CIE 40th Anniversary What were you doing in 1984?
BWW Communications CEO Nick Foot was CIE's launch editor. He sheds light on the origins of CIE, taking us on a fascinating journey through electronics B2B publishing and the electronics industry at large
I
was six months into my career in September 1986 when I got a call inviting me to interview for the position as editor of a new magazine. Looking back, I can’t believe that with so little experience I had the nerve to accept. But I did.
I’d trained as an engineer, completing a BSc in Mechanical and Production Engineering which included Business Studies as a supporting discipline. Never the most practical of people, life as a working engineer was always unlikely and, as I looked around for opportunities that might suit me more, I chanced upon B2B publishing. It sounded fun, and I got the second job I applied for. It turned out – luckily for me – to be in electronics. It could have been on ‘Tunnels and Tunnelling’ – usually referred to as ‘Bores & Boring’, or the ‘European Rubber Journal’, affectionately (I like to imagine) abbreviated to, and phonetically known as The ERJ (URGE).
I got the job on Components in
Electronics (CIE) in October 1986. For those of you who are puzzled by the arithmetic – yes, it is only 38 years ago, not 40, as this anniversary issue has been promoted. But in fact, the publishers were at that time known for advertising-only publications, and CIE had limped along unsuccessfully from a launch sometime in 1984 carrying no editorial. So, 40 is correct.
The publishing company that I joined was called Hanover Press – affectionately – or otherwise, but not wholly inaccurately, nicknamed Hangover Press. One of their giveaways was a Hangover Kit – aspirins and a voucher for a recovery pint on their trade show booth the next day. What can I say…it was a different world.
I have to credit some people for seeing beyond the wide-eyed (but then, not so wide in stature!), sandal-wearing, bowtie- sporting newbie that I was. That doyen of the electronics press and PR fraternity Peter Bush recommended me for the job when Colin Holland – who was sadly taken from us much too soon – turned it down in favour
24 December/January 2024
Nick Foot (Far left in top picture) with industry colleagues.
of a solid Morgan Grampian ‘What’s New In Electronics’ pension. Chief sales exec Sean Stewart, using a pseudonym, interviewed me and he together with publisher Tony Worton – he of the elephantine memory, indefatigable energy and sharpest of advertising sales brains – plus deputy publisher Alan Fredericks became invaluable mentors.
Components in Electronics
But fi rst, a small diversion to namecheck another key fi gure. The person who fi rst employed me as a journalist was Gavin Atkin, then editor of Electronic Product Review (EPR). That title was owned by a publishing company called Patey-Doyle, which sold a couple of times, until EPR ended up as Datateam property. Datateam,
of course, went on to buy CIE. It’s a small world. In six months, Gavin Atkin taught me to delve behind the PR for the truth. He also espoused two maxims which have stood me in good stead throughout my career: “You’ll be judged on how well you get yourself out of the holes you have dug for yourself,” and “Don’t hide behind the potted palm”. At
www.cieonline.co.uk
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