File 12 - Manchester Evening Chronicle and Newspaper Economies

3 folders

Three folders, titled 'Evening Chronicle Project 1960', 'Evening Chronicle Closure- NN Policy Reviews, Notice to Trade Unions, Notice to Staff, 1963-4' and 'Newspaper Economies, 1963-4'. Documents relate to the effectation of a merger, between the Evening Chronicle, and the Manchester Evening News, under the newly formed North News Ltd, and to the decision to discontinue publishing the former.

Folder titled 'Evening Chronicle Project 1960' relates to the merger between the Manchester Evening Chronicle and the Manchester Evening News. It has been divided into three sections. The first section comprises announcements (both internal, and advertised), letters to trade unions, letters to staff, and memoranda to executives on the formation of North News Ltd. The second section contains correspondence with Roy Thomson, chairman of Thomson Newspapers Ltd and others, on reaching an agreement, and on the logistics of effecting a merger. The third section is titled 'notes on negotiating policy and procedure' and contains profit and loss accounts for both the Manchester Evening Chronicle and the Manchester Evening News, as well as notes on meetings held with Kenneth Searle, Roy Thomson, TE Henry and others on reaching and finalising an agreement. Also included is correspondence with both Tatham, Worthington & Co. solicitors, and Cooper Brothers & Co. Accountants, concerning the effecting of a merger. 1959-1960.

Folder titled 'Evening Chronicle Closure - NN (North News) Policy Reviews, Notice to Trade Unions, Notive to Staff 1963-4'comprises a report by Cooper Brothers & Co Ltd on the methods of effecting a merger, administrative and financial considerations, and possible terms of settlement, 7 January 1960; report to the North News Board, 8 weeks subsequent to the merger (nd); various reviews of the Evening Chronicle position leading up to the decision to close; notice to staff, on the intention to close the Evening Chronicle; notice sent to Evening News executives on the decision; an envelope of press cuttings, containing coverage of the closure, July 1963; copies of letters sent to staff, informing them whether or not they have been made redundant by the closure; documents relating to the Evening Chronicle reduncancy scheme, and correspondence with both the staff affected, and the trade unions that represent them. These include the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants and the National Union of Journalists. 1960-1965.

Folder titled 'Newspaper Economies 1963-64' containing general correspondence on 'How to make a Paper Pay' and 'Can Competition Survive in the Newspaper Industry?' Correspondents include WB Reddaway, director of the Department of Applied Economics, University of Cambridge, and members of the Typographical Association. September 1963.

Creator: Manchester Guardian and Evening News Limited; Chairman's Office; Laurence Prestwich Scott

Subject and chronological

Some records may be closed in accordance with the Data Protection Act.