'Reading the paper is the bare minimum any journalist can do'

We posed a simple question on Friday: 'Do you read the paper you work for?' And the response from readers in our snap poll suggests that, on balance, a surprising number of you do.

Beyond that though, we've had a mixed response - and first up is FT property writer Emma Mahony:

I read the FT every day because I write and have a column for them which I share in the House and Home section of the FT Weekend. 

As a former Property Editor for the Times, I do not consider myself a specialist financial journalist, and therefore some of the more technical economic and markets analysis are - perhaps too frankly - baffling. However, I feel it is the BARE MINIMUM any journalist should do that is writing regularly for a paper. Why? Because the worst thing as a journo is to be caught out Not Knowing a big story that your paper is covering regularly, and if you do go into the office - it is definite courtesy to be able to bump into someone and tell them you liked/disagreed with their piece the other day on something.

My husband, a lawyer, is amused to see me (often last thing at night) sitting reading the FT, and this week decided to test me on how deep my understanding of the reading was. 

As I tossed aside a supplement on Davos and the World Economic Forum (it's important to know it is happening), and said that one of the columnists was remarking that all the Big Shots were not attending this year, he asked: 'Where is it taking part?'

'Ummm.. not sure this year.' "

'Well darling, Davos is a ski resort in Switzerland - not some strange acronym - and it happens in the same place every year.' 

Ouch. More reading from cover to cover needed.

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