This warts and all view into the world of aviation journalism in the early 1960s was given in an era when a new form of aero magazine was replacing the old. With forty years in journalism and twenty as editor of Aeronautics behind him, Major Stewart explores the constraints on journalists, whether from D-notices, the language dictated by style sheets, the spokesmen or the new breed of owners and managers in the industry. He also looks at the three areas of aviation journalism in the period: the national newspapers, the specialist press and the free magazines, before looking into his crystal ball to predict where the industry was likely to go. In the last part of his lecture, Major Stewart highlights some of his favourite stories from years gone by.

Major Oliver Stewart addressed a meeting organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group on 19 March 1962. The lecture is introduced by J. L. Nayler FRAeS FAIAA, the recording was digitised thanks to a grant from the RAeS Foundation and the podcast was edited by Eur Ing Mike Stanberry FRAeS.