Last week, everyone saw what the Irish Daily Mail got up to with the Sunday Tribune thing. I've a real left-wing uncle who reads the Tribune, and HATES the Daily Mail. He must have been fuming.

Got me thinking though. Lots of different opinions on here, lots of different perspectives. I wonder do people pay a lot of attention to what the editorial slant of their favourite paper is, eg, do the lefties on here stick with The Irish Times, and do the right wingers all read the The Daily Mail? Also, if people can recommend some good columns and columnists who they like, that would be great. Irish or English, broad sheet or tabloid.

Right, to start off, I like to have a glance at several on the net. Don't go into them in depth, but some columnists I'd recommend are Kevin Myers, Ian O'Doherty and David Quinn of the Irish Independent. Perhaps my favourite though is Steven King, who writes a column on Wednesday's.

If I'm buying a paper, I'd normally buy the Irish Examiner.

And whenever Ireland are playing, I always pick up the Irish Daily Star the next day as they have the best coverage of the Boys in Green.

And yourselves?

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 12/02/2011 21:21:57    866239

I read the Irish Times and The Sunday Times, I also buy The Sunday Independent even though I detest it. You know the saying "Keep your friends close etc."

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 12/02/2011 21:49:59    866260

Just a clarification; Steven King writes his weekly column in The Irish Examiner, not the Indo.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 12/02/2011 21:55:39    866266

I used to read the Tribune every Sunday but have switched to the Times now.

Rarely get a paper during the week. Not worth it imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13725 - 13/02/2011 10:01:39    866282

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 944

866239 Last week, everyone saw what the Irish Daily Mail got up to with the Sunday Tribune thing. I've a real left-wing uncle who reads the Tribune, and HATES the Daily Mail. He must have been fuming.

Got me thinking though. Lots of different opinions on here, lots of different perspectives. I wonder do people pay a lot of attention to what the editorial slant of their favourite paper is, eg, do the lefties on here stick with The Irish Times

I've never found the Irish Times nor the Tribune particularily left wing.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13725 - 13/02/2011 10:03:49    866283

definitely not the Star , Sun or Evening Herald. Usually read the Irish news or Examiner.

dubupnorth (Dublin) - Posts: 1897 - 13/02/2011 10:10:17    866287

I think the standard of Journalism and papers in general is awful. With news being so accessible on the net, i honestly think papers will be a thing of the past in the not to distant future? For the record i only buy the Sunday Independent, but only for the crossword............!!!

Jgc81 (Meath) - Posts: 195 - 13/02/2011 11:07:25    866299

Believe it or not I buy the Indo almost every day, and read the Sindo cover to cover, usually getting angrier and angrier as i read it.
Don't ask me why I buy the Sindo cos I'm reallly not certain myself. Eamonn Sweeeney usually has a good article on the back page of the sports section though.

I used to buy the star while in my late teens/early twenties and I still buy it now on a Tuesday for the Junior soccer section. (On 2 occasions this season, I've had a photo of me in action take up almost a full page)

Dr.Shephard (Leitrim) - Posts: 2187 - 13/02/2011 11:48:09    866317

I read the Indo myself, I like Kevin Myers, I agree with him 80% of the time, the only issue we dont agree on is of course, Irish republicanism. James Downey and Bruce Arnold are also good writers, but if theres one man I cannot stand its Ian O'Doherty. Im not fond of Mary Kenny either.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 13/02/2011 12:02:15    866320

I buy the Irish News apart from half the paper consisting of Death's and ads where to buy Mass cards ,it is the only daily paper that gives great coverage to GAA I also enjoy the Gaelic life paper and the Racing post .

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 13/02/2011 12:15:57    866326

Irish news - I enjoy a good wee read of the back pages of that, Some good wee stories too
Gaelic Life - I think thats the only paper I've read fully. I read it once, Read it again to see if I've missed anything then read it for a 3rd time for the craic
Derry Journal on a Friday - To check the club notes and a wee look at the photos

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 13/02/2011 12:21:57    866330

I'd always like to read the Irish News, but you have to subsribe online first and I'm not bothered.

As for what Dr. Shepherd said, yeah, Eamonn Sweeney is an awesome writer. The best sports writer in the country IMHO. Check out his column on the new movie 'The Fighter' today.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 13/02/2011 12:24:40    866332

the star for sport. Indo the odd time.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11248 - 13/02/2011 13:01:09    866350

The Irish news - Mickey harte's column is usually a good read
The Gaelic Life - Great paper for the Gaa news.
The northen standard - The local news.

Blue and Black (Monaghan) - Posts: 187 - 13/02/2011 13:22:36    866362

During the week for six days I read "The Guardian". I also get "The Irish times" on a Saturday.

On Sunday it is "The Observer" and I used to get the "Tribune" but not since last Summer.

I find ALL tabloids to be pure dross, and "The Irish News" is very, very, poor quality.

However I have high standards. Some 15 years ago we had a small independent Sports paper going. A young lad came along to me with his stuff, and I told him that I was looking for thoughtful journalism, and he would be better trying the Irish News. They indeed gave him a start and I think he is now the Sunday people sports editor, fair play to him, but I still have standards which is why we no longer exist.

For budding entrepreneurs out there, a sure fire way to become a millionaire. You start a Northern "Catholic" sports paper. Twelve pages of GAA, 3 pages of Glasgow Celtic, and one of Cliftonville. The distribution would be massive, generating much income from advertising.

We thought of it some 15 years ago, as the ONLY people who took our paper were GAA fans, avid for any reporting on the games.

Alas I have moral standards and would not be happy making millions in that manner.

But someone could.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 13/02/2011 13:54:40    866377

i read the irish independent and the sunday one and i use to read the sunday tribune but is struggling to find a good paper like the sunday tribune

loyalroyalgal (Meath) - Posts: 39 - 13/02/2011 14:22:52    866395

The Irish Times. Don't buy Sunday papers.

I don't read opinion columns. I want the facts so I can make up my own mind. I read Frank McNally for a laugh and Tom Humphries and George Kimball in the sports (Kimball is brilliant, especiall on boxing). Can't stand John Waters and have little time for O Toole either.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 13/02/2011 14:48:05    866408

There is NO such thing as freelance journalism or independent thinking in the Irish media. EVERY media group has an agenda whether to it's owner or shareholders. This is why one media baron or group owning ALL of a country's media outlets is very dangerous for democracy and an anathema to an open and fair society. In the South Independent Media has virtually a cartel and nothing is allowed outside it's rabidly right wing, Unionist, big business agenda. Likewise in Britain Rupert Murdoch and his News Corporation are seeking to buy over a major shareholding in SKY TV giving them total control over the satellite broadcaster. To achieve total power Murdoch is also looking to kill off the BBC which he sees as the major obstacle to him holding outright dominance and control over the British media; many British journalists see this and are determined to stop him. ALL Murdoch newspapers continually attack the BBC as a 'liberal pinko socialist' organisation when in effect the BBC just doesn't play to Murdoch's Thatcherite agenda but it's all part of a bigger plan. Murdoch wants the Tories to break up the BBC to make Murdoch's plan easier. In the South Sir Anthony O'Reilly has held sway for decades but is being opposed now by Denis O'Brien who is looking to take a major shareholding in the Independent group. Whether this succeeds and changes the stance of Independent Media is another thing because as I said there is NO such thing as a free media in the 26 counties. During the Celtic Tiger O'Reilly's newspapers pushed out big, colourful daily and weekend property supplement advertising brochures. It earned big advertising money for the Independent group and they were as culpable for the housing bubble as the rest. Unfortunately there is little scope for a REALLY 'Independent' media group in Ireland because those with their own narrow sinister agendas crush them at birth.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9719 - 13/02/2011 15:47:28    866442

always buy the star best sports coverage around and gives me all the news info i need also i love reading Terry McGeehans' column very seldom buy a sunday paper

b.mullins (Dublin) - Posts: 1413 - 13/02/2011 16:11:18    866462

Usually read The Irish News.

In my opinion the Irish Star is brutal can get it in the college shop for 50 cent and still wouldn't even read it.

Pure_full_hi (Monaghan) - Posts: 74 - 13/02/2011 17:04:42    866514