Bono and Bob Geldof visited The Globe and Mail newsroom on Saturday to guest-edit a special edition of the paper on the future of Africa for Monday, May 10. Here's a timeline of their visit.
Usually, The Globe and Mail newsroom is a quiet place on Saturdays. But today was an exception as The Globe welcomed its first-ever guest editors: Bono and Bob Geldof. Last week, The Globe announced they would be guest-editing its Monday issue.
Bono and Bob arrived in The Globe's Toronto newsroom Saturday and got straight to the business of putting the newspaper together. In the timeline below, read about how they worked with The Globe's editors and reporters to select which stories, photos and designs matched their vision of The Globe's all-Africa edition in the lead-up to June's G8/G20 conference.
Bob Geldof speaks with Globe and Mail publisher Phillip Crawley.
The entrance
Bono and Bob Geldof arrive in the office. "We're your bosses now," Bob tells the newsroom staff with a laugh. Bono is wearing his trademark shades, untinted.
After a few introductions to Globe section editors, they move over to the meeting table at the centre of the newsroom to get right down to business. Bono greets Globe correspondent Stephanie Nolen, who is in the newsroom for the weekend, with a hug.
"You guys are in charge," The Globe’s Editor in Chief John Stackhouse says as the meeting gets underway.
Globe and Mail foreign editor Stephen Northfield in an editorial meeting with Bono.
Foreign editor Stephen Northfield presents stories that The Globe's foreign correspondents have been working on for Monday. "It's your paper," he tells Bono and Bob.
"It's a great paper," Bono replies.
They start talking about a story by Africa correspondent Geoffrey York. The pieces under consideration have all be forwarded to Bob and Bono for an advance read. Geoff's piece aims to look beyond the popular image of Africa -- one of corruption, hunger and war -- to the continent's potential in the coming decades.
"It's a fantastic piece," Bob says.
They then move on to a second piece, one by Campbell Clark, and discuss how the two articles can overlap.
"We want to join the dots," Bono points out.
Editing The Globe
Bob mentions that he's glad to have the opportunity to edit The Globe.
"It's so important," Geldof says. "We can do marches, pop concerts, but one of these editions changes things."
The Globe and Mail's editorial team meets with Bono and Bob Geldof to discuss the paper's Monday edition, which will focus on the future of Africa.
John mentions that Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement on Africa and the G20 while travelling in Europe this morning.
"We've already seen the impact this is having," John says. "This is the beginning of a big focus in The Globe on Africa in the 21st century."
Bono and Review editor Andrew Gorham discuss who could write a profile piece on Somali-Canadian artist K'naan on a tight deadline. "Who would get him - and who would be fast?" Bono asks with a laugh.
Cover designs
They move over to look at some proposed designs for Monday's front page. Bob calls Bono over to look at one A1 mock-up that caught his eye. "These are fantastic," Bob says. "This is so different, [The Globe's] look."
Bono's eye is drawn to another cover, featuring a young woman with serious eyes.
"At first you look at it and its a little ominous, but you can see that she's smiling. That is exceedingly beautiful," he says.
"Faces are always going to draw you in," says front-page editor Sarah Lilleyman.
Another design featuring a jumble of words on a red background catches Geldof's eye.
"It's something like Russia in 1917. It's something people would put up on their wall," Geldof says.
"I personally have kept front pages for their boldness. If you're 15, would you put it on your wall?"
"Where's the word Africa in here?" Bono asks.
"The words are up to you," says designer Devin Slater.
