Radio: BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

 Newsbeat analysis

Use BBC Sounds to listen to Radio 1. Select a Newsbeat bulletin (8am or 12.45pm are good options) and then answer the following questions: 

1) What news stories were featured in the bulletin you listened to?

Gary Lineker depart from the BBC and the issue of skirt length in Northern schools 

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

The broadcast featured music from the recent Glastonbury Festival 

3) How might Newsbeat help fulfil the BBC's responsibilities as a public service broadcaster? 

It follows the criteria of a PSB; informing(news), education and entertaining(music)

Media Factsheet #246: BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

Read Factsheet #246 BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. You'll need your Greenford google login to access it. Answer the following questions:

1) How is the history and launch of Radio 1 summarised in the factsheet? 

• Tony Blackburn opened Radio 1 on 30th September 1967 at 7.00am, The station set out to emulate the new ‘DJ style’ of radio, heard only on the pirate radio stations. 
• Newsbeat started in 1973
• For many years BBC radio had a monopoly of the airwaves, it was the only radio station that people in the UK could legally listen to.
• monopoly challenged by 1960 pirate radio eg. Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg 
• pirate radio illegally transmitted commercial programming  via ships in international waters and on land

2) Look at page 3 of the factsheet. How is Radio 1 attempting to appeal to its 15-29 age demographic? 

It has a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech(news and documentaries which are of relevance to young adults in the UK today), showcasing a range of music styles and supporting emerging, particularly UK, music artists. The station also has a particular focus on BAME communities 

3) What did young people used to get from radio? Focus on audience pleasures / Uses & Gratifications here (see top of second column on page 3).

• To connect themselves to popular culture products (identity).

• To gain an insight into the world beyond their own experience:

relationships, romance, politics (information and surveillance).

• To build para-social relationships with media personalities

(both musicians and DJs) – create fandoms.

• For pure entertainment.

4) How has Radio 1 and Newsbeat in particular diversified its content for the digital age? 

Social media is a big problem for them so they diversify their content outside the studio using live lounge sessions and Big Weekends of live music

5) How is Newsbeat constructed to appeal to audiences? 

No advertisements and it’s completely free

6) What are the three key ideas from David Hesmondhalgh and which apply to Radio 1 Newsbeat?

- cultural industries are made to create profit: this does not apply to Radio 1 Newsbeat as they are a PSB which means any profit made is put back into content production for audiences 

- content production is made by ‘symbol creators’: this is true as The diverse output of Radio 1 and Newsbeat is huge. Creators are governed by professional guidelines but they are also free to be creative to make products to excite youth audiences.

The internet has not challenged the centralised power of providers or allowed audiences to challenge content: this is applicable to Newsbeat as its finding it difficult to challenge the social media giants in targeting a youth audience, but it does try to utilise these platforms with its content.

7) Now look at Curran and Seaton. What are their key ideas and can they be applied to Radio 1 Newsbeat? 

- The media is concentrated in the hands of powerful

commercial media giants: this cannot be applied because PSB hold power to account by offering impartial news which is not driven by economic and political ideology. The BBC is funded by the licence fee, set by gov.

- Culture is controlled by social elites: this cannot be applied because The BBC has its remit written into The Royal Charter, which states that it must remain independent and that the mission of the BBC is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain. This means it is diverse, different and caters for all, not a small minority

8) What key idea for Livingstone and Lunt is on the factsheet and how does it link to the CSP?

- Media can have a citizen-based approach to regulation: The BBC does have a citizen-based approach to regulation

Citizen-orientated regulation is concerned with content-based issues.

Citizen-based regulation is a positive form of regulation that directs media content so that it can improve the lives of citizens and contribute the wider well-being of society.

Citizen-based regulation promotes forms of media that can hold powerful groups to account.

9) How can we apply Stuart Hall's Reception theory to Radio 1 Newsbeat?

- Media producers encode media products in a way that they think will appeal to them. 

This is not always successful. Yes the BBC tries to appeal to young people with its content, but it faces competition from other platforms that appear to be catering for them in a better, more appealing way.

- Some media content reinforces dominant ideologies of social power.

No Radio 1 has a wide and varied output. Radio 1 has a lot of content that represents minority groups. Newsbeat often runs stories that questions political power.

10) Choose one other audience theory on the factsheet and explain how it links to Radio 1 Newsbeat.

David Gauntlett - Identity theory 

- The media constructs a range of identities which audiences are free to choose from.

Yes Radio 1 and Newsbeat offers a range of content that represents different class, racial, gender and age (15-29) identities. These could potentially reinforce audiences’ identities or challenge them. They also could offer role models for young people to follow or aspire to. This is part of the education facet of PSB.

Industry contexts: reading and research

Read the first five pages of this Ofcom document laying out its regulation of the BBC. 

1) Pick out three key points in the 'Summary' section.

- The Charter gives Ofcom the role of setting the BBC’s operating license 

- The public have exceptionally high expectations of the BBC due to its remit and its support in the creativity sector of the economy 

- they carry out public research into audiences opinions and expectations of the BBC

2) Now read what the license framework will seek to do (letters a-h). Which of these points could we relate to BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat?

A) strengthen news and current affairs rules 

B) increased requirements around programmes for children 

C) secure a more distinctive BBC

F) support a wide range of valued genres 

H) require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population 

3) Which do you think are the three most important aspects in the a-h list? Why?

H because it’s important to reflect the nature of the UK as it is as it is a nation historically made up of a mixture of cultures 

4) Read point 1.9: What do Ofcom plan to review in terms of diversity and audience? 

They plan to review how different audiences are represented and portrayed on the BBC

5) Based on your reading and research, do you think BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat offers licence fee payers good value for money?

I think they do with this condensed platform, representation and diversity I think it has everything you’d want in the modern age

A/A* Extension tasks

As an extension, read this Guardian interview with former BBC 1 Controller Ben Cooper. It's a few years old but has some excellent discussion of the challenges facing radio and public service broadcasting. You may want to answer the following questions:

1) What was Ben Cooper trying to do with Radio 1?

2) How does he argue that Radio 1 is doing better with younger audiences than the statistics suggest?

3) Why does he suggest Radio 1 is distinctive from commercial radio?

4) Why is Radio 1 increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms?

5) In your opinion, should the BBC’s remit include targeting young audiences via Radio 1 or should this content be left to commercial broadcasters? Explain your answer.