NEWS ON SUNDAY NRS. 1- 10. 1987. COMPLETE RUN OF THIS “SOCIALIST” UK DAILY NEWSPAPER.

Manchester: News on Sunday, April 1987 – June 1987

39 x 30.5cm, pagination varies. Tabloid newspaper.  A complete run of this short-lived socialist newspaper which was founded by former members of the left-wing group Big Flame who optimistically felt a left-wing mass-circulation tabloid Sunday newspaper was possible and endeavoured to start one. John Pilger was appointed as editor-in-chief and then left before the newspaper was launched when Keith Sutton was appointed as a replacement editor.

The paper gave a controlling interest to a collective of workers and its share issue raised £6.5 million from trade unions and Labour local authority pension funds. Immediately problems arose when the publicity slogan “No tits but a lot of balls” caused female workers on the paper to understandably revolt. To break even, the paper had to sell 800,000 copies. The first issue sold 500,000 and by its eighth issue circulation had gone down to 200,000. This disaster had been in part due to inexperience and the choice of lead articles that did not appeal to mass circulation.

The paper was kept afloat during the general election campaign thanks to the extension of an additional subordinated loan from the TGWU, so that its folding would not embarrass the Labour Party. It went bankrupt immediately after the election had been held and was purchased by Owen Oyston but finally closed down five months later, in November 1987.

This is a complete collection of this disastrous example of hope over reality  – browned and one number has a slight paper damage on the spine but else VG.