Paper Monitor
13:22 UK time, Thursday, 14 February 2008
A service highlighting the riches of the daily press.
Isnβt it lucky that Paper Monitor's colleague Random Stat has been kind enough to mention Valentineβs every day this week? Because, in glancing at some of todayβs front pages, itβd be difficult to guess at its romantic significance.
Although, having said that, those papers that do mention this oh-so-special of days are a bit of a giveaway, quite literally, with romantic offerings galore (even the normally stiff-upper-lipped Daily Telegraph's doing it, with a CD of love songs). And lo and behold, the Independent has also managed to mention it, although not to go quite as far as to have a related freebie, preferring a book on the great philosophers instead. Of course.
For those seeking some reading material of a lighter, more traditionally romantic variety, thereβs always the Mills and Boon novel on offer with the Daily Mirror.
The Sun's taken a discreet approach, more akin to that of a broadsheet, avoiding the familiar abundance of pink and red hearts that can be draped across the cover of a less discerning paper. Or so it would seem until opening the paper and there said hearts are, loudly splashed across page three. Further in (page 24) thereβs an offer of a free packet of Lovehearts for the true romantic.
Paper Monitor wonders whether perhaps the reason for the Sunβs reluctance to make note of Valentineβs Day on its cover is out of respect for βstick-thin Cherylβs agonyβ, the headline of its picture exclusive of Cheryl Cole alone on a beach in the wake of her marriage breakdown to loverat Ashley. So respectful, in fact, that the paper has devoted several pages to photos of her holiday on a Thai island (a destination chosen by the Girls Aloud singer, perhaps, to avoid the intrusion of the long lens).
Also souring the otherwise love-filled pages of todayβs papers are images of a scowling Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills to-ing and fro-ing from their divorce hearing.
And without wishing to harp on about this story (having possibly made a passing reference or two on Tuesday), itβs good to see the subs are still having fun with those Beatlesβ puns, judging by the Mirrorβs βHate days a weekβ.
The 
