Press for Attention

"The invention of printing added a new element of power to the race. From that hour, in a most especial sense, the brain and not the arm, the thinker and not the soldier, books and not kings, were to rule the world; and weapons, forged in the mind, keen-edged and brighter than the sunbeam, were to supplant the sword and the battle-axe."

Edwin Percy Whipple

That being the case it is important to read the right newspaper! The internet brings a whole world of feeble minded dross into our lives as well as access to the world’s greatest journalism.

But where to go to find the latter?

Could I be naughty and from the UK plug the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/ and the Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/ as the sites of two quality UK newspapers providing good cultural coverage for those of liberal, left-wing sensibilities. If your politics are more conservative you might prefer to plump for the Daily Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/.

Nowadays I would avoid, however famous, The Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news sadly in the hands of that vile news tyrant Rupert Murdoch.

I wouldn't mind a few hints about which American or Australian newspapers provide quality coverage for liberal, left-wing, aged-hippy types like myself!

Not a direct answer but more of a nudgoid. There is a site called themorningnews.org which on a daily basis highlights (and gives links to) interesting articles from the world's press and magazines. Frequently these satisfy liberal, left wing sensibilities. And almost always their selections are interesting, even if one disagrees with the political outlook.

dylanwolf,

I read The Guardian everyday. I have to if I want to know what's going on in the United States.

Whereas England has "national" newspapers with specific political leanings, in the US newspapers are more often geographically-based and make a weak attempt to remain balanced. Thus, I'm not sure we have the Guardian vs. Telegraph divide the way you do across the pond (I'm open to being corrected on this point ...)

Most of my liberal news reading comes from online sources like The Huffington Post and Andrew Sullivan's blog, The Daily Dish.

And let's not overlook the wonderfully satirical The Onion!

lindsaci--The Daily Dish is a must and, more recently, I've added Ambinder and Coates to my regular online reads. (For the uninitiated, all of these can be found at http://www.theatlantic.com/bloggers.mhtml). And what would we do without The Onion?

Forgot to add Fallows, also from the Atlantic Online, though he posts less frequently.

The best newspaper for book reviews, cultural news and national reporting is The Globe and Mail-it publishes a national edition in Canada although to my mind the paper has a slightly right of centre leaning.
www.globeandmail.com

Here's a nudge for the Times Literary Supplement (TLS). Its coverage of books is peerless.

Also, the indispensable:

http://www.aldaily.com/

OMG I think I've had too much to drink: everything's slanted.

Thanks for the Arts and Letters Daily link, TCM. I had not discovered that one and it looks fab. There goes my Saturday morning!

Now sobering you guys up again - hope you have a good strong coffee on hand!

Phew kiwidoc, thanks! I was developing a crick in my neck.

Ah Murr,

I was wondering when you would put in another appearance.

On the subject of The Atlantic, I've just finished my copy of the first issue with the new format, and it felt a lot more superficial than usual - anyone else think that?