Dossier MMC - Memoir by Michael McNay entitled 'Guardian Years', 1960s-1980s.

2 files

Part of project by the Guardian to gather material for the archive.

Two versions of McNay's memoir of which the later version deposited in 2002 is slightly extended to cover his last years at the Guardian.

Michael describes his interview at the Cross Street Guardian offices, his first days of work as a sub-editor and his memories of the newspaper offices. He joined the features department, succeeding Phil Tucker as Northern arts editor. He was transferred to London features in 1967. Michael describes changes to the design of the newspaper under Peter Preston's leadership.

Preston appointed him assistant editor in charge of design in 1978. Michael describes the effect of the Sarah Tisdall affair on the newspaper. He also describes changes made to newspaper design in 1988 as technology changed, and attitudes towards the redesign of the paper. Michael describes his last years at the Guardian and his involvement in the design of a new sports tabloid supplement.

Administrative/Biographical history: Michael McNay started to work at the Guardian in Manchester as a sub-editor in 1963. He joined the features department after 6 months and later became Northern arts editor. He was appointed London arts editor in 1967 and in 1978 became assistant editor in charge of design. Worked on the layout of the front page for several years after the 1988 redesign. Following the appointment of Alan Rusbridger as editor he moved on a temporary assignment working on a news sports tabloid. He retired in 2000 after spending 37 years at the Guardian and was heavily involved in the redesign of the newspaper.

Copyright: Michael McNay