Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 12 June 1998 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 audio tape, 1 cd, 1 file, 1 AIFF file (687.2 MB)
Context area
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Interview with John Ryan, journalist, later executive editor, for the Guardian. Conducted by Donald Wintersgill on 12 June 1998. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1:
Track 1
00.22 Became sub-editor of the Guardian in 1963 at age 23
00.42 Became deputy chief sub-editor
00.46 Assistant to Alastair Hetherington
01.26 Became executive editor when Alastair Hetherington left
02.30 Left the Guardian in 1976
03.34 Returned to journalism in 1991 with Thompson Foundation, running workshops in underprivileged countries
04.02 Laurence Scott and the financial troubles of 1969
09.18 Describes terms of severance packages
11.35 Alastair Hetherington's passion to save the Guardian
12.54 Discusses Gerard Fay
13.40 Discusses Bernard Ingham
15.45 Journalist unions vs. printing unions
17.30 Describes the ethos of the paper
19.10 Finds that subeditors are mostly forgotten
23.32 Paper divided in two after the London move
24.41 Speaks about how the paper was printed
27.18 How travel between London and Manchester affected the paper
32.50 Discusses Alastair Hetherington's character
39.33 Discusses Geoffrey Taylor
40.29 Mentions Brian Jones, who replaced John Putz
41.46 How the characters of those involved with the Guardian aided it
46.19 Relationship between Alastair Hetherington and Harold Wilson
49.33 Alastair Hetherington's hobbies
52.35 Refers to Iain Macleod's death
55.14 Contrast between Alastair Hetherington and Peter Preston
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to recordingvia GNM Digital Repository
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: Guardian News & Media Ltd and John Ryan
Language of material
Script of material
Access Status
Open
Closed until
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Ryan; John Dennis; journalist (Subject)
- Wintersgill; Donald (1934-2017); subeditor (Subject)