Is any newspaper politically neutral?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Is there any truly independent newspaper out there?

We've been experimenting with different papers to see if any offers a balanced view.

Our latest and greatest hope was the "i", which claims to offer a neutral view. We've given it a week on the basis we might get balance over time if not in a single issue. But all week it's been Tory, or more specifically Theresa May, bashing, to a greater or lesser extent..

So is there any paper out there that doesn't have an axe to grind? .

[towny44]

In my opinion it is impossible for any written or spoken word to be politically neutral since it will be influenced by the views of the author.
I have often wondered whether TV political journalists should be forced to wear a rosette to indicate their allegiance, so that viewers can then make a judgement about the comments they make.
As far as newspapers are concerned the journalists in the Mail generally indicate their allegiance many times in their articles, and if I wanted a balance of views then I suppose I could read the Guardian; but in deference to my blood pressure I think I will continue to avoid their left wing rantings.

[oldbluefox]

We bought The Independent because we thought its views would be................independent. Sadly this proved to be untrue and it turned out to be one of the most irritating reads on offer. Didn't like it at all.

[oldbluefox]

There is always good banter on Sky News at 10.30pm Mondays (usually) between socialist, remoaner and republican Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror otherwise known as Red Kev and Andrew Pierce, arch Brexiteer and right winger of the Daily Mail, otherwise known as Tory Boy. All good humoured and entertaining.

[qbman1]

You mean....? The Daily Wail is not neutral?

All these years I thought I was getting an unbiased view of the world !!

[Manoverboard]

I guess I have a built in Tory bias so I undoubtedly prefer to read a paper that panders to my way of thinking rather than reading the rantings of those who would nationalise everything from the left(y) side of politics.

ps ... neutral would probably read ' bland '.

[CaroleF]

I also enjoy listening to the banter on Sky News Papers at 10.30pm - also another go at 11.30pm if you can stay up that long! I must admit I do sometimes shout at Kevin Maguire who is a Corbyn devotee, well that's how he comes across. As Foxy says most of the banter is extremely good humoured and they must enjoy it or they wouldn't do it week after week. They used to be on Tuesday nights but it seems to have changed to Mondays lately. It's quite interesting to hear the extreme right and the extreme left arguing with each other, although to give Kevin Maguire his due I don't think he's as extreme as Corbyn and his friends.

I've been hearing how much the Labour Party are going to give people. I wish I had access to this unlimited funds they seem to have in order to supply all these things - No University Tuition fees, no Care fees for the elderly, free school meals etc. etc. Do people really believe all this - I can't believe they do.

[oldbluefox]

Do people really believe all this - I can't believe they do.

I'm afraid the gullible do.
I was in York yesterday prior to Corbyn's arrival and there was a petition going on concerning EU citizens being sent home and racism. I am not aware anybody is being sent home, only that this is open to negotiation concerning Brits living abroad. It annoys me that some parties are prepared to openly lie and even more that the gullible ones actually believe them.
If I hear another one say 'I vote Labour because they are for the working man' I will scream!!!! Is that really the best they can come up with?

[qbman1]

Problem is, in many areas, they take the view that because their great grandfather voted for Keir Hardie and Labour has always been the working man's choice, then they follow blindly and could not bring themselves to vote Conservative under any circumstances, regardless of how many more businesses Labour put out of action !

[Mervyn and Trish]

Looks like it's back to the Wail then. Yes I know it's right of centre and it's anti EU.

In fact one reason I considered a change is I'm sick of pro EU and left wing friends suggesting my opinions are led by the Mail.

But having tried a few others I realise I like it because generally it reflects my views, rather than leading them.

The exception is its anti BBC stance, but whenever it goes off on that one I remind myself it costs twice as much as Auntie and gives me less. In any case Towny's regular jibes have given me immunity to anti BBC propaganda!

[barney]

The answer unfortunately Merv is an emphatic NO.

They all have to sell paper and pander to their readership.

It's called confirmation bias.

If you are pro-Brexit you will lean towards the Mail & Express
If you are anti-Brexit, it's the Guardian and Independent (ironic) with the good old Observer on Sundays

It is the same all over the world.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Pretty much the conclusion I reached Barney.

[oldbluefox]

There is an irony that left wingers and many Remoaners will decry those who read The Mail and Express yet will quote articles from The Guardian or Independent as being gospel truth. What irks me is when they blatantly twist the truth or even lie because some blindly believe everything the papers, and some politicians say.

[Ranchi]

What really irritates me is when a paper e.g. The Telegraph presents a story with the line 'it has been reported in (e.g.) The Daily Mail.' Too few newspapers seem to do their own research these days.

[Not so ancient mariner]

I've given up getting a national paper on a daily basis. Primarily because I just want to be told the news, NOT what (in their opinion) I should think about it, secondly because if I look at the coverage of a story in two different papers, I am often left wondering if they are actually referring to the same event, and thirdly because so many of them seem to go by the motto "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story!"

[Mervyn and Trish]

Truth is we like the puzzles!

[qbman1]

Could buy a puzzle book then !

[Mervyn and Trish]

True. But then we'd miss the photos of Jezzer running over people

[qbman1]

Plenty of that on Facecloth and Twaddle