Evans - Good Times, Bad Times

GOOD TIMES,
BAD TIMES

Harold Evans

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Copyright 1983 by Harold Evans Associates

First published in Great Britain in 1983 by George

ISBN 978-1-4804-4871-1

Bedford Square Books
6 Bayley Street
Bedford Square
London WC1B 3HE
www.bedfordsquarebooks.com

Distributed in 2013 by Open Road Distribution
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com

Praise For Good Times, Bad Times

One of the most important books ever written about the practice and the principles of journalism, and possibly the single best book ever written about a particular episode in the history of a newspaper. Literary Review

Brilliantly written... Compulsory reading for all who wish to estimate the strength of the foundations of British democracy. Lord McGregor, The Times Literary Supplement

Much has been written about Rupert Murdoch by journalists peering in from the outside... Good Times , Bad Times is by a journalist who was engaged with Murdoch in a struggle to the death. The New Republic

Valuable for its picture of life at the apex of British Journalism: the dinners at 10 Downing Street, the visits to Buckingham Palace, the daily struggle to put out what is still Englands newspaper of record. Time

Mr Evans writes at a racy gallop, enlivened by some marvellously wicked portraits in his gallery of grotesques. Michael Leapman, Scotsman

Enthralling... the narrative pace is tremendous... an immediacy and an excitement worthy of le Carr. Charles Wintour, The Observer

Evans story must astonish anyone not conversant with newspapers... he was a brave and skilful editor and he fought more than most... a fascinating book. Simon Jenkins, The Sunday Times

Much the raciest newspaper narrative since Hugh Cudlipps 20 years ago: rich in flavour, anecdote and personality. Donald Trelford, Listener

A splendid story well told. Alastair Hetherington, The Guardian

It is well written, with excitement in some parts, with a sense of history in others. Gordon Newton, The Times

Its a compelling book, a wonderful read. It is often very funny . .. it is also about journalism and good stories and editing... One can think of a long list of prime ministers who have done less for publishing liberties in this country than Harold Evans did. Neal Ascherson, London Review of Books

A wonderfully readable memoir... the book brims with excitement and controversy. Publishers Weekly

Fascinating... both an uncommonly entertaining tale and an important account of the tribulations of the press in the age of international media barons. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr

Entertaining and important... The book has caused a stir... The New York Times

A vivid account of Mr. Evans victories and defeats... an engrossing and cautionary tale. The New York Times Book Review

All the suspense, conflict and intrigue of a spy thriller full of marvellous detail and vivid character paintings. Michael ONeill, former editor, New York Daily News

Spicy, anecdotal, yet authoritative... garnished with tales of intrigue, betrayal, spite, conspiracy. New Society

Extraordinarily well written. A vivid portrait of what it is like to be the editor of a great daily newspaper. Chicago Tribune

A compelling tale of ambition, intrigue, and treachery in the high places of British journalism, full of pungent gossip and acid character sketches. Piers Brendon, Columbia Journalism Review

Also by the Author

The American Century

They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine, Two Centuries of Innovators

War Stories: Reporting in the Time of Conflict from the Crimea to Iraq

The Half Free Press (with Katherine Graham and Lord Windlesham)

The Index Lecture: View From Ground Zero

The Active Newsroom

Editing & Design (5 vols)

Essential English

Newspaper Design

Text Typography

Newspaper Headlines

Pictures on a Page

We Learned to Ski (with Brian Jackman and Mark Ottoway)

Suffer the Children: The Story of Thalidomide (with Insight)

The BBC Reports: On America, Its Allies and Enemies, and the Counterattack on Terrorism (BBC Corporation and Harold Evans)

Eyewitness

My Paper Chase

About the Author

Harold Evans was the editor of The Sunday Times from 1967-1981. During this time, he pioneered a crusading style of investigative journalism. Under his editorship of The Sunday Times , he broke the story of Thalidomide-affected children, which escalated into a battle against the government, pharmaceutical companies and the British courts, culminating in a victory in the European Court of Human Rights. During his tenure, The Sunday Times also exposed Kim Philby as a Russian spy and published the diaries of Labour Minister Richard Crossman in contravention of the Official Secrets Act.

After leaving The Times , Evans went on to hold numerous positions as editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Monthly , editorial director of US News & World Report and the New York Daily News , founding editor of Cond Nast Traveller and president of Random House publishing group. He has lectured widely in the United States, where he became a citizen. In 2000 he was voted one of 50 Heroes of World Press Freedom by the International Press Institute.

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Dramatis Personae

This is a list of people who - in addition to the author - were involved significantly in the principal events described in this book. It is given alphabetically by surname; some groups (e.g. trade unions) are also included. The list is not exhaustive: a fuller one appears in the index. In many instances titles and roles changed (that is part of the story) and the description here is that relevant at the time. Most of those mentioned now hold different appointments (or none) both inside and outside Times Newspapers.

Ken Ashton, general secretary, National Union of Journalists

John Barry, managing editor features/NUJ chapel official, The Sunday Times

Ken Beattie, circulation director, Times Newspapers

John Biffen, Secretary of State for Trade

Reg Brady, NATSOPA chapel official, The Sunday Times machine room

Arthur Brittenden, corporate relations director, Times Newspapers

Tina Brown (Mrs Harold Evans)

Gordon Brunton, Thomson chief executive in UK

James Callaghan, former Prime Minister

John Collier, general manager, Times Newspapers

Donald Cruickshank, finance director, Times Newspapers

Lord Dacre (Hugh Trevor-Roper), national director, Times Newspapers

Richard Davy, leader-writer, The Times

Les Dixon, president, NGA. Died November 1983

Bernard Donoughue, political consultant, The Sunday Times/ assistant editor, The Times

Charles Douglas-Home, deputy editor, The Times

Robert Ducas, US president/manager, Times Newspapers

Richard Eddis, legal adviser to Harold Evans