Thursday 8 October 2009

The Papers 08/10

As well as the papers, I try to catch the Today show on BBC Radio 4 whenever I can. If nothing else I think I'm learning a lot about having an aggressive interview style and not letting the interviewee dictate the agenda. In particular, I enjoy James Naughtie's style.

So, the papers. The biggest stories today seem to be the Royal Mail strikes (in the Telegraph and accompanied horribly on the front page of the Guardian with an ugly moist close up of a letter box), Sharon Shoesmith's challenge of her dismissal and continuing coverage of the Tory party conference.

The tabloids have thrown in a few good unique headlines that broaden the scope of coverage. The Daily Express scaring us with claims that anti ageing creams might cause cancer and the sun has Robbie William's confession that he nearly died from drugs. A classic red top crowd pleaser, a well known and loved celebrity and a 'drugs are bad' message can't go wrong.

The coverage of the Sharon Shoesmith trial differs in the broadsheets and the tabloids. Both the Sun and the Daily Mail choosing to attack the council for initially supporting her before turning her into a scapegoat. The Times and Guardian both emphasising her revelation that she considered suicide. Regardless of whether it's true, she must really want to make herself appear the victim to make a personal confession like that.

Front page of the day goes to the Times for leading with Berlusconi and choosing a suitably morbid picture of Shoesmith in all black with a black background to go with their tag: 'Furore over baby P left me suicidal'. Now that Berlusconi has lost his Presidential immunity from prosecution it hails the start of more turmoil in Italy that will surely signal lost more headlines to come.

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