[bewe42]

I can recommend The Economist (if you are willing/able to pay). Top-notch succinct writing, an audio version and a wide selection of articles. I always thought that it focuses too much on politics (which does not interest me that much), but every issue has still plenty of articles that I find compelling.

Another benefit of paying for what you read: you feel obligated to use that source instead of mindlessly browse online

[dasboth]

Came here to post this. I swapped my daily news reading habit for an Economist subscription (paper only) and have not looked back. The first 1-2 pages will typically summarise the week's news well enough for me not to feel like I've missed out on anything, and the quality of writing and variety of interesting topics is excellent. I also agree with your second point about feeling obligated to read it!

Edit: for some humorous and UK-specific news/investigative journalism/cynicism I can also highly recommend a subscription to the fortnightly Private Eye. It works out at like £1 per copy and is always a fun read.

[PaulHoule]

I love the Economist and have a subscription to that and also to Bloomberg Businessweek which is similar in some ways but different.