Series 317: Classified Advertising Manager, Sydney Morning Herald, 1922-1970

MLMSS 9894/Box 1565

series

1922-1970

9593800

0.11 metres of textual material (1 box)

There appears to have been a classified advertising section from at least 1945. (1) It is not clear whether he reported to the Advertising Manager.
Harold Hood was the supervisor of this section from 1953 until 1970 during which period the Herald's classified section became one of the largest in the world. (2)
In 1973 the work of the section was described as follows:
" The service of classified advertising is one of the most important and complex activities of the Company. Important in its earning capacity to the Company and well known benefit to the community; and complex because of its daily urgent tempo and necessary treatment by a number of departments before and after publication is effected. Speed, accuracy, meaning and censorship are only some of the many essentials. Its convenience to the community is that advertisements may be lodged daily in advance or spontaneously with or without the immediate provision for payment. If time is not made at the time of lodgement of an advertisement, a subsequent account is sent to the advertiser.
"Classified advertisements are catered for mainly in the Sydney Morning Herald , in which they are preceded by a comprehensive Index listing all classifications ; also a description of the Conditions under which they are accepted and published" (3).
Advertisements were received by mail, telephone, teletype, Telegram, Cablegram, or Railway, and could be lodged at either of the Herald offices at Broadway or Hunter Street. Classified advertisements could be lodged with newsagents who were supplied with "Classified Advertising Manuals" to assist in the process. Extended business hours including at weekends enabled the client to lodge advertisements at a convenient time.
There was a new appointment to the position of Classified Advertising Manager SMH on 1 June, 1980 but it appears that this was not a new position. However there was a new position ‘ Herald Classified Adverting Projects Manager’ that included improvements to the presentation of classified advertising (4)

End Notes
(1) Fairfax Archives Old System 200.12/13
(2) Obituary to Harold Hood SMH 3 May 1991 Human Resources Files - Hood, Harold
(3) Series 187 Item 1 Section 15. Advertising - Classified.
(4) Series 174/6 Newsletter No. 254 01/06/1980)

1 Classified Advertisement Rate Circulars, 1960-1966
2 Examples of Advertisements and Accounts Goldberg Advertising Agency, 1934-1938
3 Sydney Morning Herald Advertisements - Guide for Newsagents, 1922-1936
4 Booklet - John Fairfax & Sons Instruction Department - Pronunciation 1934
5 Booklets - Sydney Morning Herald Rules and Style for Composition, 1951-1957
6 Sydney Morning Herald Classified Advertising Manual, 1970
7 Advertising Manager's Notebook, 1947
8 Booklets - Sydney Morning Herald Classified Advertising Rates and Conditions, 1939
9 Booklets - Sydney Morning Herald Scale of Advertising Charges, 1919-1937

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Original Fairfax record group number 750