Each edition of the Guardian Weekly is like a puzzle.
We slot in news and photos, analysis, opinion pieces and fine feature writing, striving for a balance of places, people, ideas and issues, reporting conflict, hoping for resolution, to create a newspaper that holds broad appeal for an intelligent, diverse community of readers spread round the planet.
That’s the challenge of the job. We’re up for it!
This week we turn the front page over to German politics, where polls in advance of elections in September are giving hope to the left. Is Germany the next nation set for upheaval? Can social democrat Martin Schulz, a political outsider with down-to-earth appeal, oust the long-serving chancellor, Angela Merkel? We consider what is at stake.
European politics continue inside the paper with a profile of centrist outsider Emmanuel Macron, who has become a leading contender in this spring’s French presidential race. Where has he come from? What does he stand for? We tell all.
Our Comment pages continue the theme with evolving insights into the presidency of Donald Trump. Is he faltering or fabulous? We showcase both perspectives. Closer to home, the Observer’s award-winning chief political commentator, Andrew Rawnsley, considers the possibility of civil unrest in Britain. The lack of any real political opposition, rising taxes, renewed spending cuts and higher inflation may all combine to provoke social uproar, Rawnsley argues.
Our feature pages capture some wonderful reads, starting with the people who never forget. The remarkable ability of a handful of folks (found so far) to recall each day in exact detail may transform our understanding of how memories are created and stored. I often wonder where we’d be without our memories.
The Book reviews offer a realm of reading. From art dealing to atoms, there’s something for everyone. Why read the book when you’ve got the review?
Culture revisits an artistic revolution in Russia. Where would the Weekly be without some sort of revolutionary writing?
Amid all this coverage, my favourite piece sits on the Sport pages. We consider the loneliness of the elite swimmer. It’s endless hours in the pool, a life of isolation and monotony, with efforts only really recognised every four years. With an elite athlete in my own home, I know something of the agony of individual sport, of its higher highs and alarming lows. Sometimes the Sport pages are about so much more than a ball and a score.
We slot the pieces of our Weekly puzzle together to create a complete picture that keeps you informed as well as entertained. How did we do this week? You can share your thoughts on our editorial content by clicking here. If you have a subscription or delivery issue, this is your link.
Would you like to change your delivery address? Your email address? Suspend delivery? You can manage your account online here. Are you a subscriber looking for our digital edition? Click here.
