The chatbot ChatGPT with its amazing ability to write anything from poems to articles in no time at all has taken the world by storm. The media can’t stop talking about it. Fed and trained on reams of data, it can write on anything from Shakespeare to social media. Along the way, it must have picked up enough data on the media, too, to comment on them, I thought. So I asked it to assess the quality British weekday newspapers The Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph. Finally, I asked it about The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. This is what ChatGPT had to say about the five newspapers.

Below are my questions and ChatGPT’s answers:

Q.  If I could read only two British quality newspapers, please tell me which two should I choose and why: The Times, The Telegraph,  and The Guardian

A. If you’re looking to read British newspapers, two that provide different perspectives and coverage are “The Times” and “The Guardian”.

“The Times” is known for its conservative, right-leaning views and in-depth coverage of politics, business and finance. It is often considered a newspaper of record and is regarded as one of the leading sources of news and analysis in the UK.

“The Guardian”, on the other hand, is known for its progressive, left-leaning views and focus on social and cultural issues, as well as international news. It is a well-respected source for independent journalism and is known for its investigative reporting.

Choosing these two newspapers would give you a comprehensive overview of the political and news landscape in the UK and provide you with a range of perspectives.

Q. If I could choose only one of the two newspapers, which one should I choose: The Times or The Guardian?

A. If you could only choose one newspaper, it would depend on your personal interests and news preferences.

If you’re interested in in-depth coverage of politics, business and finance, “The Times” would be a good choice. It is known for its conservative, right-leaning views and is regarded as one of the leading sources of news and analysis in the UK.

If your interests lie more in social and cultural issues, international news and independent journalism, “The Guardian” would be a good choice. It has a progressive, left-leaning editorial stance and is known for its focus on social and cultural issues, as well as investigative reporting.

Ultimately, both newspapers are reputable sources of news and information and it would come down to personal preference.

Q. Which of the two newspapers is better written, better edited, has better writers, better columnists: The Times or The Guardian?

A. Determining which newspaper is “better” written, edited, has better writers or columnists is subjective and depends on individual preferences. Both “The Times” and “The Guardian” have a long history of producing high-quality journalism and have a reputation for rigorous reporting, analysis and editing.

“The Times” is known for its conservative, right-leaning views and in-depth coverage of politics, business and finance. It is often considered a newspaper of record and is regarded as one of the leading sources of news and analysis in the UK.

“The Guardian”, on the other hand, is known for its progressive, left-leaning views and focus on social and cultural issues, as well as international news. It is a well-respected source for independent journalism and is known for its investigative reporting.

Both newspapers have experienced and respected journalists and columnists who provide insightful and thought-provoking analysis on a wide range of topics. It is ultimately up to the reader to determine which newspaper they prefer based on the writing style, tone, and content that aligns with their personal interests and values.

Q. How big is the circulation of The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian? What are their circulation and readership figures? Are there figures for their online traffic?

A. I do not have the most up-to-date circulation and readership figures for “The Times”, “The Telegraph”, and “The Guardian” as my training data only goes up until 2021. However, I can provide you with some general information on their circulation and online traffic.

At the time of my training, “The Times” had a daily print circulation of approximately 400,000 and a Sunday print circulation of approximately 700,000. The newspaper also has a strong online presence, with millions of monthly unique visitors to its website.

“The Telegraph” had a daily print circulation of approximately 300,000 and a Sunday print circulation of approximately 400,000. Like “The Times”, “The Telegraph” also has a significant online presence, with millions of monthly unique visitors to its website.

“The Guardian” had a daily print circulation of approximately 160,000 and a Sunday print circulation of approximately 180,000. The newspaper has a large online following, with millions of monthly unique visitors to its website.

It’s worth noting that the print circulation of these newspapers has likely been impacted by the shift towards digital media consumption, and it’s likely that their online traffic has increased in recent years. However, as my training data only goes up until 2021, I cannot provide more up-to-date information on their circulation and readership figures.

Q. Which of the three newspapers has the best arts and culture coverage and the best coverage of books and writers: The Guardian, The Times and The Telegraph?

A. When it comes to arts and culture coverage and the best coverage of books and writers, “The Guardian” is often considered to have a strong offering in these areas.

“The Guardian” has a long-standing tradition of providing in-depth coverage of the arts, with a particular emphasis on contemporary culture, music, film, and theater. The newspaper also has a dedicated books section, which provides reviews, interviews, and news on the latest literary releases and trends. “The Guardian” is known for its insightful and diverse coverage of the arts, which appeals to a broad range of readers.

That being said, “The Times” and “The Telegraph” also have dedicated arts and culture sections, and both newspapers provide comprehensive coverage of a range of cultural topics, including books and writers. However, “The Guardian” is often seen as having the strongest offering in these areas.

Q. If I could read only one business newspaper, which one should I read and why: The Financial Times or The Wall Street Journal?

A. If you could only read one business newspaper, it would depend on your personal interests and news preferences.

“The Financial Times” is a UK-based newspaper with a strong reputation for its coverage of international business and finance. It provides in-depth analysis and commentary on global economic and business trends, and is widely read by investors, financial professionals, and business executives. The “Financial Times” has a reputation for producing high-quality, well-researched journalism and is known for its independent and objective reporting.

“The Wall Street Journal” is an American newspaper with a strong focus on US business and financial news. It provides comprehensive coverage of the US stock market, financial industries, and the economy, and is widely read by investors, financial professionals, and business executives. “The Wall Street Journal” is known for its well-respected business and financial journalism and is often considered the leading business news source in the United States.

Ultimately, both “The Financial Times” and “The Wall Street Journal” are reputable sources of business and financial news and it would come down to personal preference as to which one to choose. If you have a particular interest in global business and finance, you might prefer “The Financial Times”, while if you’re more focused on the US business and financial markets, “The Wall Street Journal” might be a better choice.