It consists of quotations from headlines and comment pages in the previous week's newspapers, read in a variety of voices and accents by actors.
The show did not have a regular host, and was intended as a wry look at how British broadsheets and tabloids covered the week's news stories.
[4] In October 2008, the same format made a partial return to screens during Granada's own regional political programme Party People, where it was usually introduced as "a look at what the papers say".
[2] The 12-part revival was regarded a success by former Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer, who commissioned the programme as a permanent addition to the station's schedule at 22.45 on Sundays[5] as the last segment of The Westminster Hour.
Presenters of the BBC Radio 4 programme included The Spectator's editor Fraser Nelson, the Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire, The Guardian's Michael White, The Observer's Andrew Rawnsley and John Kampfner.
In its most recent incarnation, the programme received a warm reception from critics, including The Daily Telegraph's Gillian Reynolds, who wrote, "Three cheers for whoever thought of rescuing What the Papers Say.
The old essay format, where the presenter writes a script linking illustrative extracts from the week's press, still bursts with life.
[6] David Brockman wrote: "What is universally accepted is that Granada's What The Papers Say Awards, decided annually and first established in 1957, are among the most prestigious in the entire world of journalism".