Sunday, March 16, 2008

The Daily News

Every week I buy the Sydney Morning Herald for reading during the slow Sunday morning at work. It's a big newspaper: heavy and too thick to fold in half. Yet, far from expanding my worldview or giving perspective on important events, I think this newspaper actually makes me dumber. Since I had a lot of free time, I decided to count the evidence. The first forty-six pages contained personal interest type stories and local interest. For example, a half page on rumours about Naomi Watts engagement and pictures of her buying $35 dresses at the Bondi markets. Also, a half page on the popularity of the "Australian jawline" for chin implants in LA, an expose on the rising costs of gold wedding rings and an article on the dangers of fast-food commercials on TV. Next came five pages of world news (including two full page advertisements). Here were the stories contained: page one: article on Tibet and an English kidnapping. Page two and three: school bands in northern England. Page four: full of mini-stories, headline about Minnie Driver's pregnancy announcement on Leno. Page five: half page on world stocks. Fourteen pages of more in depth stories followed (about how people are taking pictures of news events as they happen on cellphones and on the dangers of counselling in bringing up repressed memories). Then there were thirty pages of sports. Yep, thirty. Good to know Aussies have their priorities straight (Just kidding). Out of curiosity, does anyone else want to add up your local newspaper?

Posted by Kathleen @ 7:54 AM