Mary Goldring
Encyclopedia
Mary Goldring OBE
is a British
business journalist
and broadcaster
.
An economist
who graduated from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, Goldring turned to journalism in the late 1940s and became a member of staff at The Economist
, where for a long time she was its Business Editor, rising to the rank of Deputy Editor alongside Norman McRae. She left the paper suddenly in Spring 1974 following a dispute over its Editorship in the wake of the surprise departure of Alastair Burnet
, who went briefly to become editor of the Daily Express
.
Goldring then moved to the BBC, where she established a new current affairs programme for Radio 4 which became Analysis, see below, and meantime also wrote a weekly column for the Investors Chronicle
edited by Andreas Whittam Smith
. In the 1970s and 1980s as one of the main regular presenters of BBC
Radio 4's
Analysis
series of analytical authored current-affairs documentaries, she developed it into a flagship programme. She also made five series of television documentaries, the Goldring Audit, for Channel 4
screened from 1993 to 1998.
Mary Goldring became particularly noted in the late 1960s as the Economists aviation correspondent, for her sustained and trenchant critique of the development programme for the Anglo-French Concorde
supersonic aircraft, on the basis of noise, pollution and above all what she predicted would be disastrous commercial economics. An almost solitary voice of dissent at the time, her views turned out to be sadly well-founded.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
business journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
.
An economist
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
who graduated from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, Goldring turned to journalism in the late 1940s and became a member of staff at The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, where for a long time she was its Business Editor, rising to the rank of Deputy Editor alongside Norman McRae. She left the paper suddenly in Spring 1974 following a dispute over its Editorship in the wake of the surprise departure of Alastair Burnet
Alastair Burnet
Sir Alastair Burnet is a British journalist and broadcaster, known for his work in news and current affairs programmes.- Early life :...
, who went briefly to become editor of the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
.
Goldring then moved to the BBC, where she established a new current affairs programme for Radio 4 which became Analysis, see below, and meantime also wrote a weekly column for the Investors Chronicle
Investors Chronicle
The Investors Chronicle is a weekly magazine in the United Kingdom for private investors and is published by the Financial Times Group. The magazine publishes articles about global markets and sectors, and news on corporate actions such as takeovers and share issues...
edited by Andreas Whittam Smith
Andreas Whittam Smith
Andreas Whittam Smith CBE is an English financial journalist, who was one of the founders of The Independent newspaper which began publication in October 1986 with Whittam Smith as editor...
. In the 1970s and 1980s as one of the main regular presenters of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio 4's
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
Analysis
Analysis (radio programme)
Analysis is a half-hour BBC Radio 4 documentary programme, which has been running for over 40 years.-History:It began in April 1970. The first presenter was Ian McIntyre, who later became Controller of Radio 4 from 1976–78 and of Radio 3 from 1978–87; he left in 1976.The program covered overlooked...
series of analytical authored current-affairs documentaries, she developed it into a flagship programme. She also made five series of television documentaries, the Goldring Audit, for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
screened from 1993 to 1998.
Mary Goldring became particularly noted in the late 1960s as the Economists aviation correspondent, for her sustained and trenchant critique of the development programme for the Anglo-French Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
supersonic aircraft, on the basis of noise, pollution and above all what she predicted would be disastrous commercial economics. An almost solitary voice of dissent at the time, her views turned out to be sadly well-founded.
External links
- 'I said Concorde would be an expensive mistake. I was right.' BBC audio extract, 17 October 2003.