Op-ed

May 10, 2007 9:23 AM

I'm an op-ed fan. It's usually one of the only pages of a newspaper that I'll read. NYTimes with that crew of Dowd, Herbert, and contributors I like but I need some other good ones that have rich, original content everyday. International, US, foreign, whatever. You don't have to try to gear it to my taste (and I'm aware that "it depends"): tell me what you like.
posted by Aghast. to society & culture (14 comments total)

The Wall Street Journal has rich, original content every day. It has a different ideological slant than the NYT, but it can be thought-provoking reading whether you agree with it or not.
posted by blue mustard at 9:34 AM on May 10, 2007

If you're looking for prog stuff, which I think you are, look no further than The Guardian.
posted by parmanparman at 10:12 AM on May 10, 2007

The Globe and Mail (rss, as they paywall quickly.)
posted by acro at 10:40 AM on May 10, 2007

Agreed above re: the Guardian; in particular the "Comment is Free" section of the website has a huge variety (some of which I agree with, some of which I don't, which is what makes it interesting) of op-ed pieces from some well known (and some not so well known) people, and associated commentary from users.
posted by modernnomad at 10:45 AM on May 10, 2007

I am like you--I go straight to the editorial page when I pick up a newspaper.

This is going to be a strange suggestion, but I'm from Maine and I've always loved the editorial page of the Portland Press Herald. It's not going to have the breadth and depth of content as the Post, the Times, the Guardian--obviously. Not even close. But what I find there that I don't find at the big papers is a real mix of viewpoints. Maine politics (like Mainers themselves) are wacky--regular people get really involved, and there are always really controversial issues that are voted on directly by the public, passing or failing by tiny margins. This makes for interesting and varied editorials, op-eds, and letters to the editor. They have this laughably horrid conservative columnist that I just looooove to hate. He's my arch nemesis.

I don't like feeling like I agree with every editorial, you know?
posted by lampoil at 11:40 AM on May 10, 2007

I find David Aaronovitch (used to be in the Independent) in the (london) Times has a sensible and interesting view on most issues, and is the only thing worth reading in that Murdoch rag. Comment is Free on the Guardian website is frequently rubbish and the commentators seem to be mainly frothing at the mouth loonies, but I can't stop reading it...
posted by patricio at 11:44 AM on May 10, 2007

RealClearPolitics.com and PoliticalTheory.info. Great sources for op-eds.
posted by dagny at 11:53 AM on May 10, 2007

There are many op-ed style blogs out there, but you don't say that you're willing to consider online sources.
posted by rhizome at 12:39 PM on May 10, 2007

I too open first to the op-ed page.

I now find that Glenn Greenwald and Joshua Marshall are a better source of empirically grounded opinion than any newspaper writers. Greenwald (you hafta click through the Salon ad) writes one or two op-ed style pieces each day; Marshall gives you about 5-10 posts per day.

I also disagree with the WSJ recommendation. A different ideological slant is well and good, but the WSJ op-ed page will skew anything in the service of the GOP party line of the moment. Ross Douthat is better for thoughtful conservative opinion.
posted by ibmcginty at 12:47 PM on May 10, 2007

Sorry-- here's the Marshall link.
posted by ibmcginty at 12:47 PM on May 10, 2007

I am a big fan of The Financial Times' Comment and Analysis pages. They have some excellent in-house writers and get fantastic submissions from experts, dignitaries, leaders, etc. from around the world.
posted by moxyberry at 1:54 PM on May 10, 2007

The International Herald Tribune, which is owned by the New York Times Company, has a great op-ed section. Many of the NYT columnists are run regularly, but it has a decidedly more global focus.

The Financial Times is good, and more conservative than NYT. But it's not rabidly right-wing like the WSJ. The Age in Australia also has a good opinion section. Don't discount the Opinion sections the Washington Post and LA Times. The LA Times has been in a state of tumult for a few years, but it still runs many very good pieces. The San Francisco Chronicle is good if you like liberal commentary (I do). The Harvard Crimson also has some very good student columnists. Slate.com runs wonderful, sharp columns, and it is owned by the Washington Post.
posted by HotPatatta at 6:51 PM on May 10, 2007

On the progressive side commondreams.org brings in a bunch of new editorials every day along with a few headlines. Nothing about bear trapping though.
posted by pointilist at 11:39 AM on May 11, 2007

I find that Art and Letters Daily tends to have some interesting op-eds from time to time.
posted by nihraguk at 2:37 PM on May 11, 2007