28 April 2020

latimes

Being an Americophile, I like to keep a handle on what is happening Stateside. Unfortunately, some of the top newspaper sites require subscription. However, the website of "The L.A.Times" still allows open access. During the time of The Virus, I have been over to "The L.A.Times" on  a good number of occasions.

Of course the newspaper has a particular focus upon events in southern California but it is not entirely parochial. It gives serious consideration to both national matters and to significant international happenings too. I especially like the "Opinion" section in which the editor and senior correspondents stand back from the present moment to reflect intelligently upon current affairs.

In general, it is clear that "The L.A.Times" is not a big fan of the forty fifth president. They see through his shenanigans, dissecting his utterances and tweets while identifying both his failings and his oftentimes dubious motives. I guess that in Mr Trump's book, this intelligent scrutiny would put "The L.A.Times" in the "fake news" corral along with other champions of democracy and political transparency.

Commenting on Trump's approach to the COVID 19 crisis, veteran columnist Scott Martelle said this last Thursday: "Amid the noise, he pushes forward his agenda, keeps flogging his supporters like a jockey at Santa Anita Park and tries to keep those who disagree with or oppose him on a defensive footing. That’s no way to lead a country, even one that isn’t in the midst of a dangerous pandemic."

It isn't easy for any newspaper in the western world to both survive and keep the beacons of service and truthfulness burning. But my visits to "The L.A.Times" confirm that the paper maintains its independent spirit and its standards. In free countries, newspapers have always played an important role in describing, in challenging and in unravelling. Their gradual disappearance is very concerning.

To visit "The Los Angeles Times", go here.

19 comments:

  1. And that is exactly why many of them offer their online reading only upon subscription. Many have a combination of both; some articles for free, and others open only to subscribers. My local daily paper, the Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung, often has the first few lines of an article for free, like teaser; and then it says "For further reading, click here to subscribe...".
    My weekly paper, Die ZEIT, is all free online as far as I know.
    I have it delivered to my mailbox in its physical form every week, and been doing so for the last 30 years. Gathering your views and opinions from your blog, I can well imagine you as a ZEIT reader - not always agreeing with every article, but appreciating the research and genuine journalistic approach behind it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I looked up the word "Kreiszeitung" and was slightly disappointed to discover it means "district newspaper" when I hoped it might mean something like "defender" or "beacon of truth" or "champion".

      Of course you are right about subscription. Very justifiable - but not so much so for infrequent visitors.

      Delete
    2. I am afraid Die Zeit's articles are not all free online. Some are; the more interesting in depth ones you can only read if you jump over the paywall; those articles are marked Z+. If you subscribe you'll get the first four weeks free, after which you will be charged 5,20 Euros/week, payable six monthly (presumably in advance - though that, to some extent, conflicts with their promise that the subscription can be cancelled at short notice). Of course, in the scheme of things, what's 5,20 Euros a week?

      So, Librarian, whilst I share your love of Die Zeit and its excellent journalism, I am afraid they are not quite as generous as you thought. Other than that: I envie you the actual physical hard copy. How much is it now?

      U

      Delete
    3. Thank you for clarifying this, Ursula. As I read the Zeit's online content only occasionally (it does differ from the printed copy), I have not come across parts that need paying.
      I'm afraid I don't know the current price for a hard copy; my subscription is booked off my bank account every half year or so and I never check...
      That reminds me, this week's issue should be in my mail box today, not Thursday as usual, because of the 1st of May being a holiday. I hope it arrives in time for me to take along for the trip to O.K.'s.

      Delete
  2. I agree- the LA Times is a good source of information. One of these days I'm going to break down and subscribe to the New York Times. They give you a few articles for free every month and I'm always afraid that I'll miss something I REALLY want to read by reading something just out of slight interest. Sort of silly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes I read "The Apalachicola Times" online. It's interesting to read local news from a place I loved.

      Delete
  3. The LA Times is a shadow of its former self, but having said that, it's still an excellent newspaper. Thanks for the reminder. I've added it to my bookmarks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Shadow of its former self" - what do you mean by that Steve? Do you mean its sales figures have slumped or something else?

      Delete
  4. I couldn't see anything about allotments, polytunnels, Real Ale, Manchester United or Britney Spears. You also can't make blankets for a park bench or eat chips out of an online newspaper. Think on now Mr Pudding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't realise that Britney Spears was from Lancashire. Mind you with her flat cap and clogs, I should have known. Good comment Mr Northsider. You can be cheeky but always in a good spirit.

      Delete
  5. It's only a bit of fun YP. I try not to offend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe I should aim to be more like you Northsider!

      Delete
  6. Misread the title. Thought it was going to be about latrines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So did I - at first glance. A subject most befitting considering where YP lives.

      U

      Delete
    2. We don't all have latrines in Yorkshire.

      Delete
    3. If the two of you wish to read about latrines and lavatories, I suggest that you order this book from Amazon:- "Sanitation, Latrines and Intestinal Parasites in Past Populations" by Piers Mitchell. I am sure it will give you both a few hours of happy distraction while sitting upon your respective latrines.

      Delete
    4. And if you don't have a latrine Mr Dunham, you can read it while hovering over the hole in your vegetable plot.

      Delete
    5. Your excellent book recommendation, YP, reminded me of another title. A book on my shelf. It's a Penguin Classic History under the title of "Clean & Decent", subtitled "The fascinating history of the bathroom and the water-closet" by Lawrence Wright. It's been in my possession for many years. I haven't read it yet (no doubt there will be time during Corona). Never mind latrines (you and TD, don't be so sniffy about them). What I want to know how people managed in those times, in town, when skirts where many layered, very long, horses still pooped in passing - on the high street no less, and men were buckled, braced and not easily undone either. Luckily my sense of smell isn't that great, not even in my imagination.

      U

      Delete
  7. I'm afraid the "paper" newspaper is going the way of "real" money and that is sad to see. To keep up with changing times they have to go digital and I guess the majority have to charge for subscriptions. You would think they make enough from advertisements but I guess not. Our local Kansas City Star is an award winning and trustworthy paper both online and in paper form. Unfortunately, you are limited in how many articles you can get without a subscription.

    ReplyDelete

Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

Most Visits