A few weeks ago, I met a guy that subscribed to the Toronto Sun. This guy was a creative director, well-educated, and relatively left-leaning, but his choice of newspaper painted an entirely opposite picture of his character.

I was reminded of my newspaper bias a few days ago when I was checking in to my hotel in London. As always, I requested that a copy of The Guardian be delivered to my door every morning. The lady at the front desk stared at me in slight contempt when she said, “I prefer the Daily Mail.”

I’m not aware of the stereotypes that are associated with London newspapers, being more familiar with the Toronto publications, but it seems as though my preference for The Guardian causes some disdain among Daily Mail readers.

Why?

What is it about newspapers that is so divisive? Apart from the editorial context and the style of writing, the differences between various papers shouldn’t be significant enough to cause derision and division.

The fact that newspapers can inspire such loyalty — like sports teams, political parties, computer operating systems, and automobile makers do very well — is heartening to me. Whatever the reason, it makes me smile to know that people hold news reporting and journalism so close to their souls.

I smiled at the lady behind the check-in counter the next morning as I walked by with my copy of The Guardian in hand. Her scowl made me happy as I went on with my day.

And that guy with the Toronto Sun? Turns out he subscribes because it was the cheapest and easiest way for him to get a print copy of the New York Times crossword delivered to his door every morning.