From Hot Metal to Cold Type: New Technology in the Newspaper Industry

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of radical changes in typesetting and composing techniques on 3 occupational groups employed in a major New Zealand newspaper: ex-linotype operators, hot-metal compositors and teletypesetters. The paper stresses the importance of adopting a "relational" approach to analyse the transformation of the labour process. The approach proceeds from the historically defined interests produced by the tensions and contradictions within and between organisations or groups.