h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

They put it all in perspective.

For example, recent front page news in the Brentwood Gazette was that Subway was opening a branch in our High Street. never mind what the Romans did, just think of the exicement that must go on in my hometwon if that is front page news.

Somebody has also left a copy of the Southend Echo on my desk. Having perused it I have a found one letter that proclaims that the Tory party has been 'middle of the road' since the mid-70's (I'm thuinking that needs to be a very broad road...), and one that feels that building an extra gas holder on canvety island (already perma-frosted due to the siting of a gas refinery on the place) might make Canvey an open target for suicide bombers.

Little England. God blees them every one.

Better than our local rag. That carries letters about dog crap and missing cats.

Possibly the two are related.

My family used to get the Romford Recorder every week, and it seemed like almost every week that police had smashed a major drug ring in Romford, often with the help of the paper. Who knew the place was such an important centre for the drug trade

mm, well, it is a tip, but i somehow don't think that feeling the collar of a few lads selling E's outside Yates's is a 'major drug bust'...,

Did I see your back in the state of George Bush and Dancing with Lance, btw?

heya

The Fife Free Press is a gem, and has helped adapt me to British culture. I now know the importance of celebrating any and every award ceremony with a plaque and newspaper photo spread, ranting to the editor about the local council and what it's not doing about hooligans, and keeping up to date on activities of old people who like to have luncheons and walk on hills. It did take me actually going past a green on the bus after a few months before I realized that it's not 10-pin bowling that they're all so obsessed with..I also got to play the 'Sale of the Century' game in which Fife residents race to phone in their claim for unwanted goods at low, low prices. *props feet proudly on her 10 quid Ikea coffee table*

If you love local papers you'll love the Framley Examiner.
http://www.framleyexaminer.com/ for the website, but I highly recommend buying the book: http://www.framleyexaminer.com/pages/book_info.html

"LOCAL NEWSPAPERS have long been society's thermometer. Unlike real thermometers, though, you can stick them anywhere and get an instant result.

"The Framley Examiner is one such thermometer. Launched in March, 1978, it has since been measuring the temperature of local news, sport, opinion, entertainments, businesses and pleasures. The paper's patient is the healthy town of Framley, and the surrounding peripheral environs.

"Framley is much like any other town in Britain. Indeed, travel writer Quentin Hammer recently described it as much "like any other town in Britain." And, much like any other town in Britain, there are always stories of incandescent importance and feelgood fundraising fighting for space on its pages."

My favourite headline from a local paper (The Wilts and Glos Standard, if you want to know - the Cirencester edition, since you ask):

Injured Owl Dies