The Guardian is unique in being own by a Trust and highly unusual in that every day there is a morning conference which all journalists can attend and make suggestions or criticisms. This morning's conference - only part of which is visible above - was absolutely packed with people standing three deep outside the main room. Apart from one or two minor glitches such as G3s becoming detached from the main paper (a problem which will soon be solved by the new inserting machines) it was agreed that yesterday's operation had worked like a dream in technical terms.
The paper had gone "off stone" 34 seconds ahead of schedule and 630,000 copies had been printed with every newsagent bar one in the country receiving copies..The editor described the culmination of months and months of detailed planning as "an unmitigated triumph". There is clearly a very warm glow about the new paper among staff, buttressed by a surge of appreciation from many readers. But everyone knows that what ultimately counts is how many new readers it attracts. After a slightly shorter meeting than usual everyone returned to their desks. Normal service has been resumed.
Footnote - three copies of the last edition of the broadsheet Guardian are already being sold on eBay.
