METRO (newspaper)

[Vulcan]

I like the idea of a free newspaper to read on the train, but why does Metro have such a strong anti-rail view?

For example, this week they have printed two letters from people opposed to the new Javelins, one claiming that their commuter train journey times have been lengthened to allow space for them? I didn't think Javelins ran on the normal railways around London but rather on HS1?

Also last week they reported the death of two quad biking trespassers as though it was the railways' fault (well thats the way it read to me). With words like 'Killed by a train', quotes from friends and relatives saying what good lads these two were, they were only out to have fun, etc, etc. An emphasis on that it was an unscheduled ECS move, and no mention whatsoever of the damage they have done to the poor driver's life.

I'm getting pretty sick of it, METRO couldn't survive without the rail industry, and this is how it repays it.

end of rant :-x

 

[devon_metro]

Its related to the Daily Mail, need I say more?

 

[Old Timer]

Its related to the Daily Mail, need I say more?

Oh please change the record

 

[Vulcan]

That said, it's redeeming feature is the cartoons. In future i might go straight to that page and forget the rest.

 

[Old Timer]

National newspaper circulations for November 2009 (source ABC)
Popular/mid-market dailies by volume:

Figure on the right indicates change in sales year on year

The Sun: 2,958,502, -2.87
Daily Mail: 2,148,571, -0.70
Daily Mirror: 1,260,019, -10.01
Daily Star: 823,476, 15.30
The Daily Telegraph: 744,151, -5.65
Daily Express: 685,195, -8.91
The Times: 563,262, -9.42
Financial Times: 401,072, -9.20
Daily Record:323,051, -10.72
The Guardian: 305,240, -14.83
The Independent: 186,557, -7.24


Rather puts you in the minority I think ?

 

[Vulcan]

National newspaper circulations for November 2009 (source ABC)
Popular/mid-market dailies by volume:

Figure on the right indicates change in sales year on year

The Sun: 2,958,502, -2.87
Daily Mail: 2,148,571, -0.70
Daily Mirror: 1,260,019, -10.01
Daily Star: 823,476, 15.30
The Daily Telegraph: 744,151, -5.65
Daily Express: 685,195, -8.91
The Times: 563,262, -9.42
Financial Times: 401,072, -9.20
Daily Record:323,051, -10.72
The Guardian: 305,240, -14.83
The Independent: 186,557, -7.24


Rather puts you in the minority I think ?

Oh yeah because all of those paint a good picture of the railways. METRO isn't the only offender when it comes to bad mouthing the railways for no good reason.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I can't be the only person on here fed up of the bad press the railways get.

 

[Old Timer]

Last post wasn't aimed at you old chap

 

[Vulcan]

Last post wasn't aimed at you old chap

Sorry, I withdraw my comeback.

 

[thefab444]

Well, those figures certainly say something about society. What that something is, is open to interpretation.

 

[Old Timer]

Not at all what they suggest is that there are those who are out of touch with how Society thinks, yet seek to suggest somehow that it is they who are right and everyone else is wrong.

 

[Stacey]

I don't mind the Metro tbh, its a quick read and gets the job done. I hadn't really noticed it being anti railway I just read the regular newsy bits and that's that. As for Daily Mail, if I see one I grab one, decent read.

 

[thefab444]

Not at all what they suggest is that there are those who are out of touch with how Society thinks, yet seek to suggest somehow that it is they who are right and everyone else is wrong.

Well, there are a number of other reasons for the circulation figures. Cost namely, The Sun's meagre price tag of 30p is sure to boost it's sales figures (as well as some of it's more questionable content!). Then there's the question of alternative media, stereotypically speaking of course, Guardian etc. readers are much more likely to make use of internet media meaning they don't have to purchase the newspaper, whereas the majority of the Daily Mail's two million readers have never even seen a computer!

 

[Old Timer]

..... whereas the majority of the Daily Mail's two million readers have never even seen a computer!

Further comment is unnecessary really.

 

[thefab444]

A shame, I thought that was a rather amusing, if somewhat stereotypical, joke.

Anyway, it doesn't do good to be in the majority, when has that ever been a good thing?

 

[jon0844]

the majority of the Daily Mail's two million readers have never even seen a computer!

I am sure they have and I'm pretty sure they're against them. Computers spread porn and help paedophiles. Illegals can also use them to email their family back home. Computers should be banned!

To be fair, the Daily Mail usually does get a lot of stories pretty spot on - if you can ignore the xenophobic drivel that they believe caters to their audience. In reality, it probably does for their print audience - but when they publish the same stories online and allow comments, it's amazing how the majority of comments are always critical of their reporting.

Yes, it could be loads of anti-DM people ganging up, but where are the sympathetic posts of support?

The Mail Online actually seems to highlight how out of touch the DM is on so many things now.

(I hope this was a bit more balanced than I have/love Daily Mail)

 

[asylumxl]

I wasn't aware that publishing a letter from a reader made them anti-rail.
I think it was more tomake people aware of the situation. In all fairness, most folk probably aren't aware, and those affected probably do not like feeling force into the HS1 services, so it's only fair they are given a voice.

 

[thefab444]

Computers spread porn and help paedophiles. Illegals can also use them to email their family back home. Computers should be banned!

Computer games are nasty and make children violent!

 

[313103]

When i first saw the headline regarding the Metro Newspaper i thought it was about why is there so many of them and the amount of landfill they fill on a daily basis. I can guaranteed that LOROL clear up at least 3 tons of this paper a week. You should see the state of our new trains at turn round points it looks like a rubbish tip. The good thing in London is that the amount of rubbish newspapers has declined in the evening peak largely thanks to the London Lite and London Paper being dispensed with.

Anyway i have digressed to be honest ive not notice an anti rail bias within the paper per say, no different to the others.

 

[jon0844]

As someone who was a software games tester when he was 13, I do have to say that I am pretty certain that there's an influence - the same as from certain types of music.

Okay, so MOST people can see beyond fiction - but it only takes a few that can't. There have been many cases of people influenced by films and video games - but I guess there is the argument that they would have 'triggered' anyway, and you can't ban everything just because a few people will abuse something.

Nevertheless, your statement is probably partially true - so there would be NO place for such a thing in the Daily Mail!!!

 

[thefab444]

Of course, what you say is correct, there'll be a few people that are influenced by computer games, but that's no reason to ban them or even censor them for the majority.

I don't know, it's a sweeping and alarmist statement, so it fits the bill pretty well.

 

[jon0844]

Yeah, I guess so! I wonder what Jan Moir thinks....!

 

[Waddon]

I don't believe the Metro is anti-rail. I do however believe it is lazy and goes for the easy stories. Its simpler for a journalist to write an 'Everythings wrong' kind of story than write about something positive, which might require more research and take up less space on the page. I suppose good news does not sell papers (yes, I know Metro is free, but the principal is the same)

 

[142094]

Half the stories are cobled together from AP press reports and the rest look as if they've just searched through a few of the other newspaper's websites and wrote a few lines on it. Still it must make money for them to keep printing it.

 

[me123]

I don't believe the Metro is anti-rail. I do however believe it is lazy and goes for the easy stories. Its simpler for a journalist to write an 'Everythings wrong' kind of story than write about something positive, which might require more research and take up less space on the page. I suppose good news does not sell papers (yes, I know Metro is free, but the principal is the same)

Certainly the Scottish Metro isn't as bad as you're all making out. It reports the facts, sometimes barely so. And it doesn't try and force an opinion upon you, so it's pretty much alone in the world of journalism.

In terms of the Scottish letter page (we don't get the same as you) it goes on about people smelling on the bus and Independence debate. Not much anti-rail. You get the odd complaint to Scotrail, but sensible people hastily reply that SR can't actually do anything about a points failure in the Carmuirs area or whatever they're on about this time.

The paper is hastily written, but what do you expect. It's free. If you don't like it, don't pick it up. Simples.

 

[Tom B]

I always miss the letters page when I go down south. You're forgetting, me123, the discussions about which ticket inspector/guard/bus driver is best looking...!

 

[me123]

I always miss the letters page when I go down south. You're forgetting, me123, the discussions about which ticket inspector/guard/bus driver is best looking...!

That one as well! And messages to irritating passengers, almost all of whom are reading a different newspaper...

I usually just get it for that, TBH

 

[Drsatan]

. Cost namely, The Sun's meagre price tag of 30p is sure to boost it's sales figures (as well as some of it's more questionable content!).

The Daily Express's cover price is 30p yet it has the lowest circulation of all the tabloids. Most DE readers have become very ****ed off with the headlines the DE does:

Once, their headline was "TEA IS A REAL TONIC": the story was based on a research study that showed tea is good for you. Thanks, I've always wanted to know that! Seriously though, this was on a day when the DE could have covered something more important like the Fort Hood shootings. Another one was "NOW EGGS ARE GOOD FOR YOU". Oh for ****'s sake this is getting beyond a joke! Why would anyone want to buy a newspaper to be treated to stupid headlines and endless stories about Diana?!?

 

[thefab444]

Why would anyone want to buy a newspaper to be treated to stupid headlines and endless stories about Diana?!?

Or Madeleine flipping McCann. :roll:

 

[poshbakerloo]

haha i always read the metro on the train, i guess its like the 'done thing'

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

Rather puts you in the minority I think ?

Not really, I too love reading about The Mail. I like what it says as they're my views - But I know they leave out a lot of the facts, I wish they didn't as it means I could enjoy reading it even more so. But they do. It shows that the large majority of the British Public shares the same views as I and either;
A) Most of them don't care some key facts are left out
B) Most of they know the facts are left out but it's still good reading
or
C) They aren't bothered about the one sided views as it agrees with their own views. (I can recommend the Guardian for both sided views but it isn't my cup of tea as I don't agree with 50% of it!!)

http://www.mailwatch.co.uk/ - This is quite a good Website as it provides facts against the Mail's Articles. I don't view it too often because, as I've said, I do share the views of the Mail.

Oh, and Devon_Metro does too