The British gutter press what's your view folks ?

[LochNessMonster]

Personally I have never bought a newspaper in over 20 years.

[mikey4444]

I have been reading the Guardian 6 times a week for over 30 years. I used to ready the Daily Mail but a Union Rep suggested I try the Guardian and I have looked back since ! ( I can't imagine reading the Mail these days ! )

Its owned by a charitable trust, not a big Media Baron. It is not exactly left wing in itself but it could never be described as a Tory Rag either. In my mind it the BBC in newsprint, and the BBC is truly great institution, of which we must be vey proud.

It has good in-depth coverage of British and world events and explains complicated things very well. An example would be the current debate over reform of the House of Lords. Today it had good coverage of the latest banking scandal over Barclays fradulent activities. It has, arguably, the best Crossword setter in Araucaria ! The Arts coverage is of a high standard, and while I am not terribly keen about sport, it would seem to fill that brief very competently.

It also has a wickedly funny cartoonist in Steve Bell.

I am always puzzled when I hear people say that " I never read newspapers". While the Tabloids are full of trivia and gossip, a good broadsheet, like the Guardian is an excellent source of infomation about what is going on in the world.

So if people say that they don't read newspapers, where do they get their knowledge from ? I also listen to Radio 4 and always try not to miss the Today Program. While this early morning show is probably the best there is, it can only cover a few subjects each day. Good as Humphries is, the program can only do so much. The Guardian provides a much broader, more in-depth experience altogether.

I suspect that these non-newspaper-readers are just not interested in anything important. Why they can't just come out and say I'm not...perhaps they are ashamed of their ignorance.

When I am abroad, and I can't get the Guardian, then the Times and the Independant make a reasonable substitute.

Allthough I detest Murdoch, the Times, and especially the Sunday Times have pulled no punches when reporting all the recent news over News International's shenanigans.

Knowledge and education gives you power !

[seadogg]

The old "Manchester Guardian" was a worthy ancestor too Mikey.

[DTCwordfan]

distraction I know, ness, but hi, seadogg, haven't seen you around here much lately!

[craft1948]

lol Mikey, you'll be saying the BBC don't have a left-wing bias next............

[baza]

in the days when papers were sent on trains i would bring home a copy of every paper printed in london so that Mrs B could do the crosswords, it beat talking to her when coming in off nights. Now we have the daily/sunday mail delivered,she does the puzzles and i scan the news and any interesting bits that grab my attention.

[mikey4444]

If the BBC gives this latest Tory Government a tough time, why is that wrong ?

I watched Paxo last night grilling this silly girl that the Government had put up to explain and defend the latest u-turn, this time on fuel duty. She was plainly not up to the job and deserved all she got.

The BBC was just as hard on Blair during his years in power, and quite rightly so. Brown also deserved all he got. When Labour get back into power, as they will at some time in the future, I expect the BBC to be as critical and scathing if they get things wrong. And they will of course...as sure as eggs are eggs.

The BBC is one of the things that is good about Britain, and is admired, and feared all over the world.

Ask Aung San Suu Kyi what institution she admired most, all those years in the wilderness....The Daily Mail, the News of the World or the BBC !

Its the job of the BBC to call to account any government, left or right wing.

Thanks God for Paxo, Humphries, etc.

Would people be happier if the Daily Mail where put in charge of the Today Program ?

[sunny-dave]

^^^ best answer ^^^

[Brenden]

At least you can make your own mind up when you read a newspaper, better than having no access to what is going on in the world.

[boxtops]

I buy the i because it's only 20p and it has good crosswords - I don't often actually read it. I pick up the free Metro if I find one, and I'll get a free Evening Standard if I'm in London. Otherwise we only buy the local rags.

[monkeyboy_harris]

Excellent answer Mikey. In my experience, the people who bleat on about the Beeb's supposed "left-wing bias" do so because the BBC refuses to cosy up to the Tory party and give their politicians an easy ride. As you say though, they hardly let Blair or Brown off the hook either. Funny how the conspiracy theorists conveniently forget that.

I haven't bought a national newspaper for a long time. I like to be told the news, not what to think.

[humbersloop]

^^^ wot mikey said.

Grauniad reader, though online these days. I think i is a belting little paper.