The Power of News: History of Reuters, 1849-1989

by Donald Read (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1994

  $3.25

  This is the story of Reuters, the international news agency. In 1851 Julius Reuter set up the London organization which was eventually to extend throughout most of the world. The Power of News is a fascinating account of the company which for over 140 years has brough us history as it is being made. For a century Reuters was especially the news agency of the British Empire. As Britain's imperial power faded, Reuters moved into selling economic information to the world trading community, a venture that generated annual pre-tax profits of $L280 million by the end of the 1980s. Equally lucrative was the flotation of Reuters as a public company in 1984, the full story of which is told here for the first time. Throughout all these exciting changes Reuters has tried to remain committed to 'truth in news' a commitment watched over by the Reuter Trust, created in 1941. 'The remarkable history of an institution and its visionary founder' , Financial Times 'a fascinating account' , Sunday Telegraph 'Reuters was to news what Rolls-Royce is to cars and Lords is to cricket ...the biggest story to come out of Reuters is its own' , Daily Mail 'a fascinating, solidly-researched, and well written book' , Scotsman 'The first thing that must strike anyone opening this well-produced book . ..is the wonderful harvest of illustrations' , London Review of Books This book is intended for historians of the 19th and 20th centuries; historians of technology and communications; readers with an interest in news, business, and finance.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1992

  $5.83

  This is the story of Reuters, the international news agency. In 1851 Julius Reuter set up the London organization which was eventually to extend throughout most of the world. Over a century later, Reuters was first with the news of the erection of the Berlin Wall in 1961, and then first with the story of its breaching in 1989. The Power of News is a fascinating account of the company which for almost 150 years has brought us history as it is being made. Donald Read's authoritative and readable history of Reuters shows how the company has always been in the forefront of communications technology, from the days of pigeon post and the first transatlantic cables to the age of the satellite and computer link. For a century Reuters was especially the news agency of the British Empire. As Britain's imperial power faded, Reuters moved into selling economic information to the world trading community, a venture that generated pre-tax profits of GBP280 million during the 1980s. Equally lucrative was the flotation of Reuters as a public company in 1984. Throughout all these exciting changes Reuters has tried to remain committed to 'truth in news', a commitment watched over by the Reuter Trust, created in 1941. For this second edition, Professor Read has revised and completely rewritten the text, using fresh research to open up in particular the imperial dimension of Reuter history and highlighting to a greater extent the personalities who played important parts in the company's story. 'From secret messages hidden in an engine driver's sandwiches to the chartering of special steamers and now instantaneous news via satellites, the story is compelling', Lloyd's List 'Reuters was to news what Rolls-Royce is to cars and Lords is to cricket ...the biggest story to come out of Reuters is its own', Daily Mail 'The remarkable history of an institution and its visionary founder', Financial Times 'a fascinating, solidly researched, and well-written book', The Scotsman