and I enjoy what used to be G2 and the Saturday Guardian. There’s nothing like that here.

Any recommendations of alternative newspaper? All seem right wing though maybe The Independent?

IMO the FT is the most balanced, and the best journalism. and, no, I don't work there

I've been telling him for months that it takes external funding from 'philanthropists', which I think is inexcusable in terms of press ethics.

It's not any different from taking advertising. The Guardian publishes articles that are paid for by the Open Source Foundation, and they are clearly marked as such. It also publishes articles sponsored by a range of other organisations, again clearly marked as such.

Other newspapers also take funding for sponsored content, though I believe the Telegraph has recently closed down its sponsored operation.

There is a wider issue here of course, which is how newspapers are to make money when they offer their articles for free.

Open Society Foundation that should be.

I might treat myself to a Times subscription for Christmas, although it’s pretty pricey. Others have recommended Private Eye. Currently I read a blend of newspapers from the news updates on my phone - guardian, DM, mirror etc. Anywhere that’s not paywalled.

I share your anger on Suzanne’s behalf. I hate those self-righteous woke bullies. I was surprised not to see Laurie Penny on the list of signatures though but maybe I missed it. Owen Jones was on there of course. It was also ridiculous with that person who had already left for unrelated reasons who now ‘resigned again’ due to the horrific transphobia.

The TRAs of course deny that Suzanne’s name was mentioned in the letter, call her a racist as well as a transphobe and laugh at her claiming she is being silenced because some papers have printed her story. Typical gaslighting and bullying behaviour of course. It’s one of the most loathsome part of that movement, their straight up denial that any of this stuff is happening whereas they would be up in arms if the tables were turned.

@MaMaLa321

IMO the FT is the most balanced, and the best journalism. and, no, I don't work there

a jounalist I know said the FT had the highest no of marxists working for it! the Weekend edition on st is v good

I'm pretty sure Laurie Penney didn't sign but I don't think she writes for them regularly. Admittedly I'm not clear on who counts as Guardian staff as opposed to occasional contributor.

Most of the signatories weren't writers. The names were published on Buzzfeed and Moore also tweeted them. As I recall, Eva Wiseman was one, also Simon Hattenstone (a personal disappointment) and a music editor who's so good their name escapes me. And, you will not be surprised to learn, Owen Jones.

the music editor was a total knobhead long long twitter thread on HIS twitter

If you have Amazon Prime you can read The Spectator for free. Various Guardian writers have written articles on there recently.

Here are the signatories:

www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sr64n9

NotBadConsidering

A fair number of US and Australian based staff on that list. I was intrigued by their "job" titles, what is an "Agile Scrum Master"?