Good Times, Bad Times

Good Times, Bad Times chronicles Harold Evans' tenure as editor at two of Britain's most influential newspapers during a pivotal period in British media history. The narrative spans his successful years at The Sunday Times through his brief and turbulent time at The Times under Rupert Murdoch's ownership. The book documents several major investigative stories from Evans' Sunday Times era, including the thalidomide compensation campaign and exposés on government espionage. Evans provides an insider's perspective on newspaper operations, editorial decisions, and the complex relationships between media ownership, politics, and journalism in 1970s and 1980s Britain. The account shifts dramatically when describing the transition of both papers to Murdoch's News International, detailing the changes in editorial control and press independence. Evans outlines the specific events and circumstances that led to his departure from The Times after only one year as editor. The book stands as both a personal memoir and a broader examination of press freedom, corporate influence on journalism, and the changing landscape of British media ownership in the late 20th century.

Readers value Evans' insider perspective on British journalism and his detailed account of working at The Times during Rupert Murdoch's takeover. Many appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at newspaper operations and power dynamics in Fleet Street during the 1980s. Readers liked: - Clear explanations of complex business dealings - Personal anecdotes about key media figures - Documentation of editorial independence issues - The book's role as a historical record Readers disliked: - Dense sections about business transactions - Too much focus on administrative details - Some perceived bias in Evans' perspective From online reviews: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (87 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Fascinating insight into newspaper politics" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down in minutiae" - Amazon reviewer "Important historical document of British press freedom" - LibraryThing reviewer "Sometimes feels like score-settling" - Goodreads reviewer

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🗞️ Evans was nicknamed "Harry the Great" by his staff for transforming The Sunday Times into a global powerhouse of investigative journalism 📚 The thalidomide investigation featured in the book took 12 years and resulted in manufacturers finally paying compensation to affected families in 1973 ⚡ Rupert Murdoch purchased Times Newspapers for £12 million in 1981, leading to Evans' eventual resignation over editorial disagreements 🎯 Before becoming editor, Evans revolutionized newspaper design by introducing bolder headlines and more effective use of photography at The Northern Echo 🏆 The book won the 1984 Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction from the Crime Writers' Association, a rare honor for a journalism memoir