The papers

They reveal a lot about a society, do newspapers. Our local rags are very local for one. In the best of the locals, the SMH, the quality journalism is reserved for the sports section. The rest is a collage of commentary on recent happenings in the circus politics, business, daily life and reality tv arts. There is a world section buried inside which is pulled off the news service without thought or conviction.

Thankfully we have the internet. And I hear the Guardian has spotted a gap and will soon produce a local version. Hopefully they will attract opinion writers and commentators who know what they are doing. It’s all just enough to keep the candle alight.