Photography by msct66
Everybody has their preferred news sources. Here are mine in the order in which I keep up with current affairs. It has a UK bias for two reasons.
Everybody has their preferred news sources. Here are mine in the order in which I keep up with current affairs. It has a UK bias for two reasons.
Firstly there's a rich newspaper tradition forged over hundreds of years in England; traditionally there was never much space in UK newspapers so editors were always pushing journalists to write more concisely. It led to a quality of writing that still exists today. Compare the more expansive NY Times or Washington Post with the Times or Telegraph in a like-for-like article and you will get a sense of what I mean. That said, there are some very significant US news sites in my list and they are vital for keeping up with what is happening 'stateside.'
Secondly, I live in the UK. 'Nuff said. So here's my list.
1. Daily Mail
The Daily Mail, known to some as the Daily Rail. This is the paper that knows something has gone wrong with the UK. It's probably got something to do with the Left being in power but honestly it could perhaps tone down its outrage sometimes. No wonder the UK is suffering more professionals emigrating than any other nation in the world (other than Mexico. There's a happy statistic!). Good quality reporting from some heavyweight hacks though with a real feel for what's going to make Britain splutter into their cornflakes in the morning. Don't read if you suffer from outrage fatigue though.
2. Daily Telegraph
Excellent coverage from this broadsheet and a real heavyweight presence in the marketplace. Very good in the morning for putting its finger on the key goings on in the world. Generally doesn't miss a trick with some in-depth pieces.
3. Times Online
I used to read the Times first before both the Mail & Telegraph but then their Web designers did a disastrous re-design and did everything in their power to hide the real news. Either you couldn't find all the news on the front page (what is it with that? Don't they understand headlines?) or you had to take a lucky dip by clicking on the headlines with no description to go on at Times Newspaper Edition. Just goes to show even the biggest organisations can really stuff up on the basics of Web Site design: if only they hadn't done that. Still, the Times is what British people have been reading for hundreds and hundreds of years. Quality analysis of the news & commentary and some of the biggest beasts in journalism report on it. Good blogs too. If you can find any of it, that is.
4. Sky News
This is pretty much our only 24/7 non-state rolling news organisation (run by Rupert Murdoch, of course) but pretty good at being first with Breaking News. Have to say though that not everything that is 'Breaking News' on Sky is breaking news, if you know what I mean but you can't avoid Sky News, particularly if you're not the greatest fan of the BBC, which I am not. And when they are on their game and there's real news to report they do a first class job.
5. The Huffington Post
You cannot ignore Arianna Huffington, no matter how bizarre her plans for world domination. This is the place that really gives you the low down on what is going on in the American political scene. You know that the people that matter in the States are reading this. Some great contributors make this American site fifth in my list.
6. BBC News
I have to put the BBC here but only in sufferance. I can't stand how unbelievably biased they are while pretending to be a) unbiased and b) the voice that speaks for Britain. They are insufferably arrogant but unspeakably left wing and have been so for almost 50 years. And why wouldn't they? They are tax-payer funded after all. In hoc to Labour, simultaneously by choice and terror, they have perpetuated a war against the foundations of this country for years. And it's worked.
Now I have no choice about their existence. If I want to watch any television channels I have to pay them about £10 a month of my money. If I don't pay I get a huge fine. So seeing as I have to pay, I visit their site for the parliamentary coverage they are statutorily obliged to broadcast. It is also impossible to stay intelligently informed about the UK without watching or reading BBC news broadcasts so I have to click on. But if I had my way I would break it up in an instant. And no BBC, the world would not implode.
7. Guardian
The newspaper that rues the day Thatcher was born and lives solidly in its own worldview. It lost many battles over the last few decades but it's winning the war to make Britain a socialist state with its party now in power and its ability to influence the decision makers at the media-arm of the government. If you want a job at the BBC, you'll find the job section carries all the latest vacancies. I read it only to violently disagree with everything it says.
8. CNN
Almost the state broadcaster of the American nation. I was wondering why Americans had such a global outlook till I realised I was looking at the International edition. CNN is my first port of call though to have a look into the big wide world of America.
9. The First Post
A quirky little site with an interesting design feature: it tries to keep all its information at the top of the Web page and doles up some left field articles.
10. Channel4 News
This is the companion site to the news programme of the same name, which has more time to analyse news. As such it sometimes serves up some in-dpeth researched pieces.
12. Spectator
Another dreadfully-designed website but because the Spectator is a news magazine (and not a newspaper) its columnists produce top quality editorials.
11. Google News
Cannot be beaten when you want to see the paucity of journalists' editing of the newswires. Good for seeing if different countries have differing slants on news items. And excellent for searching for specific news stories.
12. The Independent
The Independent finds real news far too daunting so I only occasionally dip in just to see what it thinks is going on in the world. Really, it is on another planet altogether. I am sure that if there was some global nuclear tragedy occurring it would do an exclusive on proportional representation or something. And no, it's not independent. Kind of lib-dem lefty-trendy.
13. New York Times
Really it's an outrage that NY Times is below the Independent but this is a personal view: I find it a little 'Financial Times' in its top news stories & a little too interested in political process for my liking. But you can't ignore the NY Times. I remember when I was in Washington DC and I really got into reading it then.
14. Fox News
Unashamedly crusading with Bush. Angry, conservative & dogmatic. But millions of Americans allow it to profoundly shape their worldview.
15. The Drudge Report
An influential blog in the States whose news splashes have changed American history. Two things have botted Matt Drudge's copybook in recent times. First of all getting into bed with the Clintons and allowing them to use his blog to place negative news stories is a scandal all of its own. I mean, who's being more cheap? Drudge or the Clintons? Secondly, what was it with him deciding to release to the world the fact that Prince Harry was on operations in Afghanistan, endangering his safety and the safety of many other British soldiers? Aren't we supposed to be allies? The man is shameful & a blot on the landscape. Can't ignore him, though.
16. ITN News
When ITN had its public remit watered down it shut down its 24hr news channel pronto. But it still has some good journalists working on it. Its disastrous decision to destroy its institutional 10-o-clock news saw it overtaken by BBC who shrewdly moved to its previously unassailable position on telly & parked there. When you make a bad decision, you should correct it quick. Not keep going. It was years before they picked up on their mistake.
17. Washington Post
Get close to the Pennsylvanian Avenue Action with this American institutional broadsheet.
18. WorldNet Daily
One of the stickiest news sites on the Internet (meaning once you go there, you get hooked on their stories). Just discovered it and I'm still looking.
19. MSNBC News
I notice that Diggers are often digging their stories. A little less highbrow but concerned with real life America.
20. Daily Express
The spiritual resting place of Princess Diana, the Express is still in denial over her death. Believe you me, she may be dead for over a decade but as far as Express readers go, she's still front page news. Years ago I used to read the Express as it covered the main stories and was a bit less heavy than the Mail but it got left behind when it balked at the idea of letting people read it free on the Web and has lost market share as a result. Still, if you're after some Diana Kitsch, you'll find it here.
So there's my list; full of holes no doubt. Which news sites did I miss out?
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