More Info →Oral Interview - Adrian Broad

Oral Interview Abstract
Date: 15 February 2018
Interviewee: Adrian Broad
Interviewer: Lesley Courtney

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00'42 FAMILY: general information
00'54 Age 17 office junior for Dominion Newspapers. Oldest of 7 children. FATHER: PATRICK HINDMARSH BROAD, MOTHER: SHIRLEY MARION BROAD.
1'21 Information about the HINDMARSH name. First governor of South Australia was a HINDMARSH.
1'39 Started at DOMINION NEWSPAPERS in 1969.
1'49 Moved to PALMERSTON NORTH 1986 as ASSISTANT MANAGER for MANAWATU STANDARD. 1988 became GENERAL MANAGER, MANAWATU STANDARD.
2'13 How Adrian got the OFFICE JUNIOR position in Advertising Department. Like a one year apprenticeship.
3'38 Moved to OFFICE POSITION for THE DOMINION, SUNDAY TIMES.
3'55 Reflection on time at THE DOMINION newspaper. DOMINION BUILDING, Victoria Street, Wellington. The first two weeks he worked there there was a two week STRIKE.
5'26 1971 - INL GROUP sent Adrian to Australia for a five week tour of Australian newspapers. He was in Sydney during an industrial strike.
6'10 Worked under IAN WELLS. Progression at work over the 1970's. At one stage was responsible to look after BOB JONES account.
7'24 ADRIAN'S attitude to working. QUOTE: "I just loved working." He was sent by the company on a sales trip around the North Island to horse stud farms/masters. Visited propeties of SIR PATRICK HOGAN and the LOWRY family.
8'25 Was the ADVERTISING MANAGER, SUNDAY TIMES.
Merger of THE DOMINION and EVENING POST. Moved buildings from the DOMINION BUILDING to Willis Street, Wellington to the EVENING POST BUILDING. Appointed to ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER position. Later ADVERTISING ADMINISTRATION MANAGER, then ADVERTISING MANGER at the TRUTH NEWSPAPER.
9'30 When ADRIAN was 34 years old he moved to PALMERSTON NORTH as the ASSISTANT MANAGER, MANAWATU STANDARD. Details on how the position came about. Mentions MIKE ROBSON from INL HEAD OFFICE.
10'55 January 1986 ADRIAN, his wife and two children moved to PALMERSTON NORTH. Within 2 years he was approached by MIKE ROBSON to become the GENERAL MANAGER, MANAWATU STANDARD. Adrian had just turned 35 years old.
11'32 Discussion on the responsibilities of GENERAL MANAGER. Financial results information reported to INL every Thursday with information forwarded to RUPERT MURDOCH, NEWS LIMITED.
13'28 Influence of INL GROUP . Twice a year INL met with companies NZ wide. Weekly reporting of financials to INL BOARD. No editiorial input or influence from INL.
14'22 JOHN HARVEY: editor
14'28 Recounts story of editorial staff sitting in the pub during afternoons - the need to change their mindset.
15'27 Rules related to SMOKING. First business in PALMERSTON NORTH to be HAVE A SMOKEFREE POLICY. Initially there was choice of using a smoker's room or smoking outside. ALAN IRELAND, sub-editor was anti-smoking.
15'39 Discusses the work - social aspects of working in the newspaper industry in the 1970's. Includes comments on ALCOHOL and HARRASSMENT in the workplace.
17'40 INL GROUP Buying up newspapers to add to MANAWATU STANDARD group, e.g. CD FARMER. Included STYLEX PRINT.
1986 - ASSISTANT MANAGER. Ugrading building. Built new press room where PLUMBING WORLD are now. ADRIAN managed the building project.
19'16 MANAWATU STANDARD owned by the NASH FAMILY. Sold to INL GROUP who retained the local board. INL GROUP had the backing of RUPERT MURDOCH. Book written about INL GROUP: The Seven Day by Les Very. Very interesting chapter about the MANAWATU STANDARD up until the time ADRIAN started work there.
20.30 HUGH MORRISON, local chair of the Board.
21'03 Selling 26,000 copies of the MANAWATU STANDARD per day.
21'30 Impact of the introduction of new/different technology and a new press
22'04 Discusses the number of staff employed and the changes of staff and their roles. Also the NASH FAMILY ownership of the newspaper.
23'53 Imapct of unions and strikes on the workplace. Recounts a time he had to cancel a long-planned holiday due to industrial action.
26'23 Greatest achievement / what most proud of: 1996 - MANAWATU STANDARD was judged BEST PROVINCIAL NEWSPAPER in New Zealand. Move to print newspaper in colour. Being part of providing a community newspaper. Team work .
28'07 Relationship with JOHN HARVEY, editor. Profitabliity increase over the time ADRIAN was GENERAL MANAGER.
30'15 1997 financial pressures increase. MIKE ROBSON contacts ADRIAN regardng moving to a position in Auckland. ADRIAN made the decison for a number of reasons not to go to Auckland and to leave the MANAWATU STANDARD.
32'00 ADRIAN joined the PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL as ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICER. Later became the ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VISION MANAWATU then DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, VISION MANAWATU. In 2002 became CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AROHANUI HOSPICE.
33'20 ADRIAN stood for PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL and the DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD. Now has part-time position running DIABETES TRUST. Personal philosophy of wanting to help people.
33'35 MANAWATU STANDARD as a community newpaper sponsoring individuals, families, events and activites. Free advertsing or cash.
36'50 INL GROUP: supportive of MANAWATU STANDARD being involved in local community.
38'00 Saddened by current state of local newspapers. Story: Attending a bowling club event while GENERAL MANAGER of MANAWATU STANDARD. Changes in technology. Impact of social media meaning circulation down, reduced staffing and paper not being produced locally with further changes to come.
41'45 Lasting memory: People working together with lots of strands coming together to produce newspaper. Pride in 9 years at the MANAWATU STANDARD.
44'26 END