WARRINGTON Businesses were given an insight into the past 50 years in the local media by warrington-worldwide Editor Gary Skentelbery.
“It was a great honour guest speaker at the #LoveWarrington networking breakfast meeting, which I helped set up nearly three years ago with other local businesses, to help promote the town in a positive light.
During the presentation at the Village Hotel, I talked about the changes in the media industry as warrington-worldwide’s publishing company Orbit News starts to celebrate 50 years in the town.
“The media has been revolutionised during the past 50 years since I started work in the family business straight from Culcheth High School, on an old Victorian typewriter in 1979, using paper and carbon copy paper.
“In those days we had to type a story up and phone the copy over and wait to see our work in print – if we were lucky!
“With the onset of the internet and new technology the publishing industry changed almost over night in the late 1990s.
“I resisted getting a smart phone until about six years ago as I knew once I had one it would be difficult to switch off from work. I was right!
“We now live in a 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year news world – With daily online news and various social media feeds, the news never stops.
“During the presentation I lifted the lid on an old suitcase packed with old newspapers and magazines collected by my father David, who still works in the business reporting on local news, after working as a journalist for more than 60 years. One of the old newspapers in the suitcase was carrying the story on the “Great Train Robbery” as its lead!
It also included copies of the “New Warrington magazine” produced by my father, which was created using letraset!
“I can remember as a child being handed scraps of paper and bits of letraset to create my own magazines. I think my future was being pretty much mapped out!
“During the 50th anniversary Orbit News and warrington-worldwide will be supporting a number of community activities, including a reading challenge at Warrington & Vale Royal College, a media student activity with Warrington Wolves Foundation and sponsoring the Warrington Business Awards.
“I will also be aiming to run a 10k for the first time in my life as part of the English Half Marathon, raising funds for the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, where I am proud to be a patron, which will be commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Warrington bombing this year.
“March 20th 1993 was one of the darkest days in the town’s history – one I will never ever forget!”
The suitcase packed with media history
Some of the #LoveWarrington delegates
@GarySkent telling us his story at Love Warrington Networking, name me a man who loves this Town more than this man?! #warrington pic.twitter.com/swTKZpRhjx
— Callum Morgan (@CalMorgan7) January 17, 2018
A big congratulations to Orbit News (@warringtonworld) on their 50 year anniversary! Very interesting talk today from @GarySkent on the history of the business! pic.twitter.com/njsDhZefn4
— Aspire Computers (@AspireComps) January 17, 2018
Well done Gary! Great to hear about your half-century celebrations!
— Your Trusted Link (@TodayTeam) January 17, 2018
Well done gary 👍
— anne boyd (@CEOactivechesh) January 17, 2018
