Level | Item |
Ref No | OHP/94 |
Title | Donald Trelford |
Date | 4 July 2001 |
Extent | 1 minidisc, 1 cd, 5 AIFF files (792.6 MB) and 1 PDF file (747 KB) |
Creator Name | Trelford; Donald Gilchrist (1937-); journalist, broadcaster, and editor of The Observer |
Description | Interview with Donald Trelford, editor of the Observer. Conducted by Robert McCrum on 4 July 2001. Includes PDF transcript.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1: Tracks 1-4 Test
Track 5 00.00 How he came to write for the paper. Time of intelligent sports writing 00.00 Covering a Coventry rugby match whilst at Cambridge 03.00 Attracted by paper's interest in Africa and decolonisation, decriminalisation of homosexuality, hanging and abortion 03.56 Covered 1st Oxford-Cambridge tiddliwinks competition 05.10 Went to the Nyasaland Times in the early 60s writing freelance articles from Malawi 06.20 Joined Observer almost by accident 07.50 Observer oversees edition - elegance of thin newsprint 07.50 Saw an advert for Deputy News Editor. Issue of whether his fare from Malawi would be paid 09.25 Interview with David Astor in 1966 - Observer had just moved to 8 St Andrew's Hilll, London
11.40 Observer newsroom 11.40 First Saturday was the World Cup. Final McIlvanney award-winning piece 13.15 Wrote the front page World Cup league 13.40 Colin Legum on Africa 14.00 Spectacular writers working for the Observer, especially in the arts 17.15 Becoming editor. Michael Davie going AWOL
20.15 Promised next opportunity by Astor - given deputy editorship 20.55 This threw some of the 'old guard' out - they felt he was too young 21.50 Becoming editor and the financial problems of the paper at the time 27.00 Taking over as editor 29.00 Position under the Astor Trust. Possibility of Rupert Murdoch buying the paper
32.00 Flew to the US to see Murdoch 36.00 Meeting with senior journalists - John Cole, Adam Raphael 38.10 Clive James, etc. spoke up against Murdoch - this leaked into press 38.10 Murdoch withdrew offer leaving the paper in chaos. Atlantic Richfield came in
41.00 Atlantic Richfield ,paper suddenly owned by a multi-national - difficulties 43.20 Handing over to Lonrho - detailed account of machinations 47.00 Conor Cruise O'Brien coming in as managing editor 48.00 Describes Anderson (head of Atlantic Richfield) and how he sold paper to Lonrho
52.00 Anderson said the paper was safe with him, when he had already sold it 54.00 Observer objected to Rowland as proprietor. Possibility of paper going to Glasgow 54.00 Wrote a document on why Rowland should not own the Observer 54.00 Government decided that Rowland could either own Harrods or the Observer 56.00 Feels he was lucky to survive this turbulant ime 57.00 Alternative bidders 59.00 Proposed independent directors 59.30 Recalls Rowland saying, 'you have not made it very easy for me Mr Trelford'
60.40 Matabeleland crisis - first big conflict 62.00 Al Fayed stories - did he regret them? 63.00 Need for capital investment at the time of Murdoch and Wapping, perceived as a 'faustian deal' 63.00 Feels Rowland had been 'cheated out' of Harrods by British establishment 67.30 Irritation at Anthony Howard's account of the Fayed business 68.50 Lunch with David Astor 'you may be right but you are getting things out of proportion'
70.00 Background to publishing details of leaked DTI report - Rowland had got hold of a copy 72.00 Debate on when to publish it 72.30 Idea of publishing special edition dictated by Lonrho AGM that week 72.30 Finishes mid-conversation on Observer and Lonrho parting ways
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Access Status | Open |
Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
Image |
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Format | Electronic record |
CD recording |
Minidisc recording |
Copyright | Guardian News & Media Ltd and Donald Trelford |
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