Financial Times

I still do feel like the Journal excels in investigative journalism (nothing in the world can beat its Page One coverage). But for true breadth of coverage, the daily delivery of the FT puts an amazingly vibrant and diverse pastiche of the world under my nose every morning. I heartily recommend you give it a trial run.


The world's most addicting and informative read   January 5, 2006
J. Foster (Wisconsin)
24 out of 25 found this review helpful

December 2006 revision:

The Financial Times is still one of the best newspapers I know of in the world (that can be readily purchased in the U.S.)

I subscribe to both the Wall St Journal and Financial Times (FT), and also The Economist (newsmagazine). For comparison's sake, the WSJ is very good in its section one coverage, especially front page stories, political coverage, and its excellent and frequently quoted editorials. For me, the other stuff is fluff. Regarding the Economist, it is a highly touted weekly newsmagazine with two downfalls - it is weekly (!) and seems to interject alot of commentary into its stories. Which leads us to the FT.

With FT, I feel like I'm reading THE NEWS, and more importantly, it is in a daily format, ensuring you'll be up to date on the latest global news. There is excellent coverage of US happenings, along with Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Once you read it, you feel much better informed - where else could you get daily extended coverage of the Russian/Ukraine natural gas issue or, from several months ago, daily coverage of Germany's elections? Along with excellent reporting comes great, although somewhat left/liberal commentary - don't let that dissuade you, however. Other gems include business reporting, including stories on management ideas, business life, etc.... and the most excellent Weekend edition (Saturday), full of all sorts of cultural stories, including food, wine, arts, book reviews, travel, and the like. The Weekend Edition of the Wall St Journal has a lot of catching up to do - I typically find myself skimming through the Weekend Journal and tossing it in the trash as I settle in with my coffee and the Weekend FT.

Not to mention brilliant & wonderful columns by Lucy Kellaway, Tyler Brule, and Sathnam Sanghera (to return in Spring '07), and economists Tim Harford and Martin Wolf ...actually, all the columnists are quite good.

As an added note, most, if not all, the stories are fairly concise yet informative, without the constant page turning to continue a story ("story continued on page A15"!), as will be found in the Wall St Journal or many other newspapers.

You must pick this up and indulge yourself for a few weeks, if you are undecided. You will not be disappointed. Reading and owning the FT is a must.


FT vs WSJ   March 16, 2004
14 out of 16 found this review helpful

I've read WSJ for about 15 years and just started FT recently. Each has its own focus. WSJ is very sensible, yet clearly has a conservative inclination...I tend to share their perspective on most things.

FT seems less conservative in their observations and certainly looks at things from a more international viewpoint. The financial aspect of the paper has, I believe, more to do with understanding how the world operates economically whereas WSJ deals more with day-to-day considerations.

Entertaining opposing (or at least differently slanted) opinions can foster a more balanced perspective. So my advice is, if you are able, to read them both.


Best world coverage   July 24, 2004
M. Preszler (AZ USA)
14 out of 16 found this review helpful

This newspaper provides an outside-the-box (US) opinion, even though Britain's outlook is similarities to ours. I read the WSJ daily and the NYTimes when I can, but the WSJ is so conservative and the NYTimes is so liberal that this provides a source that is at least one level removed from the conservative/liberal bias in this country.