Can't access Ciao through Uni (ARRGGGHH!) so that's why it's been quiet around these parts - when I ...
Can't access Ciao through Uni (ARRGGGHH!) so that's why it's been quiet around these parts - when I get home I'm too knackered to Ciao!
Member since:04.04.2001
Reviews:75
Members who trust:85
What can you get for nothing? Zip, zilch, nadda, zero pence! The answer – very little of relevance or importance except The Metro! The Metro is a free paper which you should be able to find in a city near you….
So why should I want one? It’s free, isn’t that a good enough reason!? No?! OK then, you should pick up a copy of the Metro because it’s a great newspaper. Because it’s aimed at the rush-hour workers trudging to the office every morning it has to cater for a wide range of tastes and readerships. It has all the big news stories of the day in a slightly more condensed form for the Guardian and Times readers among us, and it has the stupid stories about alien landings and super models for the Sun readers among us. Surprisingly for a free paper it’s got a pretty high quality of journalism
within it’s pages…
What’s in it, then? There’s the usual stories about the state of the trains, Tony Blair’s scary smile and whether the Tories are racist or not, but you also get some of the highest quality humorous stories. My favourite one of recent times, has been the German man who decided to kill the ants in his garden by using a home made flame thrower. The ants unfortunately ran under a Cyprus bush (very flammable!) and the bush exploded leaving the German with burnt arms and legs – the ants escaped unharmed. You can find one of these totally irrelevant, but funny stories every day, and it certainly brightens up my trip into Uni.
Because the paper’s are printed locally you do get some differences between the papers, most noticeably in the sports section. You’ll be able to read about your local footie teams latest match, although that’s not always a good thing in Sheffield United’s case! Also there is the “Metro Life” section which contains local gig guides, book, music, theatre and club reviews for you to read. There’s tonight’s telly listings in the centre pages, a letter’s page that seems to be populated by bonkers people, and a (very small) financial section. A bit of everything for everyone!
If it’s free, isn’t it full of adverts? Admittedly there are a lot of adverts, although not that many more than your average tabloid. Being a experienced Internet user, I find I totally disregard the ads, and I never notice them, so I can’t really comment on the quality. The Metro does have local jobs and businesses advertised towards the back, with I’m sure would be useful if that’s what you like reading in a paper!
Where do I get it from? This is where it gets a bit tricky. As with all good things, there’s a catch. Not everywhere can get it. Up until recently the only time I read the Metro was when I visited my boyfriend in Coventry. But thank the lucky stars, Sheffield now prints it’s own so I get to read it every time I go to Uni. If you do live in a Metro catchment area, you’ll be able to pick a copy up from trains stations, bus stations, buses and in Sheffield’s case, on the tram. However, because it’s free you have to get their early to get your copy in busy places. In Coventry station all the copies have disappeared by 9.00am, but in my home town train station you can get a copy all day (Chesterfield people don’t know a good thing when they see it!).
So is there anything wrong with this paper then?! Well, I am gonna be a bit picky and say that I always get covered in black ink off the paper – especially if it’s been raining out – and I usually arrive at uni looking like I’ve had a fight with some kids poster paint. However this is a really small quibble, and you can’t expect everything from a free paper! Quick tip, never put it under you chin when you run out of hands – you end up with a black beard.
Also, the Daily Mail is responsible for it, so you do end up with some “lets-kick-all-them-scrounging-illegal-imigants-out-of-the-country-NOW” stories and they do have a tendency to be very nice to William Hague, but apart from that it’s great!
The Metro is a great time-killer and is one of the best free things around. If you can, try and pick up a copy, but remember the early bird catches the paper!
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Sounds good, but living in Wales, I have never seen (nor heard) of this paper. Alan
dirtybird 11.05.2001 10:58
The Metro also has a good use for lining dustbins as well! And for making stylish clothes, although it has to be said they are not very waterproof. My friends have also drawn my attention to the fact that the Metro is useful for making paper boats, hats and aeroplanes!
RobinLawrie 10.05.2001 23:30
Nicely written. I like the paper and as you say it is nor nothing....Robin
May 10th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
