| Level | Item |
| Ref No | OBS/9/2/1 |
| Title | Crisis at 'the Observer' |
| Date | 1975 |
| Extent | 1 VHS, 1 DVD and 1 mp4 (1.05 GB) |
| Creator Name | The Observer Limited, 1917-1993 |
| British Broadcasting Corporation, 1922- |
| Description | Colour television documentary report produced by the BBC on negotiations between the trade unions and Observer management, with the views of the editor, journalists and leaders of the unions when the Observer was facing bankruptcy in mid-June 1975.
Documentary directed by Philip Geddes. Written and produced by BBC journalist Elwyn Parry Jones.
Made during 'hard economic times' in the quality newspaper market when the Observer was facing possible closure, wage cuts to staff and had requested 400 voluntary redundancies.
Contains footage of: the exterior of the Observer offices at Queen Victoria Street and the nearby area; the exterior of Printing House Square; David Astor and Donald Trelford conducting the weekly editorial conference; the interior of the offices and footage of staff at work including editorial staff, print workers and newspaper production staff; a chapel meeting of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ); an editorial meeting; a meeting between management and the union chapels committee; a management meeting; Astor meeting with a reporter from Newsweek Magazine; a meeting of union representatives; the empty printing rooms and news offices following industrial action; a special meeting of the chapel; and interviews with a range of Observer staff.
Interviews include: David Astor (Editor) on the state of the Observer versus other newspapers, negotiations with the unions, his response to the crisis and the outcome, and his retirement; John Clare (Labour Correspondent) on industrial crises and staff levels in national newspapers; Nigel Lloyd (Editor Colour Magazine) on union meetings; Keith Colquhoun (Managing Editor - Colour Magazine); Donald Trelford (Deputy Editor) on the Observer's survival of the crisis and redundancy; Ken Obank (Managing Editor) on optimism and the suspension of printing due to industrial action; Owen O'Brien (General Secretary of the National Society of Printers and Assistants (NATSOPA)) on jobs at risk and negotiations; Bert Hand (Imperial Father of Federated Chapels for the newspaper) on the actions of management and staffing levels over time, he goes through the changes to the working conditions with the unions; John Littlejohns (Finance Director) on the agreements with the unions; Bob Chesshyre (Father NUJ Chapel) on the future of the Observer and NUJ policy, and discussions over journalists pay; Terry Kilmartin (Literary Editor) on the role of Astor at the newspaper; Terry O'Rourke (Father Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT) Chapel) on the refusal of printing staff to allow the BBC to film them at work; Jeremy Bugler (Deputy Father of the NUJ Chapel) on the absence of Astor during a crucial week in discussions with the unions; Ros Morris (Reporter) on negotiations with the unions; Peter Deeley (Reporter) on the management's success during negotiations and the concessions made by journalist, the different types of journalists and his criticisms of management of the newspaper; John Mitchell (Assistant Secretary London Machine Branch NATSOPA) on changes to redundancy agreements; Roger Harrison (Deputy General Manager) on redundancy terms and meetings with the unions; Diana Petry (Travel Writer) on leaving the newspaper and loyalty to the Observer; Mrs Smith (Technical Secretary) on leaving the paper; printing and editorial staff leaving the newspaper interviewed during their farewell parties; Colin Legum (Associate Editor) on delays to printing; SOGAT warehousemen on the argument between the unions and management; and Joe Filkin (London Branch Secretary SOGAT) on the breakdown in talks.
Topics covered in the documentary include: the relations with the trade unions; changes to how the newspaper has been produced; the purchase of Printing House Square which left the newspaper in debt; cuts to production staffing levels; history of the newspaper; past characters at the paper including Kenneth Tynan; the conflict between editorial and commercial success; foreign coverage at the newspaper; the response of union members to editorial articles; the BBC being asked to leave by printing press machine operators over fear of the response to the documentary being aired; the pay of journalists; unemployed casuals seeking work on Fleet Street; a meeting between management and the union respresentatives; the return of Astor from holiday; voluntary redundancies; the response of union members to management redundancy plans; journalists leaving the newspaper including Education Correspondent Peter Wilby and Diana Petry; clerical staff leaving the newspaper; farewell parties for those leaving; the unions' distrust of the media; a possible closure of production; the involvement of the Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA); delays to printing due to industrial action; the breakdown in talks between management and the unions; the withdrawal of labour; a statement on industrial action for the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph; the loss of an issue; the withdrawal of redundancy notices; the acceptance of new terms; savings made by the Observer; Astor's retirement as editor; and the future of the newspaper.
Duration: 1 hour 23 minutes 55 seconds. Starts at 44 seconds. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | Access via GNM Digital Repository. |
| Format | Electronic record |
| Video recording |
| Copyright | BBC |
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