A truly grown up paper (The Financial Times)

Member Name: hark30

Product:	The Financial Times
Date:	18/10/00 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No entry Ainsely Harriot, Giles Brandreth or Nigella Lawson

Disadvantages: No sport!

For thirty years I have recoiled in horror at the mere sight of this newspaper, until recently I was encouraged to read it as part of a course I am doing.

Well, the distinctive colour makes a nice change. And if you brace yourself for the lack of celebrity revelations, celebrity gossip and celebrity columns, you may be in a good position to learn something from a newspaper for a change.

And red braces aren't compulsory in order to get something out of it. No gimmicks, free supplements, advertising features, or any of the other battery of modern circulation-war accoutrements, this is a refreshingly straightforward publication. Of course, it is oriented around commercial and business interests, but this has interesting consequences.

There is a truly international perspective, because of the globalisation of capitalism. This means that rather than the scant "news" coverage in the other dailys, which is generally shock/horror related, there is steady coverage of more routine facets of the international scene. The perspective on general news stories, both political and social, has a unique slant, and I think a slightly more considered and mature one. The writing seems less politically motivated, or confinmed within an editorial whip.

Overall, I think this has value as a more relaxed and grown-up medium, at a distance from the frenetic babble of a lot of modern journalism. I recommend giving it a try.

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