Paper Monitor
09:51 UK time, Wednesday, 24 January 2007
A service highlighting the riches of the daily press.
The Oscar nominations are in - the British media's cue to makes its annual transformation into a local paper. It is part of a local paper's brief to champion their community against the monolith that is a dominate power, to detail the exploits of plucky locals lucky enough to find themselves at the centre of a big story.
And that's exactly what has happened here now that the voters in the all-powerful Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - in the United States, no less - have picked who is up for top gongs at their annual awards bash. It's the biggest in the business, you know.
So let's hear for Essex girl Helen, 61, Kate, 31, from Reading, and Yorkshire lass Judi, 72, who have been nominated. In America! Watch out, Yanks, the Brits are coming!
BATTLE OF BRITAIN'S LEADING LADIES - Daily Telegraph
LEADING LADIES: BRITONS COMPETE FOR BEST ACTRESS OSCAR - the Guardian
DEAD CERT - Daily Mirror
DAME HELEN IS OSCARS FAVOURITE - Daily Express, always fond of a blonde royal on its front page.
OUR GIRLS GONG UP ON OSCAR - the Sun, which adds an "Oscar Approved" stamp to its free DVD of Prime Suspect.
And three cheers for Peter, 74, from County Galway, featured in both the Times and the Independent. Let's make it eighth time lucky, eh Pete?
The Telegraph even goes to its version of a local mayor for comment: "Buckingham Palace said it was thrilled by the British showing... but did not disclose whether the Queen had seen the film."
But that's not to say our own awards are unimportant. Oh no. The Baftas are a crucial barometer of which way the Academy's mood might swing [now they're timed before the Oscars, not after], don't you know.
Perhaps coincidentally, the Express's Oscar coverage comes just after a new survey on Britishness: "Less than half of the people living in England - 48% - say that British is the best or only way of describing their national identity," the paper cries, before adding that many instead now choose to describe themselves as English.
Come on, you Brits! Go English roses! And that bloke from Ireland!
The 
