Technological Change in the National Press

Two sets of factors stimulated widespread interest in new technology in the national newspaper industry in 1975: the worsening economic situation of the press, discussed fully in the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on the Press, published in March 1976, and the expanding use of computerised photo‐composition systems abroad, especially in the United States. The overall economic situation of national newspapers, both quality and popular, in 1975 was weak, and was expected to worsen; between 1970 and 1975 the quality dailies made a total profit of £380,000 on an annual turnover of £50 millions, the heaviest losses occurring in 1975. At the same time, increasing awareness of American experience suggested that the use of computerised photo‐composition techniques could lead to major savings in production costs.