Need help choosing newspapers for project (American + Dutch)

[Paul Hanson]

For my research project next semester (something which I'm not looking forward, but have to do nonetheless), I've opted to look at how the media in different countries portrayed the events at the G8 summit in Genoa back in 2001; the demonstrations and the backlash from the authorities. What I'm looking for is 3 newspapers from each of the following countries: UK, US and the Netherlands, and I want the three papers to cover the political spectrum. That is, I want a leftwing paper, a rightwing paper and a centrist newspaper. For the UK, I'm currently leaning towards the Guardian, the Times and the Daily Telegraph (but feel free to offer better choices if you want), but I have little or no experience of papers from the US or Holland.

My only requirements are that they be broadsheets and have a nationwide readership (as opposed to be local papers).

[Hueij]

Dutch national papers:

leftwing: Volkskrant
center: NRC Handelsblad
rightwing: De Telegraaf

HTH...

[Buck Birdseed]

I'd go with the Financial Times over the Times for the UK centrist paper...

[germanos]

Hmmm... This is not going to be easy...

'De volkskrant' used to be the major leftwing newspaper, but it has recently (over the past few years) moved rather mainstream/popular. At best you could call it 'moderately left of center'.
As there is no major national newspaper left of it, you're probably stuck with it anyway.
note: I consider myself leftist, and I recently unsibscribed to 'De Volkskrant', as I could not stand the reactionary viewpoints, the 'Yuppy' feel the newspaper was getting, and the rediculous 'Royal wedding-Royal Baby' attention in the newspaper.

'Trouw' is a newspaper that has a 'Christian' profile, and as the 'Christian Democrats' has been in government here for practically eternity, ruling with both the Socialists and Liberals (who are considerd rightwing here ) alternately, it might provide an interesting view from the center.
Traditionally, 'Trouw' is grouped with the left though, but I really doubt to what regard these traditional groupings really stick.
(this is more or less like the grouping of media as leftist in general. This seems to be a worldwide phenomenon, as I hear Brits and American complain about the leftist media at many moments, while Murdoch and what-have-you-got hardly fit that picture)

'NRC Handelsblad' (which I am subscribed now ) is a liberal newspaper (the name means 'Trades-paper') could be regarded as leftist, when you view liberalism as leftist.
Traditionally, as Hueij points out, the paper is regarded center or rightwing even.

There is no doubt 'De Telegraaf' is a conservative newspaper, that draws most readers here. If you view conservative as rightwing, this should be your pick.


All in all I would say:
Please define left, right and center

[Paul Hanson]

Oh Christ, I knew this was going to get tough.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that leftwing = bigger government and rightwing = smaller government.

[germanos]

Well, in that case:

Volkskrant for the left (welfare state)

Telegraaf for the center ('More police!' 'All immigrants must forcefully adapt the 'Dutch way of life!' 'cut back on the welfare state' 'cut back on bureaucracy')

NRC Handelsblad for the right. (free markets)

[Paul Hanson]

I have to say, De Telegraaf is starting to sound like more of a right-wing paper than the NRC Handelsbad is.

[germanos]

De Telegraaf is definately more conservative .
It does however wants more government control in certain area's, especiall the Law and Order thingy.


I was going by the smaller/bigger government definition you gave, and to me a larger Law and Order apparatus, with extended control over civil liberties, is definitely a larger (and more powerfull/intrusive) government.

I'm fine if you think De Telegraaf is more rightwing then the NRC, I will agree with you, but on other definition of left/right.

I'm not interested on a discussion on that though (not in this thread at least).
You have my 2 cents on your question though.
Good luck with your paper

[Paul Hanson]

Thanks. And to be honest, I'm not too keen on a discussion about this either.

Now all I need is someone to give me some pointers on US papers, and I'm set.

[Buck Birdseed]

How in god's holy earth can you possibly equate the left-right continuum with a big/small goverment one? Most small-government neo-liberals are reasonably centrist.

[Ming]

The US is tougher because most papers aren't national.

However there are some National Newspapers:

The Wall Street Journal for the conservatives
The New York Times (Is considered a national newspaper) for the liberals
USA Today for the center.

[DinoDoc]

Washington Post
New York Times
Wall Street Journal

[Ming]

The Washington Post and New York Times are both liberal

[DinoDoc]

Yeah well one is normal liberal and the other one is just crazy.

[Ming]

True....