Member-only story
Dear Americans, Please Stop Reading the Daily Mail
Last night, the internet exploded with reports that Russian president Vladimir Putin was planning to step down due to ill health. It was reported by a number of…tabloids.
Turns out that it’s not true. (Nor was it caused by anything that happened in a certain popular urban fantasy show). The rumor was started by Putin trying to push a law that would extend his immunity to prosecution for life after he stops being President.
But he has no imminent plans to retire.
The entire mess reminded me of something I have to tell Americans all the time:
Stop reading the Daily Mail.
What is the Daily Mail?
The Daily Mail is a British tabloid newspaper. It’s owned by an umbrella company called DMGT, which has multiple other divisions. DMG Media owns the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Ireland on Sunday, i (yes, it’s just called that), Mail Today, Metro, Metro.co.uk and MailOnline. It also has shares in the London Evening Standard.
With the exception of Mail Today, all of these titles are UK based. (Mail Today is the Indian version of the Daily Mail).
The Daily Mail is a national UK paper that is published six days a week. The Mail on Sunday “replaces” it on Sunday. And it’s a…