Mulch suggestions?

[Anthony_Toronto]

Had an awful time with bark mulch several years back...first year mulch was great, plants were great. Second and third years were rife with fungal disease, with the mulch covered with assorted coloured growths and oozes, and plenty of disease on plants that may or may not have been connected to this. Then I pulled off mulch and have gone with exposed soil ever since. Unfortunately I get an enormous number of weeds. Landscape fabric was a hassle and weeds just grew through it making it even more labour intensive to deal with weeds. With no fabric it was just weeds weeds weeds, grass growing into mini rolls of sod, etc...endless weeding and pulling required.

I don't care about aesthetics. I am just adding 10 cubic yards of triplemix. Starting with a bit of a clean slate (though some weed seeds no doubt remain buried deep). Trying to figure out the best solution for mulching raised beds over clay.

Thinking of going with layers of newspaper. Sounds like it holds together better than corrugated cardboard, and no glue to attract bugs or cause other issues. Any disadvantage to using newspaper? Should I put down landscape fabric first to prevent paper from mixing into soil should it disintegrate? Any advantage to black or red plastic over newspaper? Any other basic suggestions to promote healthy, weed-free garden?

Thanks,
Anthony