The Daily Mail

Owned by: Daily Mail and General Trust, owned by Jonathan Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere

Editor: Paul Dacre

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa 1,490,000

Today’s leading headline: Shame of care homes that just don’t care

Today’s Mail reports once again on the shoddy state of care homes in the UK. The paper reports that currently 100 care firms are struck from the record a year, meaning they cannot work and forcing them to close. The paper cites a report from the watchdog Care Quality Commission extensively throughout the article to draw up a dismal picture of the level of failure.

Afterthought: It is no secret that our care home situation in this country is beyond dire.

The Daily Telegraph

Owned by: Telegraph Media Group, owned by Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay

Editor: Chris Evans

Political leaning: Right

Daily circulation: circa. 460,000

Today’s leading headline: Treasury ‘talking down Brexit’

Today’s Telegraph quotes Theresa May’s former advisor Nick Timothy, who believes that many of the officials in charge of overseeing Brexit simply can’t look past the negatives of leaving the EU. He goes on to list both Hammond and Johnson as culprits, whilst the treasury is accused of failing to ever ‘mention the positives’ of the EU split.

Afterthought: This would be the same Nick Timothy who was forced to retire as May’s close advisor following a truly awful snap election campaign. The same Nick Timothy who would have sat in on the conversation advising May to connect with the people by talking about running through fields of wheat. The same Nick Timothy who has published hugely critical pieces previously on the EU and thus can of course write from a neutral point of view whilst criticising Tory MP’s he loathes. Transparency is key.

The Times

Owned by: News UK, Rupert Murdoch’s company.

Editor: John Witherow

Political leaning: Right

Daily circulation: circa. 446,000

Today’s leading headline: UN is failing the world, May tells global leaders

United Nations speeches also cover the front pages of today’s Times. The paper reports that May has warned the UN that a ‘crisis of faith’ lurks on the horizon for the organisation if reforms were not met. The PM went on to threaten to withdraw 30 million pounds from Britain’s share of funding the UN.

Afterthought: The UN has proved a difficult creation to control from its very conception. Whilst the aim of the organisation is idealistic and pure, the outcome of various interjections and apparent lack of discipline in certain war zones leaves many questioning how the UN.

The Guardian

Owned by: Scott Trust Limited, run by a board with a policy of non-interference.

Editor: Katharine Viner

Political leaning: Left

Daily circulation: circa. 161,000

Today’s leading headline: May hits out at US ‘threat’ to climate treaty.

Today’s Guardian leads with coverage of Theresa May’s speech to the United Nations yesterday, during which she warned that the US posed a serious threat to climate change by going back in its promises. The speech, which did not directly name the USA, was made an hour before the Prime Minister and President had a private conversation.

Afterthought: May’s speech was largely acceptable. She raised genuine national concerns over climate change and nuclear arms, and asked countries to all adhere to the same set of rules in the ‘interests of all our peoples’.

The i

Owned by: Johnston Press, whose CEO is Ashley Highfield, significant ties to the BBC

Editor: Oliver Duff

Political leaning: Centre

Daily circulation: circa. 264,000

Today’s leading headline: Death by dangerous cycling

Today’s i reports that government plans are being drawn up to introduce ‘new offence equivalent to causing death by dangerous driving’ should a cyclist hit and kill a person. The move comes following a ‘huge’ increase in bike related accidents and deaths for both riders and pedestrians.

Afterthought: The move will be controversial, as many cyclists already feel the government does not do enough to protect their safety.

The Daily Mirror

Owner: Trinity Mirror. Its chairman is David Grigson, formerly the chief financial officer at Reuters

Editor: Lloyd Embley

Political leaning: Left

Daily circulation: circa. 716,900

Today’s leading headline: Crime Lords

The Mirror smashes out a pun to help describe its fury over the news that £1.2m was paid to 115 peers who didn’t speak at all in parliament over the last year.

Afterthought: Bring back the classroom rule that all my least fav teachers used: if someone is sitting at the back and not taking part, ask them a question and force them to answer it in front of everyone. Proceed to revel in the palpable cringey awkwardness.

Financial Times

Owner: The Nikkei, which is based in Tokyo.

Editor: Lionel Barber

Political leaning: Centre

Daily circulation: circa. 193,211

Today’s leading headline: Fed calls historic end to crisis-era QE and signals further rate rise.

Today’s Financial Times provides a shimmer of good news with the announcement that the Federal Reserve will be reversing its crisis-era programme from next month. This comes as plans to raise the interest rates are drawn up.

Afterthought: Good news for those with the big bucks. I’m still sitting at 21 grand in debt so we are all winners here.

The Sun

Owner: News UK, owned by Rupert Murdoch

Editor: Tony Gallagher

Political leaning: Right / far right

Daily circulation: circa. 1,611,464

Today’s leading headline: Dubai Brit faces jail for finger salute.

Today’s Sun is aghast at the news that a man is facing six months in prison for putting up his middle finger during a fit of road rage.

Afterthought: Behave according to the laws of the country you are in.

Final Thought

News shouldn’t tell you how to feel. The news should present facts, and allow you to formulate your own opinion. Regardless of your political affiliation, try and read beyond the headlines that most of these papers push on you, from the left and the right.

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