Post: #1

I'm currently looking for a source of global news that I can trust to give the factual information of events without bias, or at least as little as possible, and I have heard The Economist sourced and quoted by people I respect intellectually. This weekly publication also has an unabridged audio release, which is part of the reason why I find it so tempting. Is it worth my time, or will it warp my perception of the world? If you would not recommend it, what news source do you consider to be superior?

Post: #2

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, Americans of all political stripes tend to trust The Economist more than just about any other news outlet.

I've had a subscription for awhile now. I don't think it'll warp your perception, it's about as straight as news gets these days. Very little ideological bent.

Post: #3

It's better than most I would say, but I stopped my subscription for these two reasons:

-The Economist is very biased in favor of the Western establishment. Not that I'm totally against the establishment, but this bias is too obvious to trust their opinions or even facts which are presented selectively.
-It is written mostly by old people and for old people. They admitted in one of the issues a few years back that they struggle to attract younger readers and the average age of subscribers is something like 60. Nothing wrong with it, but most of the RVFers are not their target audience and would not even benefit from most of the policies they are in favor of.

I would read the Economist sometimes it if it was free, but I would never pay for it. Even it it was free, I wouldn't use it as the only source of information about current events.

Post: #4

I used to read this regularly, lately they seem to have gone off the deep end.

Pro-war in almost every case, clearly shilling for the military industrial complex. Basically just a tool to villainize anyone who goes against The Washington Concensus.

You can see this in Latin America, they treat Argentina and Ecuador like their leaders were evil because they dare challenge the U.S.'s hegemony, but treat Peru like it's a good little boy cause they keep their moth shut. It's not like the standard of living is much different between these three countries, and despite it all Argentina is probably still the best of the three.

Post: #5

(03-28-2015 09:07 AM)Brodiaga Wrote:  It's better than most I would say, but I stopped my subscription for these two reasons:

-The Economist is very biased in favor of the Western establishment. Not that I'm totally against the establishment, but this bias is too obvious to trust their opinions or even facts which are presented selectively.
-It is written mostly by old people and for old people. They admitted in one of the issues a few years back that they struggle to attract younger readers and the average age of subscribers is something like 60. Nothing wrong with it, but most of the RVFers are not their target audience and would not even benefit from most of the policies they are in favor of.

I would read the Economist sometimes it if it was free, but I would never pay for it. Even it it was free, I wouldn't use it as the only source of information about current events.

According to the economist the median age of their global readership is 47. Link below.

http://www.economistgroupmedia.com/resea...mographics

I subscribed to economist earlier this year after concluding it was better than any of its competitors in terms of the breadth and depth of its coverage. I haven't found anything that comes close.

What do you read for current events?

Post: #6

It's a mixed bag which makes it better than 99% of other news sources. They talk about important subjects but don't always get it right, especially on politics where they don't like to rock the boat.

Post: #7

(03-28-2015 09:12 AM)Sonsowey Wrote:  I used to read this regularly, lately they seem to have gone off the deep end.

Pro-war in almost every case, clearly shilling for the military industrial complex. Basically just a tool to villainize anyone who goes against The Washington Concensus.

You can see this in Latin America, they treat Argentina and Ecuador like their leaders were evil because they dare challenge the U.S.'s hegemony, but treat Peru like it's a good little boy cause they keep their moth shut. It's not like the standard of living is much different between these three countries, and despite it all Argentina is probably still the best of the three.

Argentina's leadership is hopeless. They also don't like the US much but that's not their real problem.

Post: #8

(03-28-2015 09:37 AM)Robert JS Wrote:  According to the economist the median age of their global readership is 47. Link below.

http://www.economistgroupmedia.com/resea...mographics

I subscribed to economist earlier this year after concluding it was better than any of its competitors in terms of the breadth and depth of its coverage. I haven't found anything that comes close.

What do you read for current events?

I stand corrected. 47 is still not young.

I read the front page of WSJ every day and check the Reuters web site a few times a day for breaking news, stock quotes, etc. I used to read Bloomberg, but they updated the web site recently and turned it into complete shit. I also check alternative news sources every now and then: Zerohedge, RT (Russia Today) and a couple of web sites in Russian. Also, RVF, of course, is a pretty good source of news and commentary.

Post: #9

Dupe

/thread-31031.html

Post: #10

I have read The Economist between 16-30. It came with the profession and studies.

Now I ignore their drivel like anyone with a sound mind should.

   
   
   


That said - you can only reject it if you have taken a hard look at alternative views of history, economics and alternative monetary systems. Only then does one realize that The Economist is just indoctrination for the top sheep.

Post: #11

(03-28-2015 10:51 AM)Cunnilinguist Wrote:  Dupe

/thread-31031.html

Ugh, I knew I forgot to do something. I want this to be my first and last "dupe" thread.

Post: #12

I get my news filtered through blogs.

A lot of them source from
- Financial Times
- WSJ
- NPR/PBS
- NY Times
- WaPo
- Reuters
- BBC

Al Jazeera America and Quartz are also good RSS feeds if you just take the headlines and then google search.

The best news source i've ever seen was Al Jazeera ENGLISH.

AJA is CNN.
The Real Al Jazeera is straight up propaganda.

AJE was like the BBC with emphasis on the rest of the world.

WIA

Post: #13

AJE is still available. If you go to http://www.aljazeera.com it redirects you to AJA.

But if you just google Al Jazeera Mid East you get to the international AJE site:

http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/regions/middleeast.html

Obviously they have their biases like any government run news source.

Post: #14

(03-28-2015 05:01 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  AJE is still available. If you go to http://www.aljazeera.com it redirects you to AJA.

But if you just google Al Jazeera Mid East you get to the international AJE site:

http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/regions/middleeast.html

Obviously they have their biases like any government run news source.

Thanks, I thought AJE was gone.

There are 3
- one with the middle east bias - Al Jazeera = http://www.aljazeera.net/portal

- with an American bias - Al Jazeera America - http://america.aljazeera.com/

- with a "brit/euro/world bias" - Al Jazeera English

AJE is the better of the 2 offered in English, imo.

WIA

Post: #15

No

Post: #16

I loved reading the Economist because in the back they would have ads that were like "The People's Republic of Bangladesh is seeking a Minister of Water Sanitation with expertise in providing rural mountainous areas with efficient delivery systems for sanitized water."

Post: #17

How about Time magazine? Any good?

Post: #18

I second Zelcorpion's view.
Their Twitter feed definitely has a 'thought police' feel to it, particularly in recent times, with an increasing trend towards political correctness and intellectual superiority.
Interestingly, the biggest anti-GamerGate guy I know, is a huge fan of The Economist.
Which says it all really, he is the epitome of a millenial SJW sheep.

Post: #19

(03-30-2015 03:38 AM)amity Wrote:  I second Zelcorpion's view.
Their Twitter feed definitely has a 'thought police' feel to it, particularly in recent times, with an increasing trend towards political correctness and intellectual superiority.
Interestingly, the biggest anti-GamerGate guy I know, is a huge fan of The Economist.
Which says it all really, he is the epitome of a millenial SJW sheep.

Some of their articles are laughable - like the one where they oversimplify the falling oil prices now:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist...goilprices

Zerohedge has 100 times more truth in it - and I don't even like some of their viewpoints which are too libertarian and extreme. But at least they are not pulling any punches, not sticking to the global agendas and look at all potential reasons.

Another example: Boko Haram is truly big news? I guess the Kony 2012 did not go anywhere and they want some boots on the ground in Africa, so it's Boko Haram now?

Quote:Over 10,000 people killed and as many as 1.5m driven from their homes: 5 years of Boko Haram http://econ.st/1MlZTtd

Yeah - we know how much you really care about 10.000 dead - when they say 10.000, it will likely be 3.000 at best. They want to get their hands on the resources there. Yeah - they care about 100 kidnapped girl - fuck them and their drivel.

The Economist is a pure propaganda piece which sometimes brings up interesting facts. The writing is top-notch general since it addresses the more educated intellectuals, but propaganda remains propaganda. You won't find out the truth, but only more elaborately crafted lies.


____

Also this should give guys food for thought:

THE ECONOMIST LOVES, NO ADORES FEMINISM:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/...1/feminism
http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-...t-mystique

Quote:What must change for women to make it to the top

http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasv...hts-canada

Post: #20

The Economist has become way too lefty and PC indoctrinated for my liking.

Used to read it religiously; haven't bought a copy in years now.