Paper Monitor
13:22 UK time, Thursday, 14 February 2008
A service highlighting the riches of the daily press.
Isn鈥檛 it lucky that Paper Monitor's colleague Random Stat has been kind enough to mention Valentine鈥檚 every day this week? Because, in glancing at some of today鈥檚 front pages, it鈥檇 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, there鈥檚 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) there鈥檚 an offer of a free packet of Lovehearts for the true romantic.
Paper Monitor wonders whether perhaps the reason for the Sun鈥檚 reluctance to make note of Valentine鈥檚 Day on its cover is out of respect for 鈥渟tick-thin Cheryl鈥檚 agony鈥, 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 today鈥檚 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), it鈥檚 good to see the subs are still having fun with those Beatles鈥 puns, judging by the Mirror鈥檚 鈥淗ate days a week鈥.
The 
