Originally Posted by
Mike Reed
No idea about the (sensational) tabloids, Tom, but the Times, D.T. and probably Grauniad should uphold some standards. The D.T. (is this the only broadsheet now?) has really let standards slip, but in all fairness, there's a heck of a lot of news etc. which is covered daily. Relying on spellcheck (or the Fleet St. equivalent) has obviated the need for good old proof-reading, it seems. However, it hasn't at all.
An old acquaintance, who later became editor of the Mirror, was quite fastidious about language, though he did say that it was more difficult for his journalists to dumb down reportage to suit the readership than it was for those for more upmarket newspapers.