Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/96 |
Title | Alan Watkins |
Date | 23 November 2001 |
Extent | 1 minidisc, 2 cds, 2 AIFF files (960.8 MB) |
Creator Name | Watkins; Alan Rhun (1933-2010); journalist; political columnist |
Description | Interview with Alan Watkins, journalist for the Observer. Conducted by Jo Pugh on 23 November 2001.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1: Track 1 00.25 Started work at the Observer in 1976, after previously working at the New Statesman and the Spectator 01.04 Discussions with Donald Trelford and John Cole before joining the Observer 02.00 Worked on the political column and political news sections 02.50 Began work in the Times building, St Andrews Hil, London 03.30 Effect of move from Tudor Street offices 04.00 The working week at the Observer 05.30 Introduction of 'intermedia techonology' in 1980s 06.10 Women working at the Observer. Remembers Katharine Whitehorn, Miriam Gross and other female colleagues 06.55 Friendly with Terry Kilmartin, the inventor of the broadsheet literary page 07.29 David Astor left the Observer before he arrived 08.20 Moved to Battersea offices in 1988 08.30 His involvement in the libel case with Michael Meacher MP
11.35 * 19.15 Discussion of staff including Trelford and Tony Howard 19.36 * 19.45 Had worked with Howard at the New Statesmen
20.12* 21.01 Never became a newspaper editor 21.39 Discussion of newspaper trade unions 22.15 Discussion of Battersea offices 23.40 Changes at the Observer during this period 25.10 Poor quality of pubs in Battersea 25.55 Observer bought by the Guardian in 1993 25.59 Began work at the Independent on Sunday after 17 years service at the Observer 26.30 Leaving the Observer 27.20 Discussion of pay 27.35 Succession of Jonathan Fenby as editor of the Observer 28.20 Continues discussion of pay rises 29.00 *
30.20 Accepted role at the Independent 31.15 Leaving the Observer 37.20 *
41.05 Reputation of the Observer constrasted with the Guardian 41.30 Contrasting the Guardian and the Times 43.05 Love affair between Colin Welch and Kate Wharton, wife of Michael Wharton, who wrote for the Telegraph under the pseudonym Peter Simple 43.56 What he thinks of the Observer today 44.30 Relations between Andrew Rawnsley and Andrew Jaspen
|
Access Status | Open(part) |
Access Conditions | Restricted - access to edited copy via GNM Digital Repository |
Format | Electronic record |
CD recording |
Minidisc recording |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Alan Watkins |
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