DOCSLIB.ORG

The Provincial Press and the Community: an Historical Perspective

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Provincial Press and the Community: an Historical Perspective The Provincial Press and the Community: an historical perspective. Rachel Matthews Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies Cardiff University This thesis is submitted to Cardiff University in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. September 2014 2 Acknowledgements. This thesis owes its inception to the many stalwarts of the local papers with whom it has been my privilege to work during my time as a journalist. Their commitment and professionalism deserves much more recognition than they ever get and my hope is that this thesis goes some way to redressing that balance. My research has taken me into archives and libraries across England and I would like to thank all those people who work tirelessly to preserve the history of the local newspaper. It is a valuable and necessary job. Finally, this thesis would not have been completed without the patient support of my supervisor, Professor Bob Franklin, and the goodwill of my family, many friends and colleagues who have been cheerleading from the touchline during the time it has taken to complete. Your faith has seen me over the finish line. 3 4 Abstract. Serving the good of the community is a professional value prized by those who work in the provincial press. It is also seen as a vital role for local newspapers by those outside the industry. A localised form of the Fourth Estate, the good of the community therefore justifies and underpins the routines and news values of those who work in regional and local news organisations. This thesis investigates the extent to which this notion serves as a functional value for the English provincial news industry; it positions it within an historical context to understand its relationship with the economic structure of the local newspaper. As such, after Foucault, it constitutes the good of the community as a discursive position which functions in different ways during different periods of development for the provincial press. The history of the provincial press is charted from its inception in the eighteenth century to the present day. This history conceptualises its development within six distinct stages; as such it seeks to demonstrate the fluidity of the notion of serving the good of the community which is presented as absolute by the industry. Interviews with current workers within the industry are used to expose the way in which the concept functions for the industry today and concomitant changes wrought by digital innovation. These demonstrate that the notion functions best at those titles which enjoy direct investment in their ability to act in a way which serves the good the community; conversely it is most under threat at those titles which are increasingly removed from their locale for reasons of profit. This thesis ends with the suggestion that preserving the ability of the provincial news industry to serve the good of the community necessitates a new approach to an assessment of its value; it suggests that alternative funding models are needed if the ability of the industry to meet this goal is to be retained. Key words: provincial press, regional newspaper, good of the community, watchdog, newspaper history, journalism history, news, local journalism. 5 6 Table of Contents. Section 1. Reappraising the Provincial Press. Chapter 1. Introduction 11 Structure of the research 16 Chapter 2. Literature Review. Conceptions of the Provincial Press 22 The classification of newspapers 23 Perspectives on history 26 The journalist as ‘professional’ 30 Privileging the Fourth Estate 34 Political economy 37 Chapter 3. Methodological Considerations 44 Sources 49 Reappraising the concept of the Provincial Press 52 Section 2: The development of the Provincial Press. Chapter 4. Printers’ papers – the rise of the commerce of information 55 Early newspapers – form and content 63 The role of advertising 68 Early newspapers – The Newcastle Courant 70 The social role of the printers’ paper 75 Chapter 5. News for the masses: politics and the industrialisation of the provincial press 78 Changing circumstances – the end of stamp duty 79 Sphere of influence for provincial newspapers 80 Shifting business models 85 Early conceptions of the good of the community 89 Industrialisation and the demarcation of journalism 92 The mythology of influence 98 Chapter 6. New Journalism and the emergence of ‘news’ 101 The development of news presentation as a sales technique 104 The localised Fourth Estate as an editorial strategy 107 The influence of New Journalism on newspaper content and production 109 Organisation and wages 113 Case study: New Journalism and the Midland Daily Telegraph 116 Commercial success as an organising factor 128 Chapter 7. The growth of chain control 130 The consolidation of ownership: pattern 134 The consolidation of ownership: process 138 Newspaper costs as a driver to consolidation 144 Consolidation of ownership: Royal Commissions 147 Commercial practice and the good of the community 154 7 Chapter 8. The provincial press in wartime 157 The provincial press and the community in World War One 158 The Government and the press in the World War One 162 Publishing in the face of the adversity of World War Two: censorship 163 Publishing in the face of the adversity of World War Two: staffing 167 Publishing in the face of the adversity of World War Two: newsprint 169 Advertising in World War Two 172 The Midland Daily Telegraph and the Coventry Blitz 175 The Provincial Press and morale 180 Chapter 9. New technology and deunionisation 183 The changing shape of ownership 186 Rising costs of newspaper production 188 Competition in the regional newsmarket: broadcasting and the alternative press 191 Ceefax, Oracle and Viewdata 193 Free newspapers 195 Computerisation: the end of an era? 197 The implementation of computerisation 200 Industrial disputes 204 The legacy of new technology: working practices and content 207 Section 3. Contemporary perceptions of the provincial press and the good of the community. Chapter 10. The ‘good of the community’ and newsworkers 213 A tangled web? Relations with the community in the era of Web 2.0 223 Chapter 11. Journalists’ perceptions of the ‘good of the community’ 228 How ‘serving the good of the community’ resonates with newsworker 232 The ‘good of the community’ as a functional principle 237 Virtual communities 244 When the ‘good of the community’ rings hollow with journalists 249 Section 4. The provincial press: present forms and future forecasts. Chapter 12. Crisis – what crisis? The survival of the fittest 253 Local newspapers: shifting landscapes 254 The impact of digital on editorial working practices 265 The ideological challenge for the future of local newspapers 270 Where else lies the future? 275 Appendices 284 References 294 8 List of tables. Table 6.1: Concentration of English Provincial Dailies 1868-1910 102 Table 7.1: Chain ownership of newspapers 1921-1948 136 Table 7.2: The National Chain Publishers shares of provincial morning, evening and weekly newspaper circulations in Great Britain in 1937, 1947, 1961 and 1974 137 Table 7.3: The largest 10 publishers of provincial evening newspapers in 1974 and their share of the total circulation of provincial evening newspapers in the United Kingdom in 1961 and 1974 143 Table 7.4: The largest 10 publishers of provincial weekly newspapers in 1974 and their share of the total circulation of weekly newspapers the United Kingdom in 1961 and 1974 146 Table 7.5: Distribution of costs of newspaper production 1938 compared with 1974-77 146 Table 8.1: Changes in weekly newsprint consumption during the Second World War 170 Table 8.2: Number of daily and Sunday newspapers published in the UK in 1948 and 1961 175 Table 9.1: IOJ membership. 1972-1979. 198 Table 9.2: Technical processes used by the provincial newspaper industry. 1977 201 Table 12.1: Local newspapers: declining number of titles 1985-2014 256 Table 12.2: Circulations of selected daily titles. 1995-2014 257 Table 12.3: Top 20 regional newspaper groups. 2008-2014 259 9 10 Section 1: Reappraising the Provincial Press. Chapter 1: Introduction On 18 December 2013 the editorial team of the Liverpool Post set about putting together the final edition of the long-established and respected regional newspaper. The event – blogged live by the multi-media newsroom – marked the end of 158 years of continuous publication. Yet the demise of a once-significant daily title went largely unnoticed by the wider population; media commentator and former regional daily editor Steve Dyson hailed the decision as “common sense” (Theguardian.com, 12.10.13) citing a sale of 6,000 copies in a city with a population of 500,000. Just a handful of readers even bothered to comment on the Post’s own blog of the landmark day (Liverpooldailypost.co.uk, 18.12.13). Announcing the closure of the title in its own columns, Trinity Mirror North West Managing Director, Steve Anderson Dixon said: “The Post is a wonderful and much-loved old lady who has simply come to the end of her natural life.” (www. liverpooldailypost.co.uk 10.12.2013) The closure was an especially poignant reminder of direction of travel for the industry. Just eight years ago Granada TV (which holds the commercial television franchise for the region) featured a two-part documentary about the title to mark its 150th anniversary, indicating the significance the title still enjoyed within its region. It is also one of the few regional papers to be subjected to academic scrutiny, which resulted in the seminal work, by Harvey Cox and David Morgan City Politics and the Press (1973). Their work highlighted the relationship between the-then titled Liverpool Daily Post, and the Merseyside community. The significance of the paper – and its sister title The Liverpool Echo, was hard to miss; at the end of the 1960s they boasted a circulation of more than 96,000 and 389,000 copies a day (ibid: 43).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Why Journalism Matters a Media Standards Trust Series
    Why Journalism Matters A Media Standards Trust series Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times The British Academy, Wednesday 15 th July These are the best of times and the worst of times if you happen to be a journalist, especially if you are a business journalist. The best, because our profession has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to report, analyse and comment on the most serious financial crisis since the Great Crash of 1929. The worst of times, because the news business is suffering from the cyclical shock of a deep recession and the structural change driven by the internet revolution. This twin shock has led to a loss of nerve in some quarters, particularly in the newspaper industry. Last week, during a trip to Colorado and Silicon Valley, I was peppered with questions about the health of the Financial Times . The FT was in the pink, I replied, to some surprise. A distinguished New York Times reporter remained unconvinced. “We’re all in the same boat,” he said,”but at least we’re all going down together.” My task tonight is not to preside over a wake, but to make the case for journalism, to explain why a free press and media have a vital role to play in an open democratic society. I would also like to offer some pointers for the future, highlighting the challenges facing what we now call the mainstream media and making some modest suggestions on how good journalism can not only survive but thrive in the digital age. Let me begin on a personal note.
    [Show full text]
  • Future for Local and Regional Media
    House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee Future for local and regional media Fourth Report of Session 2009–10 Volume II Oral and written evidence Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 24 March 2010 HC 43-II (Incorporating HC 699-i-iv of Session 2008-09) Published on 6 April 2010 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 The Culture, Media and Sport Committee The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its associated public bodies. Current membership Mr John Whittingdale MP (Conservative, Maldon and East Chelmsford) (Chair) Mr Peter Ainsworth MP (Conservative, East Surrey) Janet Anderson MP (Labour, Rossendale and Darwen) Mr Philip Davies MP (Conservative, Shipley) Paul Farrelly MP (Labour, Newcastle-under-Lyme) Mr Mike Hall MP (Labour, Weaver Vale) Alan Keen MP (Labour, Feltham and Heston) Rosemary McKenna MP (Labour, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) Mr Adrian Sanders MP (Liberal Democrat, Torbay) Mr Tom Watson MP (Labour, West Bromwich East) The following members were also members of the committee during the inquiry: Mr Nigel Evans MP (Conservative, Ribble Valley) Helen Southworth MP (Labour, Warrington South) Powers The committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House.
    [Show full text]
  • One Man's Personal Campaign to Save the Building – Page 8
    The newspaper for BBC pensioners – with highlights from Ariel online Goodbye TVC One man’s personal campaign to save the building – page 8 April 2013 • Issue 2 bbC expenses regional dance band down television drama memories Page 2 Page 6 Page 7 NEWS • MEMoriES • ClaSSifiEdS • Your lEttErS • obituariES • CroSPEro 02 baCk at thE bbC Pollard Review findings On 22 February, acting director general Tim Davie sent the following email to all staff, in advance of the publication of the Nick Pollard. Pollard Review evidence: hen the Pollard Review was made clearer to ensure all entries meet BBC published back in December, Editorial standards. we said that we would The additional papers we’ve published Club gives tVC a great release all the evidence that today don’t add to Nick Pollard’s findings, send off WNick Pollard provided to us when he they explain the factual basis of how he (where a genuine and identifiable interest of delivered his report. Today we are publishing arrived at them. We’ve already accepted the BBC is at stake). Thank you to all the retired members and all the emails and documents that were the review in full and today’s publication There will inevitably be press interest and ex-staff who joined us for our ‘Goodbye to appended to the report together with the gives us no reason to revisit that decision as you would expect we’re offering support to TVC’ on 9 March. The day started with a transcripts of interviews given to the review. or the actions we are already taking.
    [Show full text]
  • Apprentice Strikes in Twentieth Century UK Engineering and Shipbuilding*
    Apprentice strikes in twentieth century UK engineering and shipbuilding* Paul Ryan Management Centre King’s College London November 2004 * Earlier versions of this paper were presented to the International Conference on the European History of Vocational Education and Training, University of Florence, the ESRC Seminar on Historical Developments, Aims and Values of VET, University of Westminster, and the annual conference of the British Universities Industrial Relations Association. I would like to thank Alan McKinlay and David Lyddon for their generous assistance, and Lucy Delap, Alan MacFarlane, Brian Peat, David Raffe, Alistair Reid and Keith Snell for comments and suggestions; the Engineering Employers’ Federation and the Department of Education and Skills for access to unpublished information; the staff of the Modern Records Centre, Warwick, the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, the Caird Library, Greenwich, and the Public Record Office, Kew, for assistance with archive materials; and the Nuffield Foundation and King’s College, Cambridge for financial support. 2 Abstract Between 1910 and 1970, apprentices in the engineering and shipbuilding industries launched nine strike movements, concentrated in Scotland and Lancashire. On average, the disputes lasted for more than five weeks, drawing in more than 15,000 young people for nearly two weeks apiece. Although the disputes were in essence unofficial, they complemented sector-wide negotiations by union officials. Two interpretations are considered: a political-social-cultural one, emphasising political motivation and youth socialisation, and an economics-industrial relations one, emphasising collective action and conflicting economic interests. Both interpretations prove relevant, with qualified priority to the economics-IR one. The apprentices’ actions influenced economic outcomes, including pay structures and training incentives, and thereby contributed to the decline of apprenticeship.
    [Show full text]
  • Select Committee of Tynwald on the Television Licence Fee Report 2010/11
    PP108/11 SELECT COMMITTEE OF TYNWALD ON THE TELEVISION LICENCE FEE REPORT 2010/11 REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF TYNWALD ON THE TELEVISION LICENCE FEE At the sitting of Tynwald Court on 18th November 2009 it was resolved - "That Tynwald appoints a Committee of three Members with powers to take written and oral evidence pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1876, as amended, to investigate the feasibility and impact of withdrawal from or amendment of the agreement under which residents of the Isle of Man pay a television licence fee; and to report." The powers, privileges and immunities relating to the work of a committee of Tynwald are those conferred by sections 3 and 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1876, sections 1 to 4 of the Privileges of Tynwald (Publications) Act 1973 and sections 2 to 4 of the Tynwald Proceedings Act 1984. Mr G D Cregeen MHK (Malew & Santon) (Chairman) Mr D A Callister MLC Hon P A Gawne MHK (Rushen) Copies of this Report may be obtained from the Tynwald Library, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas IM7 3PW (Tel 07624 685520, Fax 01624 685522) or may be consulted at www, ,tynwald.orgim All correspondence with regard to this Report should be addressed to the Clerk of Tynwald, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas IMI 3PW TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1 2. The broadcasting landscape in the Isle of Man 4 Historical background 4 Legal framework 5 The requirement to pay the licence fee 5 Whether the licence fee is a UK tax 6 Licence fee collection and enforcement 7 Infrastructure for terrestrial broadcasting 10 Television 10 Radio: limitations of analogue transmission capability and extent of DAB coverage 13 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Power of Nuisance Law: Labor Picketing and the Courts In
    Fordham Law School FLASH: The Fordham Law Archive of Scholarship and History Faculty Scholarship 1998 Political Power of Nuisance Law: Labor Picketing and the Courts in Modern England, 1871-Present, The Rachel Vorspan Fordham University School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/faculty_scholarship Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, and the Labor and Employment Law Commons Recommended Citation Rachel Vorspan, Political Power of Nuisance Law: Labor Picketing and the Courts in Modern England, 1871-Present, The , 46 Buff. L. Rev. 593 (1998) Available at: http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/faculty_scholarship/344 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by FLASH: The orF dham Law Archive of Scholarship and History. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Scholarship by an authorized administrator of FLASH: The orF dham Law Archive of Scholarship and History. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BUFFALO LAW REVIEW VOLUME 46 FALL 1998 NUMBER 3 The Political Power of Nuisance Law: Labor Picketing and the Courts in Modern England, 1871-Present RACHEL VORSPANt INTRODUCTION After decades of decline, the labor movements in America and England are enjoying a resurgence. Unions in the United States are experiencing greater vitality and political visibility,' and in 1997 a Labour government took power in England for the first time in eighteen years.! This t Associate Professor of Law, Fordham University. A.B., 1967, University of California, Berkeley; M.A., 1968, Ph.D., 1975, Columbia University (English History); J.D., 1979, Harvard Law School.
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory Acc.3721 Papers of the Scottish Secretariat and of Roland
    Inventory Acc.3721 Papers of the Scottish Secretariat and of Roland Eugene Muirhead National Library of Scotland Manuscripts Division George IV Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1EW Tel: 0131-466 2812 Fax: 0131-466 2811 E-mail: [email protected] © Trustees of the National Library of Scotland Summary of Contents of the Collection: BOXES 1-40 General Correspondence Files [Nos.1-1451] 41-77 R E Muirhead Files [Nos.1-767] 78-85 Scottish Home Rule Association Files [Nos.1-29] 86-105 Scottish National Party Files [1-189; Misc 1-38] 106-121 Scottish National Congress Files 122 Union of Democratic Control, Scottish Federation 123-145 Press Cuttings Series 1 [1-353] 146-* Additional Papers: (i) R E Muirhead: Additional Files Series 1 & 2 (ii) Scottish Home Rule Association [Main Series] (iii) National Party of Scotland & Scottish National Party (iv) Scottish National Congress (v) Press Cuttings, Series 2 * Listed to end of SRHA series [Box 189]. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE FILES BOX 1 1. Personal and legal business of R E Muirhead, 1929-33. 2. Anderson, J W, Treasurer, Home Rule Association, 1929-30. 3. Auld, R C, 1930. 4. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 1928-37. 5. Addressall Machine Company: advertising circular, n.d. 6. Australian Commissioner, 1929. 7. Union of Democratic Control, 1925-55. 8. Post-card: list of NPS meetings, n.d. 9. Ayrshire Education Authority, 1929-30. 10. Blantyre Miners’ Welfare, 1929-30. 11. Bank of Scotland Ltd, 1928-55. 12. Bannerman, J M, 1929, 1955. 13. Barr, Mrs Adam, 1929. 14. Barton, Mrs Helen, 1928. 15. Brown, D D, 1930.
    [Show full text]
  • November 21,1901
    The Republican Journal. VOLUME NOVEMBER 73._BELFAST, MAINE, THURSDAY, 21, 1901. NUMBER 47. Contents of To-Day's j OBITUARY. FIRE IN ODD Journal. FELLOWS BLOCK. CO0NTY CORRESPONDENCE. THE NEWS OF ; BROOKS. PERSONAL. PERSONAL. PAGE 1. Mr. Capt. Gilbert M. Hart died at his home on A. A. Howes A Co*s Stock Damaged by Fire, Centre Montville. Thomas Ers- The < High School Notes.. All the schools in town will next Mrs. hurches..Obituary. Smoke and Water. Bnrkett’s Goods kine and have returned to Centre begin Henry 0. Dodgejis visiting relatives The National Orange..Yachts and Boats..The Lineolnville avenue, Nov. 9th, after an ill- Dry family W. G. Preston was in Boston last week on News of brooks. Transfers in Real Estate..A Store Filled with Smoke and Flooded with Monday. in Brooks. ness of 48 hours. He was about as usual Montville and are keeping house at Mr. S. business. Gloucester Schooner Stocks $24,291.28 Personal, Water. S. Edgar Waning has moved into the ..it Weather News Erskine’s—Mr. Mark J. U. of Ivory W. B. Wadsworth arrived home lfast Report of the Granges. Thursday, when he had a partial paralytic Bartlett, D. N. Bird went to Boston Tuesday ..Secret Societies..Wedding Bells. Cor- the Allen house. Monday on County shock. This was followed Yesterday, Wednesday, afternoon, about M„ 1901, principal of Bingham High from Massachusetts. espondence..Fire in Odd Fellows’ Block. by pneumonia, business. 2 a fire started in is Mrs. N. R. Cook a page 2. and as he was unable to take medicine on o’clock, the cellar of A.
    [Show full text]
  • BBC Trust: Local Video Public Value Assessment
    Local0B Video Public1B Value Assessment Organisation Responses November 2008 Introduction The BBC Trust is currently conducting a Public Value Test (PVT) into the proposal for Local Video. As part of the PVT process the BBC Trust must examine the public value of the proposal. As part of the Public Value Assessment (PVA) the trust consulted publicly for 42 days. This document contains the full responses from organisations to the consultation. 1 Organisation responses in full The BBC Trust received representations during the public consultation from the following organisations: Audience Council Northern Ireland Audience Council Wales Barnsley Chronicle BECTU Chris Cherry CN Group Community Media Association Guardian Media Group plc Institute of Welsh Affairs Johnston Press John Rossetti Manx Radio Mediatrust MG Alba Newspaper Society Northcliffe Media NWN Media Ltd PACT RadioCentre Scottish Daily Newspaper Society Scottish Screen Voice of the Listener and the Viewer Five organisations also responded requesting that their submissions remain confidential. 2 Audience Council Northern Ireland AUDIENCE COUNCIL FOR NORTHERN IRELAND (ACNI) INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE BBC TRUST’S PUBLIC VALUE TEST ON THE BBC’S PROPOSAL FOR LOCAL VIDEO 4 AUGUST 2008 The Audience Council for Northern Ireland (ACNI) welcomes the BBC’s proposals for an expansion and enhancement of its on-demand service provision with Local Video. Council sees Local Video as an enhancement to existing services and additional to plans already in place to improve BBC local service provision [specifically those to bring service provision in Northern Ireland (and Scotland) into line with those in England and Wales]. Council also recognises the potential benefits of more user-generated content, giving communities the opportunity for involvement, with BBC support, in generating local news stories.
    [Show full text]
  • University Microfilms. a XER0K Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan
    72-11430 BRADEN, James Allen, 1941- THE LIBERALS AS A THIRD PARTY IN BRITISH POLITICS, 1926-1931: A STUDY IN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1971 History, modern University Microfilms. A XER0K Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan (^Copyright by James Allen Braden 1971 THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED THE LIBERALS AS A THIRD PARTY IN BRITISH POLITICS 1926-1931: A STUDY IN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By James Allen Braden, B. S., M. A. * + * * The Ohio State University 1971 Approved by ment of History PLEASE NOTE: Some Pages haveIndistinct print. Filmed asreceived. UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS Sir, in Cambria are we born, and gentlemen: Further to boast were neither true nor modest, Unless I add we are honest. Belarius in Cymbeline. Act V, sc. v. PREFACE In 1927 Lloyd George became the recognized leader of the Liberal party with the stated aim of making it over into a viable third party. Time and again he averred that the Liberal mission was to hold the balance— as had Parnell's Irish Nationalists— between the two major parties in Parlia­ ment. Thus viewed in these terms the Liberal revival of the late 1920's must be accounted a success for at no time did the Liberals expect to supplant the Labour party as the party of the left. The subtitle reads: "A Study in Political Communi­ cation " because communications theory provided the starting point for this study. But communications theory is not im­ posed in any arbitrary fashion, for Lloyd George and his fol­ lowers were obsessed with exploiting modern methods of commu­ nications.
    [Show full text]
  • Black and Blue on 'Red Clydeside': the Glasgow Harbour Riot Of
    1 Black Sailors on Red Clydeside: rioting, reactionary trade unionism and conflicting notions of ‘Britishness’ following the First World War Jacqueline Jenkinson University of Stirling I During the Glasgow harbour riot of January 1919 black British colonial sailors were branded as unfair economic competitors by the national seamen’s unions and their local delegates, chased out of the merchant marine hiring yard by white sailors when they sought jobs, beaten in the street, attacked in their boarding house and then targeted for mass arrest by police called in to halt the disorder. The riot was one of many during 1919 as the working class in general and ex-service personnel in particular took to the streets in violent demonstrations of dissatisfaction with the post-war employment, housing and pensions situation.1 The frustrations within society evident in the widespread rioting of 1919 were in the seaports focused on racialised minority ethnic populations who were regarded as an ‘alien’ element in the British workforce. The riot in Glasgow was soon followed by others in South Shields, Salford, London, Hull, Liverpool, Newport, Cardiff and Barry. Five people were killed in the wave of port rioting, dozens more were seriously injured and there were over 250 arrests as the police, and often troops, struggled to control the rioters. In these nine seaport riots, hostile crowds of white working class people abused and attacked black, 2 Arab, Chinese and south Asian workers, predominantly British colonial sailors. 2 During the war thousands of colonial subjects were attracted to the metropole to fill employment gaps and many of the new arrivals settled in the ports.
    [Show full text]
  • Tee 1919 Race Riots in Britain: Ti-Lir Background and Conseolences
    TEE 1919 RACE RIOTS IN BRITAIN: TI-LIR BACKGROUND AND CONSEOLENCES JACOLEUNE .ENKINSON FOR TI-E DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH 1987 ABSTRACT OF THESIS This thesis contains an empirically-based study of the race riots in Britain, which looks systematically at each of the nine major outbreaks around the country. It also looks at the background to the unrest in terms of the growing competition in the merchant shipping industry in the wake of the First World War, a trade in which most Black residents in this country were involved. One result of the social and economic dislocation following the Armistice was a general increase in the number of riots and disturbances in this country. This factor serves to put into perspective the anti-Black riots as an example of increased post-war tension, something which was occurring not only in this country, but worldwide, often involving recently demobilised men, both Black and white. In this context the links between the riots in Britain and racial unrest in the West Indies and the United States are discussed; as is the growth of 'popular racism' in this country and the position of the Black community in Britain pre- and post- riot. The methodological approach used is that of Marxist historians of the theory of riot, although this study in part, offers a revision of the established theory. ACKNOWLEDcEJvNTS I would like to thank Dr. Ian Duffield, my tutor and supervisor at Edinburgh University, whose guidance and enthusiasm helped me along the way to the completion of this thesis.
    [Show full text]