Snippets from the Archive: 1977
JEP: Broadsheet to Tabloid
On 24th February 1977, the Jersey Evening Post
announced that it would begin a new era in printing from its new purpose built
complex at Five Oaks. The 87 year old history as a broadsheet would come to an
end, and it would change to a tabloid size.
They were very careful to put some distance between
themselves and the tabloids: “Examine the ‘Daily Mail’ or the newly designed
‘Daily Express’. That is the size we are going to be, but that does not mean we
are going to look like them or be like them”.
The 20 page broadsheet edition would become a 40 page
tabloid in the new format. Despite the way the paper size varies from day to
day, Monday this week was 68 pages, so the increase in page count is still
there.
But in 1977, the price was 7p, and it is now 65p! Measuring
worth says that “In 2015, the relative value of £0.07 from 1977 ranges from
£0.37 to £0.87”. So it is within the range we might expect given inflation.
Before making the change, the JEP commissioned an Island
wide survey and undertook extensive research both in Jersey and the UK (which
they insist on calling “the mainland”).
“Local research has shown a preference of 7 to 2 in favour
of the new format and that not only is it more attractive to younger readers,
but also equally acceptable to the more mature reader, who finds difficulty
handling and turning the current size of page”
Editor Mike Rumfitt said:
“A change of face for the ‘JEP’ in no way reflects a change
of heart, mind or beliefs. Real efforts will be therefore be made to ensure
that even though it is more convenient to handle, the new ‘JEP’ will still
reflect the thoughts and concerns, the weaknesses and strengths, the success
and failures of Jersey as an Island and Jersey as a people.”
Hardbencher, alias Betty Brooke was writing in the JEP at
the time. She did the political commentary, often quite barbed but fun. Later,
of course, she became a Senator in the States and stopped and I suspect found
the frustrations which come from being a pundit offering criticisms and
solutions from outside, and trying to get the States to do anything.
I always think of the States rather like a large ship – the
Ship of States – which because of its huge bulk and weight, takes a long time
to turn to a different direction. The Titanic had those problems, and it is ok,
as long as there are no icebergs up ahead. The nautical theme came through in
her piece which was entitled “Hardbencher in the HMS Jersey ‘Jollity’”.
Whatcha Mate!
Colomberie “Mates” win Court action against UK chain is
another story. “Mates” was a retail supplier of men and women’s clothes with 40
outlets, and when they decided to set up shop in Jersey, they discovered
another outlet in Colomberie with the same name, “and a similar trading format
of selling men and women’s clothing in the same shop”. The joint chairman of
the UK “Mates”, Alan Grieve, thought they had a legitimate grievance.
They brought a court action to restrain the local shop from
using the name, but it was dismissed by the Deputy Bailiff, Mr Peter Crill, who
said that the UK Mates had to prove that their businesses was distinctive and
recognised in Jersey, and that there was a possibility of confusion between
their business and that of the defendant company. He said there was
insufficient evidence to show that the UK “Mates” was well known in Jersey.
Today, of course, they might well have an internet presence
which they could use to be more well known locally, and the argument might be
harder to sustain.
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