When I read a newspaper for the first time (e.g. an English language paper abroad, local paper in a city I haven't been before, etc.) I look for the following:
- Is there a clear line drawn between editorial and reporting? In other words, can I tell when it's going beyond the facts and moving into opinion?
- Are the facts supported by cross reference - names with quotes, clear references to studies so I can check them myself if I want to?
- Do the opinion pieces address contrary arguments and come to a conclusion, rather than simply pretend that there's an easy answer?
- Does the paper avoid assuming that you agree with its editorial opinion?
- Does the paper regularly run editorials by different writers with conflicting viewpoints?
On that basis I read The Times, but I also like to occassionally read The Mirror and The Sun to keep a different viewpoint in mind. I used to read the Guardian and occassionally the Telegraph but in the last couple of years they've started to assume that their readers share their views about everything - I don't like that in a paper.
BBC News is generally good, except on Iraq; they seem to be still trying to adopt a 'we were right all along' attitude, which I don't find convincing.
Strangely, there don't seem to be any Sunday papers at the moment that fulfill all my criteria; the Sindy used to a few years ago but it's always been so poorly written (nothing to with the opinions, just the actual 'getting your point across in words' side of things).
What I find particularly odd is that the News International dailies tend to be pretty good (The Sun is exceptionally well written too) but their Sundays are really poor; I'd like to see Sunday editions of the Times and Sun - not the ST or NOTW which don't hold a candle to their daily equivalents.