Since Scottish newspapers are in the doldrums just now I thought it only fair and right to ditch the websites and actually buy the printed editions for a change.
But a hefty £8.60 at WH Smith had me wishing for a job back on the right side of a newsdesk where the titles were supplied for free every day.
No wonder the shop assistant looked at me with that 'why are you buying all those' stare – the one normally reserved for a Sunday when I heave a forest of papers back home, cue much tut-tutting from those blue rinses waiting behind as they are rung up on the till.
But what exactly are we readers paying for in Scotland?
Well, see below, and decide among yourself if it's really worth paying almost a tenner for each day of the working week.
SCOTTISH SUN:
TUNNELS OF TERROR. Hamas go underground as Israel attacks
Tommy is Bruv outcast: Tommy Sheridan is least popular Big Brother contestant ever.
Cover price: 30p
60-pages main book
24-pages Super Goals supplement
4-pages TV Biz supplement
DAILY RECORD:
I BEGGED TOMMY: DON'T DO IT. But Sheridan ignored his wife Gail's pleas.
Travolta: I fought to save dying son Jett
Gaza City is cut off
Cover price: 40p
48-pages main book
24-pages The Winner supplement
SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL:
GET OUT OF JAIL EARLY AND RETURN TO A LIFE OF CRIME. Number of prisoners freed early then sent back to prison within months has soared to record levels
Cheryl: My battle with the bulge
Cover price: 45p
88-pages main book
SCOTTISH DAILY EXPRESS:
CREDIT HELL WILL LAST TWO YEARS: Brown's warning as he considers risking more taxpayers' money.
Macca and heiress Nancy all loved up
Cover price: 35p
64-pages main book
8-pages Football Express supplement
DAILY STAR of SCOTLAND:
B BRO GIRLS' BITCH FIGHT
Cover price: 20p
52-pages main book
20-pages Seriously Football supplement
THE SCOTSMAN:
Beyond Hell: Eyewitness tells of fear and panic in Gaza as bombs fall and troops close in
Cover price: 70p
52-pages main book
20-pages Sport
THE TIMES: SCOTTISH EDITION
Israel's rain of fire on Gaza: Phosphorus shells screen ground assault * All munitions used are lawful, says army.
Bridge Setback: The biggest row between the Scottish Government and Westminster has broken out over the Treasury's refusal to advance the £2billion to pay for the new Forth crossing.
Cover price: 90p
72-pages main book
20-pages The Game supplement
24-pages The Times 2 supplement
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: SCOTTISH EDITION
Israel splits Gaza in two
Walk to freedom: Somali bandits release Telegraph men
Salmond faces battle for bridge funds
Cover price: 90p
34-pages main book
8-pages Business supplement
28-pages Sports supplement
METRO SCOTLAND:
Misery as key rail line is shut
Cover price: Free
56-pages main book
4-pages wrap-around advert
THE HERALD:
Israeli tanks push deeper into Gaza as aid fears grow
NHS boards fail to follow health advice a year after DVT inquiry
Salmon disease inquiry
Cover price: 80p
28-pages main book
16-pages sports supplement
THE INDEPENDENT: SCOTTISH EDITION
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MY FATHER. For The Independent's reporter in Gaza, the Israeli invasion became a personal tragedy when he discovered his father was onme of the first casualties of the ground war.
Cover price: £1
48-pages main book
24-pages sports supplement
24-pages Life supplement
THE GUARDIAN:
Thousands flee guns and shells as Israel tightens grip on Gaza
Ofsted's new mission – to get rid of boring teachers
Cover price: 80p
36-pages main book
16-pages sports supplement
32-pages G2 supplement
14-page Media Guardian supplement
FINANCIAL TIMES:
Israeli ground offensive cuts Gaza in half
FSA to probe profits warnings
Brown pledges to help savers as Bank eyes lowest rates since 1694
Cover price: £1.80
26-pages main book
24-page supplement
Categories: Blogs
The questions are: who would have the time to read them all and how much of the interior copy is agency generated? (and how much of it can people get from Metro?)
I love sitting down with a bundle of papers to dip through but sadly it’s something that I rarely get the time to do, even on a Sunday.
But reading papers is still miles better than reading online because you get exposed to so many more stories and articles, giving you a rounder knowledge of what’s going on. I maintain that the person who designed the modern page layout, with leads, downpage leads and NIBS should be recognised almost as much as Gutenberg.