Christian Science Monitor.. Any readers? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jimellow · 09-20-2006, 11:22 AM

I received an offer in the mail today for the Christian Science Monitor. I knew nothing about it, and almost threw out the subscription card, assuming it was a religious periodical that I ultimately had no interest in.

After doing some research, I gather it isn't necessarily a religious newspaper at all, but instead a paper that covers the news, both nationally and internationally, while claiming to be objective and secular.

Does anyone read or subscribe to this newspaper?

I already subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, but the Monitor is just 20 pages, and the rate offered is just $13 for 60 issues, which is negligible.

The paper's length is desirable, because to read the WSJ in its entirety can take over an hour if I actually read/comprehend all the articles.

I likely will take advantage of the offer, if only to check the paper out, but I'd like to get feedback from those that have read the paper in the past.

Furthermore, to those that have subscribed in the past: Were arrival times reasonable? The website says the paper is delivered via US Postal Service, and that makes me wonder if there is a delay (IE, getting Monday's paper on Wednesday, etc.)?

kutulu · 09-20-2006, 11:50 AM

I haven't read that much stuff from the CS Monitor but I agree that the name is decieving. It is true that it is owned by the Christian Science Church. For anyone not familiar with them, they are the ones that prefer prayer to modern medicine. For example, if you break your arm, you won't get it fixed and it will heal all fucked up.

From what I have read, they are fairly objective, avoid sensationalism and for the most part don't rely on just grabbing stuff off of hte wire (i.e. they actually write the stuff they publish).

CSflim · 09-20-2006, 12:50 PM

Well you can read articles from their website to find out what you think of it yourself. http://www.csmonitor.com

I have read a couple of their articles online (usually links from fark.com) and never noticed any great bias - but said articles were never really related to religion in any way, so I don't know what they are like beyond that. I assume that the webiste is representative of the printed edition.

dlish · 09-20-2006, 02:53 PM

i dont mind CS monitor. ive read plenty of stuff online on their websites. ive found them to be pretty fair in their views.

have a look at their website and decide if its what your looking for.

ktspktsp · 09-20-2006, 04:17 PM

Yeah, their name is confusing. But their articles are pretty good, and they have a decent coverage of middle east issues (should you be interested in that). Jill Carroll, the journalist that was kidnapped in Iraq, works there.

Val_1 · 09-20-2006, 08:14 PM

They are a pretty good news source. Truely fair and balanced. I read it occasionally. They do have a web site that carries a lot of articles; check it out. Somewhere burried in the rag they print one article in each issue about religion, not necesarily Christian Science. For the most part it's 99% religion free news.

guthmund · 09-21-2006, 08:41 AM

The library where I work has a subscription and while I don't read it cover to cover everyday, I do pick through it.

It's good stuff. Certainly worth the $13, I'd think.

hiredgun · 09-21-2006, 11:02 PM

Given their ownership, the CS Monitor is a surprisingly good source. It isn't my paper of choice, but I have no particular criticism to level at their reportage, which has always appeared up to mainstream standards. Though they are a mainstream publication, they do have a reputation for covering stories that slip through the cracks elsewhere, and for dealing with sensitive issues.

dlish · 09-23-2006, 12:39 AM

there u go jimellow...

i guess they get rave reviews..or you can try asking some of the guys in politics forum .. im definate that you'd get a varied response in there.. if u dont, then hell's about to freeze over

cheers

Jimellow · 10-12-2006, 07:19 AM

My subscription to CSM started a few days ago, and I really enjoy the paper. It's very concise (20 pages), well written, and also broad in its coverage. I especially enjoy the book/media reviews, and the lack of excessive advertising is very refreshing.

I'm also a subscriber of the Wall Street Journal, and am actually considering un-subscribing due to it being such a commitment to read in its entirety.

Lastly, the delivery time of CSM is amazing. I receive issues on the day they go to print, which amazes me, considering they are sent via US Postal Service. I thought there would be a two, even three, day delay between the date of the paper and the day I receive it, but I receive Monday's paper on Monday, Tuesday's on Tuesday, etc. Very impressive; almost feels like it's too good to be true.

Overall, I'd say this is the best daily newspaper I've encountered. It's just 20 pages, but is packed with content; which are both big plusses to me. Furthermore, the topics and articles are genuinely interesting to me, and I look forward to each issue. With the WSJ it felt I was plodding along for two hours, but not necessarily interested in half of the things I was reading about. I'm certainly glad I took advantage of this subscription offer, and will almost certainly be sticking with this paper over others I've subscribed to in the past.

thingstodo · 10-14-2006, 09:19 AM

Another good one is USA TODAY. They have actual morning home delivery in many areas. I get it and spend about 30 minutes each morning and cover most areas. It's so general interest I get broad coverage. It's also good when I travel because there are things in there that help me talk with people from other parts of the country.

I actually also like and read the CSM. The WSJ bores me unless there is something specific I'm looking for!

CSflim · 10-14-2006, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thingstodo

Another good one is USA TODAY. They have actual morning home delivery in many areas. I get it and spend about 30 minutes each morning and cover most areas. It's so general interest I get broad coverage. It's also good when I travel because there are things in there that help me talk with people from other parts of the country.

USA Today is the only newspaper in the country that is not afraid to tell the truth: everything is just fine!

09-20-2006, 11:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	Christian Science Monitor.. Any readers? I received an offer in the mail today for the Christian Science Monitor. I knew nothing about it, and almost threw out the subscription card, assuming it was a religious periodical that I ultimately had no interest in. After doing some research, I gather it isn't necessarily a religious newspaper at all, but instead a paper that covers the news, both nationally and internationally, while claiming to be objective and secular. Does anyone read or subscribe to this newspaper? I already subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, but the Monitor is just 20 pages, and the rate offered is just $13 for 60 issues, which is negligible. The paper's length is desirable, because to read the WSJ in its entirety can take over an hour if I actually read/comprehend all the articles. I likely will take advantage of the offer, if only to check the paper out, but I'd like to get feedback from those that have read the paper in the past. Furthermore, to those that have subscribed in the past: Were arrival times reasonable? The website says the paper is delivered via US Postal Service, and that makes me wonder if there is a delay (IE, getting Monday's paper on Wednesday, etc.)? __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

09-20-2006, 02:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	i dont mind CS monitor. ive read plenty of stuff online on their websites. ive found them to be pretty fair in their views. have a look at their website and decide if its what your looking for. __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

09-20-2006, 08:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Val_1 Addict Location: In a State of Denial	They are a pretty good news source. Truely fair and balanced. I read it occasionally. They do have a web site that carries a lot of articles; check it out. Somewhere burried in the rag they print one article in each issue about religion, not necesarily Christian Science. For the most part it's 99% religion free news. __________________ I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. -Frank Sinatra

09-21-2006, 08:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	The library where I work has a subscription and while I don't read it cover to cover everyday, I do pick through it. It's good stuff. Certainly worth the $13, I'd think. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

09-23-2006, 12:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
dlish Currently sour but formerly Dlishs Super Moderator Location: Australia/UAE	there u go jimellow... i guess they get rave reviews..or you can try asking some of the guys in politics forum .. im definate that you'd get a varied response in there.. if u dont, then hell's about to freeze over cheers __________________ An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay? - Filthy

09-20-2006, 11:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	I haven't read that much stuff from the CS Monitor but I agree that the name is decieving. It is true that it is owned by the Christian Science Church. For anyone not familiar with them, they are the ones that prefer prayer to modern medicine. For example, if you break your arm, you won't get it fixed and it will heal all fucked up. From what I have read, they are fairly objective, avoid sensationalism and for the most part don't rely on just grabbing stuff off of hte wire (i.e. they actually write the stuff they publish).

09-20-2006, 12:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Well you can read articles from their website to find out what you think of it yourself. http://www.csmonitor.com I have read a couple of their articles online (usually links from fark.com) and never noticed any great bias - but said articles were never really related to religion in any way, so I don't know what they are like beyond that. I assume that the webiste is representative of the printed edition.

09-20-2006, 04:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
ktspktsp Addict Location: Reykjavik, Iceland	Yeah, their name is confusing. But their articles are pretty good, and they have a decent coverage of middle east issues (should you be interested in that). Jill Carroll, the journalist that was kidnapped in Iraq, works there.

09-21-2006, 11:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
hiredgun Addict	Given their ownership, the CS Monitor is a surprisingly good source. It isn't my paper of choice, but I have no particular criticism to level at their reportage, which has always appeared up to mainstream standards. Though they are a mainstream publication, they do have a reputation for covering stories that slip through the cracks elsewhere, and for dealing with sensitive issues.

10-12-2006, 07:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
Jimellow Junkie	My subscription to CSM started a few days ago, and I really enjoy the paper. It's very concise (20 pages), well written, and also broad in its coverage. I especially enjoy the book/media reviews, and the lack of excessive advertising is very refreshing. I'm also a subscriber of the Wall Street Journal, and am actually considering un-subscribing due to it being such a commitment to read in its entirety. Lastly, the delivery time of CSM is amazing. I receive issues on the day they go to print, which amazes me, considering they are sent via US Postal Service. I thought there would be a two, even three, day delay between the date of the paper and the day I receive it, but I receive Monday's paper on Monday, Tuesday's on Tuesday, etc. Very impressive; almost feels like it's too good to be true. Overall, I'd say this is the best daily newspaper I've encountered. It's just 20 pages, but is packed with content; which are both big plusses to me. Furthermore, the topics and articles are genuinely interesting to me, and I look forward to each issue. With the WSJ it felt I was plodding along for two hours, but not necessarily interested in half of the things I was reading about. I'm certainly glad I took advantage of this subscription offer, and will almost certainly be sticking with this paper over others I've subscribed to in the past. __________________ Desperation is no excuse for lowering one's standards.

10-14-2006, 09:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Another good one is USA TODAY. They have actual morning home delivery in many areas. I get it and spend about 30 minutes each morning and cover most areas. It's so general interest I get broad coverage. It's also good when I travel because there are things in there that help me talk with people from other parts of the country. I actually also like and read the CSM. The WSJ bores me unless there is something specific I'm looking for! __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.