Promotional video in two parts for the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal by Turners Film and Video Productions, which looks at the changing role of the circulation newspaper salesman on the fictional 'Daily Bugle' as portable computer technology begins to revolutionise the promotion, accounting, and delivery of daily newspapers. The first half is a speeded-up, pre-computer comical day in the life the salesman around the Newcastle upon Tyne area. Title: The role of the circulation...

Promotional video in two parts for the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal by Turners Film and Video Productions, which looks at the changing role of the circulation newspaper salesman on the fictional 'Daily Bugle' as portable computer technology begins to revolutionise the promotion, accounting, and delivery of daily newspapers. The first half is a speeded-up, pre-computer comical day in the life the salesman around the Newcastle upon Tyne area. Title: The role of the circulation salesman Daily Bugle [posted on a newsagent’s headline board] Title: Or is it? [posted on headline board] An office clock reads 9 o’clock as the radio beeps out the hour. The Daily Bugle circulation salesman and his manager are looking over the day’s calls. They shake hands and the salesman starts his day. The salesman sets off and races through the revolving glass door - twice. He speeds off in his car. He makes stops at newsagents such as Finlays in Newcastle and around Tyneside, collecting unsold newspapers and cash. He puts up a Daily Bugle poster on a headline board: ‘Shock at Horror Probe’ and continues on his round, stopping for a speedy conversation with a shop owner. The Bugle office clock reads eleven thirty and the salesman’s back after his round. He empties his pockets of cash collected. He draws up the latest headline poster: ‘Man battered in chip shop’. Off he drives again, beeping a car at the traffic lights. He picks up one of his young newspaper sellers and drops him outside a newsagents. The window’s full of posters. He 'Benny Hill taps' the newsagent’s bald head at the door as he leaves. The office clock now reads twelve thirty. The circulation salesman stops off at a pub for a speedy lunch of crisps and a pint of beer, burping on his way out. He sets off on his round again. A new headline is posted outside a newsagent. And he drives off again. He stops at a seafront newsagent and posts the new Daily Bugle headline: ‘Bakers want a rise’. He pulls up suddenly outside the Daily Bugle office causing an accidental car crash. He grabs another batch of newspapers and he’s back outside Benton Travel with newspapers for the young seller, wiping sweat from his brow. At the seafront newsagent, he posts another headline: ‘Man cleared of blockage – pics’. Someone rips it out and replaces it with his own poster while the salesman’s in the shop. He exits and shakes his head. Then drives off again. The office clock reads half past four. Parking up, he heads into a telephone box to make a call but it’s broken. He kicks the box and heads off in his car again. Back at the office, he offloads stacks of newspapers and sits down on them, exhausted. He counts out the collected money. Back in the office with the sales manager, looking dishevelled, he has a moan about his hectic day. A new headline is posted: ‘To be continued in the next thrilling episode’. More headlines: ‘The role of the circulation salesman: An alternative’. Its nine o’clock in the morning and the circulation salesman is back with his sales manager at the Daily Bugle office. The salesman’s life is changing. Computers are now installed at the newspaper office and he’s no longer a ‘runner’.  He can analyse debts and targets with his manager and secretary before he hits the road. He consults with workers in the computerised telesales unit. He straightens his tie and smiles. He examines his charts. He calmly (this time) exits through the revolving glass door. He drives off carefully and scouts for new locations, looking at a new housing estate. He heads into a newsagent with his briefcase. In the shop he gets out his portable computer and chats to a client. Back at the office, newspaper bills are being prepared for him: ‘Big Jobs boost in city’. They are handed over to the driver of a circulations van. The circulations salesman arrives for his scheduled appointment at W.M. Egdell newsagent. He shakes hands with the newsagent and chats about the current sales situation. The young street vendor cycles to his pitch now with his newspaper bag. The commentary states "He's still smelly but at least he's got a new newsbag." His newspapers are delivered by van as he stands outside Benton Travel shop in a suburb of Newcastle. The circulation salesman has time to have a leisurely lunch with one of his newsagents to plan a sales drive. A newsagent is now tasked with posting the headline poster. The salesman drives on his round in the afternoon.  He speaks to two promotional staff who hand out balloons to customers. He chats to customers in a shop. Back in his car, he plugs in a two-way radio link and speaks to his office, no longer needing to find a working telephone box. He parks at a brand new hypermarket and makes a sales pitch inside. He motivates four new young street sales vendor recruits. Now back at the Daily Bugle office, he checks in with the women in the canvassing unit, sees his circulation manager for a chat, looking happy and confident. He winks to camera. The clock reads half past five. He meets a girlfriend outside the office. They kiss and head into Macey’s bar and restaurant in Groat Market, Newcastle. Credit: Produced by Turners Film & Video Productions Newcastle upon Tyne, England