I recently was brought a Sunday Express newspaper and, being starved of reading materials, I was anxious to read it. But what a disappointment. Once upon a time the Express was a quality paper filed with in depth news and analysis these days its a glorified titillation rag. Rather than in depth reporting and analysis, it's filled with short news stories in mono syllables and articles about models, celebrities, sex and violence.

What became of good newspapers? Are all news outlets now targeting the common denominator? Is everything we consume designed to be accepted by the average illiterate and uninterested in world events Joe? It's as if to be successful the media feel that they have to lower their standards to the gutter.

I realize that some folks want their page 3 breasts and stories about sizzling sex and celeb happenings but isn't there room for a quality newspaper anymore? And if all papers eventually look the same then aren't they competing in the same market for the same readers? Am I to accept that that market is growing then? Are the schools turning out illiterate and non curious folks these days?

Yep - that's a lot of questions but I suspect the degradation of so called news outlets is reflective of a general lowering of educational standards.