The Scotsman used to be a daily read for me, but this newspaper, like all Scottish newspapers have…read morestruggled to match the quality of the Scottish versions of the London Papers for some years now. However, the Scotsman today is still a solid read, with its coverage of local and political stories. With its offices located just around the corner from the Scottish Parliament it has used its prime position to great effect with stealing a lead on other papers when it comes to the events in Holyrood! It also has some great commentators on politics and economics, such as Bill Jamieson and George Kerevan. Furthermore, it consistently provides good coverage of cultural issues in Scotland, however I think the idea that this is a national newspaper might be stretching the truth somewhat, with its emphasis on the East of Scotland. If you want to read a newspaper which has detailed articles, but also has some fun, not so serious articles in it, then the Scotsman is the paper you should pick up at your local newsagents!

The Scotsman is the local newspaper and a good one. I'm writing this review because when I was in…read moreEdinburgh, there was a store that was giving away a free newspaper with each cup of coffee. I took a picture of the sign and a woman in my office has it on her bulletin board. It says: "Free Scotsman with each cup of coffee" She wants to go to Edinburgh for a cup of coffee. :)

Edinburgh Student Newspaper, commonly referred to as 'The Student' is the oldest student newspaper…read morein the country, and it is still is a vital read for any student! The Student provides the latest information on student politics at Edinburgh University, and also on issues that impact on students like tuition fees and employment opportunities (Not always the most optimistic read)! Also, the paper provides reviews on films, albums, singles, restaurants, bars and fashion by students for student. However, for me anyway, some of the reviews are just plain wrong, but students tend to disagree with each other! This paper is free and is the only student newspaper in Edinburgh which is produced (by students) at such a rate of a one issue a week during semester time. And, to be honest, some of the journalism on offer is of a high standard with many student journalists of The Student winning national awards for their writing! So to keep in the loop over student issues then pick up your free copy and dive into the world of student journalism!

A few things need to be considered about Student. It's free. The people who write for it do it for…read morefree and it's distributed round campus every Tuesday for free. Secondly, it's a student paper. That means the people who write for it are students, not professional journalists (yet). So considering that, Student is brilliant. It's hardly surprising it keeps winning Scottish student newspaper of the year. It's packed full of interesting articles which are, importantly, totally relevant to Edinburgh university students. They also get some great interviews with local celebs and figureheads. Even if you don't agree with the review section, it's usually pretty extensive and covers all the latest stuff. And it's free! Really top stuff, even if the crossword is always far too easy.

The Journal newspaper was set up in 2007 to provide a newspaper to the many thousands of students…read morewhich attend the multiple universities located in Edinburgh. Produced every second week during term, the Journal certainly does have a much more professional layout than other student newspapers and does indeed have a range of in depth articles and comments on issues of national and international importance. However, to me, this is not what you entirely want in a student newspaper. It's all very formal and grown up and lacks that immature nature that lies beneath every student! And even though it is for students throughout Edinburgh it is centred primarily around the University of Edinburgh (And there it faces stiff competition from the oldest student newspaper). So if you're a student wanting to be all grown up and professional about things, then the Journal is certainly the student newspaper for you!

As Clementine has mentioned, I-On Magazine is a free monthly magazine showcasing the more expensive…read morethings to do while in Edinburgh. I picked up a copy a few months ago and it seems to be aimed at people who think they're living in an episode of Sex And The City and many of the events advertised within seem rather contrived. It is a useful resource if you're looking for somewhere new in the city and want to check out what's on offer but if you're not up for getting manicures 24/7 or sipping on the predictable French Martini then you'll be hard pushed to find anything of interest in I-On. It does have a directory at the back with bars, shops and clubs which is useful but most of the places are for special occasions only and not everyday haunts making it not as practical as other free magazines such as The Skinny.

A free mag for the aspirational, I-On operates in quite a number of cities, and no matter what…read moreversion you are reading, it will do it's damnedest to convince you that you're in the most glamorous, expensive, wallet-busting city on the planet. While it's good to have a rake through if you're after a fancy dinner or whatever, in Edinburgh, as is the case in most cities, a lot of the tastiest dinners you'll find will be at more modest and unassuming establishments. Same with stuff like clothes, while I-On advertises places based on how much their clothes cost and what poncy designer made them, it doesn't offer much in the way of inspiration to the more imaginative shopper. They did have an advert for the "all food under a fiver" Candy Bar a couple of months back. I guess that was just a goof by the work experience kid.

It's always a bonus if you find yourself sitting down in a pub or a coffee shop and see copies of…read moreThe Skinny lying about. Compared to the double glazing ads and out of date non-news you get in most free papers, it's journalistic heaven. Compared to papers you'd actually pay for it's not that bad either, It's a bit up it's own arse at times, but if you're interested in what's going on slightly left of centre in the music, film, media and art scenes across Scotland, then it's probably the best publication currently available, free or not. Granted, some of the content an writing will appeal only to the most insufferable arseholes who bore you senseless by wittering on about the latest no-mark band they've found on Myspace, but even taking that into account there's plenty of reading to be had here.

The Skinny is a great free music newspaper. It is a great source to find new upcoming local bands,…read moreand it also has extensive listings for upcoming gigs, clubs and comedy shows. I always enjoy reading music publications, and compared to many main stream music magazines, the Skinny certainly provides a better range of coverage on a broader spectrum of music. Indeed, it recent years, the Skinny has gone further and now features articles on theatre, books, art and fashion. Apart from the emphasis on local new bands, the paper also focuses on the alternative-indie music scene. Indeed, it recently had a headline interview with the American band The National. If you want to know what is happening in the latest music circles, then the Skinny is essential reading for you. It might not come in a glossy magazine format, but its content is head and shoulders above other publications.

As a student currently studying politics at university, and somewhat a political enthusiast (I…read moreknow, not cool!) in Edinburgh one comes to know the best sources of information surrounding Scottish politics. One of the best sources of the events and news stories going around the Scottish parliament is the Holyrood political magazine. The magazine writes on the latest political news stories, analyses the latest policies regarding a spectrum of issues (Including education, health, justice, local government and business) and has some of the most respected figures in Scottish politics commentating. The likes of former First Minister Henry McLeish, John Curtice, Jim Sillars and Rab McNeil all give their own views on the latest stories and events. The magazine sadly cannot be bought at your normal newsagent (to my frustration) but if you go into one of the main libraries in Edinburgh or in the politics department at the University of Edinburgh, copies of the magazine will be there! A really good read and is laid out in a easy to read format! Vital for any political anorak!

Luath Press is one of a few independent book publishers in Edinburgh. It is not as well known as…read moreCanongate Press, but that does not mean that it does not publish great books. My interest in this publisher is that it offers a great range of books on issue of Scottish politics. It has published books by former First Minister Henry McLeish and Tom Brown on the future of Scotland (Scotland the Road Divides is a great read if you are into constitutional politics), whilst Lesley Riddoch has published a book about the future of the Gaelic culture (A very riveting read). Luath Press started off in the field of travel books, and this genre is still one of the bedrocks of the company, with guides detailing the different parts of Scotland. Go on grab yourself some Scottish literature!

The Carluke and Lanark Gazette is a rather old fashioned newspaper which serves old ladies and…read moremembers of the women's rural institute who are keen to find out who won the best napkin shaped like a swan at last week's competition. Best bit of the paper is court watch. From serious assaults to shoplifting, every criminal's name, age and address is published for all to see and gossip about until the end of time.

As Johnston Press papers go, the Carluke and Lanark Gazette is one of the more exciting ones on…read moreaccount of its lively court watch pages. It is also a very traditional paper and continues to wrok in conjuction with many local organisatons to help promote activities in the town. With an experienced team at the helm, it remains one of the safest local papers in the Scottish market at the moment.