We are Open——

Thank you very much I loved coming here were the parting words of Finchley MP Margaret Thatcher, better known as the Prime Minister, when she ended her extended visit to the offices of the Local Advertiser.

The tour had been arranged as a simple matter of a local MP visiting a local paper. But, with the MP also being the political leader of the country and the paper being one of the flagships of the modern breed of local free community newspapers, a keen interest was bound to be taken by all concerned.

After initial introductions it was soon clear that Mrs Thatcher had researched many details of the paper's operation. But she still expressed surprised delight at quality of the paper.

“It really is a very nice office,” said the visiting VIP. “I like open plan with things going on around me, I much prefer working this way,” she revealed as she stopped to discuss the company's sports and social activities with Deputy Managing Director John Murphy.

The new look Local Advertiser and the complications of controlling layouts were the topics of conversation when Mrs Thatcher met Publishing Directors Deirdre Cavanagh and Chris Muir before visiting the design studio and praising the work of the graphic design team.

“This is a very smart editorial office it's the most comfortable I have ever seen,” commented the visiting MP as she entered the newsroom. Mr Wilkinson, the Managing Director, explained refitting the whole building had taken many months and considerable expense before the 74 full time staff had moved in.

Community

On the subject of editorial content reporters agreed with Mrs Thatcher that what local community papers are about is “lots of bits of local news and then good news features.”

The computerised accounts and administration systems seemed a considerable surprise to the visiting dignitary as did the size and precision of the distribution system, covering much of North London and South Hertfordshire.