Learning isn't limited to what's on the TV news
Written: Mar 18 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Quality of news coverage: |
 |
|
| Quality of editorial content: |
|
|
|
Pros: Phenomenal comics
Cons: Typographical errors
The Bottom Line: Excels in Variety, Taste and Home & Garden sections.
|
|
|
| bnelson988e's Full Review: Minneapolis Star Tribune |
What I read from cover to cover of any newspaper are the Variety, Taste and Home & Garden sections and I've found no other newspaper excels in these areas as much as the Strib.
I'm usually only a front page reader of the news sections in any paper (I rely mostly on radio for this) and find that most papers show their biases quite readily in what they choose to cover and not to cover. The StarTribune is no exception I'm sorry to say, but it does have other redeeming qualities.
Every week the Taste section keeps me up to date on which restaurants are opening and closing, which restaurants are moving or getting a new chef. I may not agree with every restaurant review, but I get a good feel for the dining experience and food offered. If there are problems with a dish or service, the reviewer freely offers their opinion just as readily as when they feel something is perfect, unlike other publications where every review has only good things to say.
In the Variety section, the comics page only keeps getting better. Compared to other papers I've seen, it is by far the most extensive. Two FULL pages every day and a nice large format for Sundays. Other regular Variety features of note include the Isaac Asimov Super Quiz (where IS Tipperary?), the News of the Weird, TechToday and the Strib's own Fixit column which has an almost cult following.
The Strib recently pulled a lot of arts and entertainment coverage into a weekly FreeTime section for Fridays. I've yet to get used to the change, and think it's a pretty lame attempt at trying for the look and feel of a good weekly free newspaper. It will probably grow on me with time, but for now, I usually toss it except for glancing at the movie reviews.
The Saturday "Faith & Values" section is probably the most unique coverage in the Strib (hidden in the Metro/State section). How many newspapers do reviews of different churches through the eyes of a first time visitor? The coverage of national Lutheran politics is so good that when I talk to my out of state retired pastor father, I'm usually more up to date on the details.
The Strib's coverage of local Minneapolis politics is really the only game in town. The other Minnesota newspaper, the Pioneer Press, still stays true to its St. Paul roots and slant. The papers might have removed the cities from their names, but the coverage still shows that the StarTribune is really still the Minneapolis Star & Tribune and that the Pioneer Press is really still the St. Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch.
I don't read sports, so can't really comment on the quality of that section other than to say they manage to catch my eye with great color photos.
The weak areas I find include a very Minnesota slant to the paper (which can be a strength depending on what you like) as well as international articles buried on spare pages in different sections. To protect my blood pressure, I avoid reading the editorials, but expect they are biased, as any editorial section will be.
I have to admit that finding a typographical error in every single edition has become somewhat of a game with me and I've almost given up hope of ever trying to find anything on their web site.
Overall, I have a great fondness for the StarTribune, warts and all, and look forward to continuing to learn from it. (By the way, Tipperary is in Ireland.)
Recommended:
Yes
Describe the newspaper's political views: It is liberal
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
bnelson988e
|
|
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.