Paper Monitor
11:05 UK time, Monday, 19 November 2007
A service highlighting the riches of the daily press.
It was a wet, cold and windy journey into work for Paper Monitor this morning and apparently it's only going to get worse. With the first winter snow falling in areas of the UK overnight, the Express has its usual weather scare story. Get ready for 100mph gales everyone.
But while some of the papers are sticking to their tried-and-tested formula, others are behaving very oddly. PM has checked and checked again, and then checked some more. Unbelievable as it sounds, it appears news that millions of pounds is being paid in benefits to people claiming to be unable to work because they are too fat or suffer from the likes of acne and giddiness has bypassed the Daily Mail.
Such stories are its bread and butter and PM was looking forward to the righteous indignation, but there is nothing in today's paper - nada. It's left to the Times to scream "TOO FAT TO WORK" at us from its front page and pick out the important statistics, like how many people don't work because of giddiness and leprosy. Heads will roll at the Mail.
Elsewhere there's a beautiful example of loving a headline so much you use it, regardless of what the story says. It's nestled on page 24 of the Independent. Essex Girl On The Road To The White House. It's got impact, you have to give them that. It's about Elizabeth Harper, who is married to Democratic politician and presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich. And she has her tongue pierced.
Reading on you soon find out that Mr Kucinich has loyal supporters, but not that many. He is also opposed to the Iraq war, wants gun controls in the US, an end to the death penalty and reportedly want to replace the Pentagon with a department of peace. By the end of the article's third paragraph you realise she has as much chance of becoming First Lady as Jade Goody. Oh well, it's still a good headline.
The 
