Best English News Source?

[Gideon]

On the Kindle they are all the same price, so I get the most bang for my buck out of the Sunday plus the best features and articles ($.75 a day). Anything big through the week I'll end up reading online somehow, most likely.

I just like having a 'newspaper' in the morning (though on my Kindle, not real paper.. such a nightmare to recycle!) but I need to figure out a more clever way of doing it.

And you're right, the economist is great. I'm keeping most of my subscribed magazines - the New Yorker, the Atlantic, etc... These aren't much on a month to month basis but the content is great. I wish the Economist was available.

[ahi]

Try the Christian Science Monitor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science_Monitor

Despite its name, the Monitor was not established to be a religious-themed paper, nor does it promote the doctrine of its patron church. ... The paper has been known for avoiding sensationalism, producing a "distinctive brand of nonhysterical journalism".

- Ahi

[scrumhalf]

Why not use the excellent 'Fetch' facility in Calibre and read a selection. I just googled to find the descriptions of some that are available:
The Broadsheets:
The Independent: The newspaper's name is reflected in its tradition of not swaying to the support of any political party - unusual for a leading national newspaper. Its political stories traditionally debate, rather than support or criticise, political initiatives. However, they traditionally operate as a centre-left newspaper in the style of a Liberal Democrat supporter rather than a supporter of the traditionally right-wing Conservatives and the left-wing Labour Party. The Independent has been particularly critical of the Iraq War, in which Britain has participated since March 2003, when Labour's Tony Blair was six years into his 10-year period as prime minister.
Daily Telegraph - Known as "The Daily Torygraph" for its trenchant support of the Conservative party. Well known for its crossword and sports coverage (ESPECIALLY Cricket). Also had a major scoop when it recently exposed the MPs expenses (which was quickly picked up by all other newspapers).
The Times - One of the UK's oldest newspapers (founded in the 1780s), currently owned by Rupert Murdoch. A neutral-to-conservative-leaning paper which, unlike The Sun, is editorially independent and therefore doesn't necessarily have to toe the Murdoch line. Famous for its cryptic crosswords, and also the origin of the ubiquitous Times New Roman typeface. Occasionally referred to abroad as The London Times or The Times of London to distinguish it from other papers which imitated its name.
The Guardian - Formerly The Manchester Guardian. AKA "The Grauniad" or "General Belgrauniad", for its frequent printing errors. Officially a "centre-left, liberal" newspaper its columnists and readership often veer further left and its letters page can sometimes read like the outpourings of Private Eye's parody Trot, Dave Spart (often to the point where people can't tell if it's a parody or not. The term "Guardian reader" or "Guardianista" is sometimes used as a derogatory comment on a person's political leanings, similar to the US "latte liberal" or (more to the point) "New York Times liberal".
Mid-market tabloids:
Daily Express - AKA "The Daily Sexpress" since its owner is Richard Desmond, a porn baron, and the paper advertises his channels' programmes (although amusingly, it's quite reactionary, and manages to convey an impression of being against porn in general terms). It
Daily Mail - Says the enemy's among us, taking our women and taking our jobs. Ultra right-wing, populist, nationalistic, xenophobic, isolationist often hysterical and notoriously obsessed with the immigrants and house prices and, lately, a campaign against claimants of state benefits. Infamously supported fascism in a big way in the 1930s (hence the common "Daily Heil" nickname; prior to World War II, it openly advocated an alliance with Hitler), and currently likes to present itself as the voice of the "silent (moral) majority"
Tabloids:
The Sun - Famously, home of the Page Three Stunna, although it's not the only tabloid to do so. Also known for using topless women to sell propaganda . Solidly conservative-right when it comes to politics, its populist working-class stance means this position is usually dressed-up as standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the common man, often unconvincingly. Supported the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major before deciding to back Labour in 1997, 2001 and 2005 (in spite of spending much of this period attacking Labour Party policy in its editorials), it now supports Cameron's revitalised Conservatives.
The Mirror - A generally left-wing tabloid (though as a populist paper it can veer right on issues like crime), supporting Labour doggedly but opposing the Iraq War. Ironically founded as a Conservative stable-mate of the "Daily Mail" (to the extent of supporting Oswald Mosley), but new ownership in the 30's turned it to its present left-of-centre ideology. Had one editor (Piers Morgan) sacked over faked pictures of abuse in Iraq , then few months later ran the "Bush states have lower IQs" hoax as genuine. Has been in decline a long period of time. Also known as the "Daily Moron", after Piers Morgan - always named some variant on Piers Moron by Private Eye

Most are available to download for free; check out which are and try for a few days/weeks.

[raphaelnonsenso]

Originally Posted by HarryT

For many people, if the BBC says something that they happen to personally disagree with, that's "proof" that it's biased, but the point about the BBC is that its Royal Charter says that it HAS to be neutral, and there's a board of governers (or whatever it's called these days) who ensures that it is. When they do get it wrong, heads generally roll.

I think that one can perfectly reasonably say that, at the least, the BBC are far less biased than any newspaper, all of whom perfectly openly have one political "slant" or another - eg the Telegraph is a "Tory" paper, the Mail a "Labour" one, and the Guardian "Liberal".

Must say that is the first time I've heard someone call the Guardian 'Liberal'.
Try 'The Independent', It's free online and a good solid paper

[weateallthepies]

Holy resurrected thread Batman!

I actually think the Guardian has one of the best online presences. Full content feeds of their entire output, numerous podcasts and blogs, probably the best science reporting of any UK paper. It has it's faults like any newspaper but they are miles ahead of the others where the internet is concerned.

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by raphaelnonsenso

Must say that is the first time I've heard someone call the Guardian 'Liberal'.
Try 'The Independent', It's free online and a good solid paper

The Independent is OK for some stuff but their science and tech reporting is awful, I just can't take it seriously.

[raphaelnonsenso]

One of its newer nicknames of the Daily Mail is 'The Nazi News'. nuff said!

[PeteS]

Harry T: If you think the Daily Mail is a Labour paper you really should get out more or alternatively read it.

I do hate that phrase 'nuff said' as if the author of the missive is an acknowledged expert and no one else's opinion is worth considering.

Sorry - feeling a bit grumpy today - must be my age.

[hidari]

Originally Posted by raphaelnonsenso

One of its newer nicknames of the Daily Mail is 'The Nazi News'. nuff said!

Hey... I like the Guardian... but many call it Al Guardian....so....


HarryT's description is not that off...it is more to the right than the Independent

[hidari]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The BBC News site is my favorite: http://news.bbc.co.uk

It is entirely politically neutral.

I concur.... Da Beeb is pretty good.