Can you judge a person by what newspaper they read?

If so, what categories would you judge them as?

If so, what categories would you judge them as?


I usually read the Mail. What does that say about me?

Originally posted by kookie
I usually read the Mail. What does that say about me?

I thought this thread was about newspapers.:D

UK News Media Explained: "Yes, Prime Minister: 2.4 - A Conflict of Interest" BBC TV: 29 December 1987

Jim Hacker: "Don't tell me about the press. I know exactly who reads the papers:

- The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country;

- The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country;

- The Times is read by people who actually do run the country;

- The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country;

- The Financial Times is read by people who own the country;

- The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country;

- And the Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is."

Sir Humphrey: "Prime Minister, what about the people who read the Sun?"

Bernard Woolley: "Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits."

so did I. I'll be quiet then

might be something in that, kind of. My husband is a subpostmaster.

Years ago I read the Guardian - it's a long story that I may be enticed to tell in the pub some time but eventually I got so peeved with the editors and the editorial policy of The Ruardinag that I switched to The Times.

However, I'll also read the Telegraph and the FT, and will occasionally read the tabloids for the showbiz gossip!

In other words, I don't think you can tell TOO much.

I once knew a Communist who would read the FT and The Morning Star. His logic was that as the FT was read by the capitalist imperialist pigs (his words, not mine...;-) ), who needed to know the truth so as to better exploit the workers, the FT would e as honest in it's own way as the Party Newspaper was. :-)

Joe

I suppose that quote re: what people read = *who they are*.

People think The Sun is a "working-mans" paper, in fact it is more Tory than anything.

I am not a regular paper reader, but when i do - twice a week normally. In the evening, so the news is 6 hrs out of date (!) I read The Guardian.

Originally posted by amhudson119

People think The Sun is a "working-mans" paper, in fact it is more Tory than anything.



Murdoch is a Labour supporter.

Originally posted by Lickszz
Murdoch is a Labour supporter.

Hmmmmm I know his papers have backed Labour in the last election but I don't know that I would describe him as a Labour supporter. I think he backs the party that are most likely to win the election to maximise his influence. If the Tories ever looked likely to win the election he would back them.

Originally posted by John
Can you judge a person by what newspaper they read?


Good question - I guess we all have different views on what different papers stand for. I read the Guardian cos I think it stands for a liberal, tolerant society. I would say I share its values by and large.

I'm impressed with the commie who read the FT. I should probably read something that challenged my views but I get too angry when I read the likes of the Torygraph.

I think you've got that the wrong way around.

Murdoch calls the shots. The Sun along with the Times threatened to not support Labour in the next election unless Blair committed to a referendum. It looks like a deal was done.

Can you tell me the last time a party not supported by The Sun won a General Election?

Originally posted by Lickszz
I think you've got that the wrong way around.

Murdoch calls the shots. The Sun along with the Times threatened to not support Labour in the next election unless Blair committed to a referendum. It looks like a deal was done.

Can you tell me the last time a party not supported by The Sun won a General Election?

I don't doubt the Sun has influence but I don't think it is decisive, despite its claims to the contrary. As for it backing the winners, there is only one election I can recall where the outcome wasn't a foregone conclusion by polling day (1992).

If you look at all of the papers both broadsheet and tabloid by my reckoning Labour have a big majority in support terms compared to other parties.

Blair must realise how valuable the support of The Sun is or he would not have pandered to Murdoch.

I voted ' to some extent'.


My mum was usually a broadsheet reader (Guardian during the week & Observer at weekends) Now admittedly you could probably get a fairly accurate picture of her political views from that.

However, occasionally I'd "catch" her with a tabloid (News Of the World or The Mail) looking slightly sheepish in pretty much the same way as she'd look guilty if caught eating a sneaky bar of chocolate.

Maybe for some people tabloids = equivalent of a chocolate bar for the mind rather than totally indicative of political views or preferred 'literary style'.

Plus tabloids are easier to read in bed on a Sunday morning :P

Originally posted by kookie
I usually read the Mail. What does that say about me? Oooo you don't want to know ;)


Originally posted by Lickszz
Murdoch is a Labour supporter.
No wonder he gives Blair a hard time :D

On Saturday I came back from the paper shop with an FT, a YP, and a Sheffield Telegraph and I couldn't find a daily Telegraph. On Sunday I bought a Sunday Times.

What would you make of that? :confused:

On Saturday I came back from the paper shop with an FT, a YP, and a Sheffield Telegraph and I couldn't find a daily Telegraph. On Sunday I bought a Sunday Times.

What would you make of that? :confused:

That you read alot of local papers! ;)

I read whatevers been left in the toilets at work. Other than that,I get all my news online.

I only read the Sheffield Star, and the Metro paper you get on the Tram... What does that say about me?

Biscuit dunkers daily.......Mmmmm a really tasty read!!

Rich said:
I only read the Sheffield Star, and the Metro paper you get on the Tram... What does that say about me?

That you're only interested in whats happening in South Yorkshire?

Originally posted by Lickszz
Blair must realise how valuable the support of The Sun is or he would not have pandered to Murdoch.

True. Are we heading to an eventual situation where Murdoch will dictate national policy and Bush will dictate foreign policy?

Originally posted by John
Can you judge a person by what newspaper they read?

If so, what categories would you judge them as?

Anyone who makes that kind of judgement is an idiot

Anyone who makes that kind of judgement is an idiot
again i totally agree with you!

It depends wether people believe what's written in the papers or not.

Originally posted by Tony

On Saturday I came back from the paper shop with an FT, a YP, and a Sheffield Telegraph and I couldn't find a daily Telegraph. On Sunday I bought a Sunday Times.

What would you make of that? :confused:

I personally don't make anything of it. I read all the broadsheets and some tabloids but I am able to come to my own conclusion on the things that I read.

Originally posted by Abdul
True. Are we heading to an eventual situation where Murdoch will dictate national policy and Bush will dictate foreign policy?

It comes to something when the likes of Murdoch have more influence over Blair than his own cabinet.

Originally posted by Lickszz
If you look at all of the papers both broadsheet and tabloid by my reckoning Labour have a big majority in support terms compared to other parties.

I'd be surprised if that were true. This is from memory so it might be wrong but at the last election I think Labour had The Guardian, Mirror, Sun, and Times.

As I recall William Hague was supported by The Express, Star, Torygraph, Metro, People, Evening Standard.

I think that the FT, Independent, Sport were non-aligned.

I am pretty sure that most local papers are owned by Associated Press who won the Mail, ie are Tory supporting in general. I have a feeling that The Star isn't owned by this group, however.

Originally posted by Lickszz
Blair must realise how valuable the support of The Sun is or he would not have pandered to Murdoch.

If that is the case why is the Government promoting the Eurpoean Constitution, which Murdoch is so opposed to?

Originally posted by Lickszz
It comes to something when the likes of Murdoch have more influence over Blair than his own cabinet.

It's because Blair is so far up the likes of Bush's collective arses he can't see the wood for the trees :loopy:

Originally posted by Smiler
I'd be surprised if that were true. This is from memory so it might be wrong but at the last election I think Labour had The Guardian, Mirror, Sun, and Times.

As I recall William Hague was supported by The Express, Star, Torygraph, Metro, People, Evening Standard.

I think that the FT, Independent, Sport were non-aligned.

I am pretty sure that most local papers are owned by Associated Press who won the Mail, ie are Tory supporting in general. I have a feeling that The Star isn't owned by this group, however.



If that is the case why is the Government promoting the Eurpoean Constitution, which Murdoch is so opposed to?

Broadsheets

Telegraph = Tory
Times = Murdoch Labour supporter.
Guardian = Labour supporter
Independent = Liberal flip-flops.

What else,

Daily Mirror = Labour
The Sun = Murdoch Labour supporter
Daily Express = Owner contributed to Labour party funds.
Daily Mail = Tory

That is 5/8 of the nationals with only 2 Tory.

The Daily Star etc, I am not familiar with them so have no idea.

I don't think you read my post properly. In short, Murdoch stated that he would not back Labour in the next election unless he committed to a Referendum. The next thing Blair promises one (at some point).

It would seem that Murdoch as more influence over Blair than his own cabinet.

Cannot beat a good tabloid for educitin yuurseilf gu n propper, there grate!

My ine is the sun

It's difficult to have an indepth discussion with someone who's opinions on World Issues are shapped by the journalism of the Sun.

Anyone who reads a quality broadsheet everyday will be far more knowledgeable than some one who reads a Celeb rag.

I read the Rotherham Record cos it's free & comes through the letterbox everyweek! :clap:

I read the Daily Mail and the freedom paper.;)

I was astonished to find out that there is a paper entitled Psychic Times. That's one rag you wouldn't think there would be much call for, isn't it?


I bought a fish and some chips from Compo's Cafe in Holmfirth this afternoon. The erudite beggar was catching up with the Times. I suppose Angler's Times might be something of a horror book for it.

I have to admit that I read any newspaper that comes to hand, going for none inparticular. Usually when you have read one, you have a pretty good idea what is in the rest.

The Sheffield Star is probably my favourite, but sometimes it can be pretty boring. And I check the deaths section every week to make sure I have not died without me knowing it.

Dragon

I read The Grundian, (aka The Guardian) though their typos are not as bad as they used to be.

Also The Daily Mail when I visit Mum & Dad and have a flick through their paper.

The Guardian are quite good at cryptic headlines. Reporting on a brass band marching through the capital of Albania, their headline was 'Tirana oomphs today'! (Well, I thought it was funny anyway!). :smile:

I voted 'To some extent'.

I buy the times.

I dont actually ever read it . I buy it for the crosswors and times 2 is quite good. good arts coverage

And do people always read papers with which they agree ?
Must be a bit of a boring , predictable read !

I try not to read newspapers too often, because they detract from time when I could be reading other stuff and they tend to make me depressed, but during times of fast-moving events which require deeper insight than you get off the TV or radio, like right now, then I tend to buy the Guardian/Observer or Independant, mainly for the comment & analysis more than the news reporting itself. "Al-Qaeda expert" Jason Burke, writing in the Observer, has been consistently the only voice of utter reason and sanity since the 7th July bombings.

When I worked in an office, I used to spend lunch reading whatever papers were left lying around, usually the Mail or the Evening Standard. The Mail would just send my blood pressure through the roof (for all that's said about Sun readers, at least most Sun readers don't take their newspaper very seriously, whereas Mail readers seem to actually think they're getting an informed view on world events), but the Evening Standard was actually a very good newspaper in those days (early 90s, when Stewart Steven was editor), whereas nowadays it's just a slightly later London-centric edition of the Daily Mail.

When I travelled regularly on Midland Mainline first class I used to read whatever broadsheet they handed out free, back then it was the Telegraph and then the Times. I became familiar with their own particular styles, the Times in particular seems rather insidiously biased (in the kind of way you might expect from a Murdoch paper which purports to be serious), i.e. it doesn't wear its heart on its sleeve like some other papers, but still exhibits a fair degree of bias.

Very occasionally I buy the FT: despite what Joe's communist friend may have thought, it actually seems to have the least biased reporting of all the dailies, although it can be rather hard work and lacking in the kind of fluff which lightens up newspaper reading.

Originally posted by Abdul
True. Are we heading to an eventual situation where Murdoch will dictate national policy and Bush will dictate foreign policy?

Welcome to Australia. Murdock and Packer,domestic. USA foreign policy, and China trade.

Originally posted by Fareast
And do people always read papers with which they agree ?
Must be a bit of a boring , predictable read !
I would guess that a fair few people read newspaper for the news :) In fact maybe we should ban editorials, they seem to cause more trouble than they are worth! ;)

Originally posted by rich951
I would guess that a fair few people read newspaper for the news :) In fact maybe we should ban editorials, they seem to cause more trouble than they are worth! ;)
I realise that comment was tongue-in-cheek, but I want to reiterate that I read newspapers mainly for the editorials, or more often for the comment pieces. Yes, they're often biased, but they also range a lot wider than straight news pieces. I think that if you familiarise yourself with the language of newspapers, the differences between them, and the standpoints of various commentators, then it's not too hard to disentangle truth from polemic and learn a lot as a result.

We buy the Times and Im currently doing the big saturday crossword
The trouble is I can't spell,, which is quite a handicap when doing crosswords.

hazel

i read the daily star!

i have no interest in politics, no interest in anything remotely true, i want gossip, stupid stories about god being found in a potato, a problem page, tv page, bit of footy and dominik diamond ripping the **** out of everyone :)

the real world is full of depressing stories, id rather have a bit of entertainment.

:thumbsup:

How would people judge me then, I dont buy them and I dont read anyone elses.

Originally posted by Lickszz


Daily Express = Owner contributed to Labour party funds.


I'm pretty sure the Express had switched back to the Tories before the last election.

And don't forget the sales of the Telegraph are probably more than the rest of the "broadsheets" put together.

Originally posted by John
Can you judge a person by what newspaper they read?

Only if they've attempted the crossword ;)

Originally posted by Strix
Only if they've attempted the crossword ;)

:hihi: Very good strix.

Or the sudoku. They are certainly the 'next big thing' this summer, aren't they!

Originally posted by kathythebean
:hihi: Very good strix.

Or the sudoku. They are certainly the 'next big thing' this summer, aren't they!
:blush: I have a template typed up for curing those :blush:

It's the only thing I've found that takes priority over foruming :suspect:

Originally posted by Longcol
And don't forget the sales of the Telegraph are probably more than the rest of the "broadsheets" put together.

Telegraph sales are not quite as rosy as Lord Black would have you believe.

Half of the daily distribution of the Telegraph is made up of free copies given to posh hotels and banks, and by heavily subsidised copies to peasants like me.

As much as I disagree with the papers Ultra-Right Wing stance, it was very good value for 40p at the weekends :D

Telegraph readers, like myself, are usually erudite, urbane characters, at ease with themselves and with the wider world. Guardian readers tend to suffer from what Auberon Waugh once called 'Pilgerism' [a reference to the journalist and broadcaster, John Pilger, or maybe Jon Pilger]. This is a tendency towards a state of permanent indignation, lips constantly quivering at possible 'racism', 'sexism' etc.

Readers of the tabloids tend to be intellectually- incurious, bitter, unpleasant, moronically-stupid people. They tend to put lots of sauce on their disgusting food [fish fingers, oven chips etc], and their vulgar homes never see a decent bottle of wine from one year to the next. They like reductionist, unitary explanations for complex problems too, hence the appeal of The Sun etc. They are usually lacking in all social graces, and find copious flatulence highly amusing. They tend to shop at Morrisons and Asda, and drive nasty Japanese cars. Damn their eyes.

Telegraph readers, to my mind, tend to use more words than are necessary. A tendency towards pomposity is not uncommon.

:P

Wot? Somebody 'aving a go?

Sorry timo, I had to retaliate, lips a quivering :hihi:

I have always thought of Telegraph readers as being a slightly more intellegent Daily Mail reader ;)

I also think as Guardian readers as yoghurt weaving tree huggers :D

Originally posted by robbie
I also think as Guardian readers as yoghurt weaving tree huggers :D Can I have that as my new signature? :hihi:

<waves banner>

"yoghurt weaving tree huggers against flippant pigeonholing"

I don't judge people by the particular paper they read.

BUT, if the only method someone uses to learn about the world is by reading a tabloid, I think you would be quite justified in judging that they probably wont have much of a grasp of the way the world works.

The aim of a tabloid is to present the world in a simplified way, and confirm the prejudices of the reader.

It may be possible to read a tabloid and not be an ignoramous, but they are aimed at an ignorant readership.

All newspapers pander to the skewed views of their readership - that's why they gravitate towards each other (on the whole). It's self-perpetuating ;)

Mind you..... TV's not much better these days

Originally posted by Strix
All newspapers pander to the skewed views of their readership - that's why they gravitate towards each other (on the whole). It's self-perpetuating ;)

Mind you..... TV's not much better these days

Yes, but the difference is that most broadsheets, while they do still have their own broad "agendas", they do tend to present enough information for you to reach your own conclusions.

Tabloids tend to present their own conclusions as facts, and having ready made opinions suits a lot of people, because they don't have either the time, inclination or brain to reach informed opinions of their own.

I Work In A Newsagents And I Can Spot A Guardian Reader As Soon As They Come Through The Door-There's Just Something About Them.

A Mate Of Mine (Labour Voter At The Time),Stopped Reading The Guardian As He Got Wound Up By How 'Left' The Paper Was.He Now Votes Green And Reads The Times.

A Bloke Who Comes In Our Shop Will Only Buy Broadsheets.
Must've Been A Real Blow To Him When The Times & Independant Went Tabloid.

What Does That Say About Him?-And No,He's Not House Training A Puppy!:D

Originally posted by Yodameister
The aim of a tabloid is to present the world in a simplified way, and confirm the prejudices of the reader.



You have that on good authority then Yoda m8e? I can just imagine Mr Murdoch et al presenting at the agm with their new mission statement PowerPointed onto the white board...! (not)

Originally posted by Freebird
I Work In A Newsagents And I Can Spot A Guardian Reader As Soon As They Come Through The Door-There's Just Something About Them.

A Mate Of Mine (Labour Voter At The Time),Stopped Reading The Guardian As He Got Wound Up By How 'Left' The Paper Was.He Now Votes Green And Reads The Times.

A Bloke Who Comes In Our Shop Will Only Buy Broadsheets.
Must've Been A Real Blow To Him When The Times & Independant Went Tabloid.

What Does That Say About Him?-And No,He's Not House Training A Puppy!:D

Our rats prefer the Guardian or Sunday Times to NoW in the bottom of their cage ;)

Originally posted by Freebird
I Work In A Newsagents And I Can Spot A Guardian Reader As Soon As They Come Through The Door-There's Just Something About Them.

A Mate Of Mine (Labour Voter At The Time),Stopped Reading The Guardian As He Got Wound Up By How 'Left' The Paper Was.He Now Votes Green And Reads The Times.

A Bloke Who Comes In Our Shop Will Only Buy Broadsheets.
Must've Been A Real Blow To Him When The Times & Independant Went Tabloid.

What Does That Say About Him?-And No,He's Not House Training A Puppy!:D

The Times and Independent are both 'compact', and not tabloid - you can't throw them into the pile that is 'tabloid'!

:)

Originally posted by SHsheff
I can just imagine Mr Murdoch et al presenting at the agm with their new mission statement PowerPointed onto the white board...! (not)
Really? I've worked in media, and I find it very easy to imagine.

Originally posted by kathythebean
:hihi: Very good strix.

Or the sudoku. They are certainly the 'next big thing' this summer, aren't they!


I've got into that - gets the brain going a bit.

:)

Originally posted by DanSumption
Really? I've worked in media, and I find it very easy to imagine.

Yeah. You're probably right!

:)

I used to interchange (as you may have read on a previous post of mine on either page one or two) between The Independent - my main read, and The Guardian - if there weren't any Independent papers left.

Now - well, since the beginning of 2005, I find myself buying The Times (although I did buy it prior to its compact conversion), and reading The Daily Telegraph in electronic format.

:)

I'm a Telegraph reader, no earth stopping surprise there. I'm a firm subscriber to the theory that, "One cannot found a business on Guardian readers." :hihi:

yes very much because it's their interests