Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 10 January 2003 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 minidisc, 1 cd, 1 file, 5 AIFF files (358.5 MB)
Context area
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Interview with Gerry Taylor, managing director for the Guardian. Conducted by Marc Sands on 10 January 2003 . 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
00.00 Introduction
Tracks 2-4
Test
Track 5
00.00 Background before joining the Guardian
01.00 Position of Peter Gibbings who appointed Gerry Taylor within his team in 1967
02.10 Move between media owners and agencies uncommon at the time
02.30 Gerry Taylor and Peter Gibbings brought commercial background to the paper
03.30 Approach to advertising changed
04.00 Rumour of merger with the Times
04.10 One advertisement in the whole paper when Gerry Taylor joined
04.50 Classifieds viewed as future
05.10 Cut in advertising rates
05.25 SH Benson advertising agents for the Guardian
06.00 Decisions about advertising taken on by Gerry Taylor who cut advertising rates and made deals
07.10 Change in working culture
07.30 Inauguration of word 'Sales Executive' over 'Reps'
08.10 Recruitment of women to sell advertising space
09.00 Recruitment of Caroline Marland and Carolyn McCall
09.30 Turnover of staff in advertising department
10.00 Success of Caroline Marland in regeneration of the Guardian
12.15 Advertising generated for Society section
12.30 Advertising for Education section
13.20 Marketing strategies
13.50 Meetings with Rupert Murdoch and other newspaper proprietors
14.30 Negotiations and relationship with Unions in-house
16.20 Position of Jim Markwick and role in technical advance of the paper
17.00 Drinks provided for Production staff during hot weather
18.10 Union negotiations and relations
20.05 Relations between commercial departments and editorial
21.50 Disagreements over personal advert of homosexual man
23.20 Tension between editorial and management
24.20 Cilla Black cover
25.50 Principles of advertising sales
27.05 Sales of Guardian during a Tory government
27.45 Movement of the paper to the Right
27.50 Political persuasions of editors
28.30 Colleagues who did not read The Guardian
29.45 Members of staff who ascended through the paper such as Fiona Morris
30.40 Left newspaper at the age of 60
31.00 Harry Roach succeeded Gerry Taylor
31.25 Changes to pension scheme so retirement could be taken after the age of 60
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: Guardian News & Media Ltd and Gerry Taylor
Language of material
Script of material
Access Status
Open