We live in a (for the most part) democratic society, and one of the consequences is that we have a wide-ranging press publishing the full spectrum of opinion. As you might sometimes guess, I tend to lean a little left of centre in most areas, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t in some small way appreciate the pleasures someone might get from reading The Daily Telegraph or even the Daily Mail. I might pity those readers a little, but somehow it all tends to add up.
Once upon a time, I’m sure that the Express was a great paper. It had the most famous building in Fleet Street, it was loosely disguised in one of my favourite books, Scoop, and was heavily featured in one of my favourite films, The Day The Earth Caught Fire. But times have changed and we’ve moved on.
I don’t pity Daily Express readers. I just sit looking aghast if I see one on the tube and simply wonder “Why?” Unless you’re someone’s granny or great aunt, I fail to understand why you’d read it? Shouldn’t you at least be reading the Mail? Or Metro? It’d have more news in it. I mean, they employ journalists and stuff.
And if you are indeed someone’s granny or great aunt, I’d feel like reminding you of some of some of the other business interests of proprietor, Richard Desmond.
All of this is a long way around of saying that you really should pop over and read Martin Belam’s hilarious analysis of Daily Express headlines so far this year.