RADIO NEWBEAT CSP

Newsbeat Analysis

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

- celebrities, politics

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

- quick overviews, upbeat links, and audience participation

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

- they have to provide news.

Media Factsheet #246: BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

1) How is the history and launch of Radio 1 summarised in the factsheet? If you studied this as part of GCSE Media you will already know much of this.

- 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. However, this monopoly was challenged in the 1960s when pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg started illegally transmitting 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 aims to entertain and engage young listeners with a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech. The programmes showcase a wide range of new music styles and support emerging artists, in particular those from the UK; with at least 60 hours a week dedicated to specialist music programming.

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? 

- In order to try and cater for young people’s needs and compete with rival platforms, Radio 1 has diversified its content beyond the studio, from Live Lounge sessions to a Big Weekend of live music, its output is wide and diverse.

5) How is Newsbeat constructed to appeal to audiences? 

- Multiple voices, regional and national accents; Welsh, Irish, Scottish.

- Code-switching from formal to informal is used in order to target and appeal to different demographics.

- Simplifying of language and content.

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

- Cultural Industries are made to create profit.

- Content production is made by ‘symbol creators’.

- The internet has not challenged the centralised power of providers or allowed audiences to challenge 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.

- Culture is controlled by social elites.

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

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.

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

- Fandoms – Henry Jenkins. Radio 1 and Newsbeat creates immediacy of content through their social media. Radio content is also visual and offers a behind-the-scenes visual as well as listening experience. This brings together the producer and the audience and can promote personal engagement with content and the BBC as a institution.

Industry contexts: reading and research

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

- The BBC is the UK’s most widely-used media organisation, providing programming on television and radio and content online.

- To meet these expectations, the BBC must deliver the mission and public purposes set out in its new Royal Charter (the Charter). For the first time, the BBC will be robustly held to account for doing so by an independent, external regulator.

- On 29 March 2017, we consulted on a draft Licence setting out requirements for the BBC to fulfil its remit, and plans for Ofcom to measure the BBC’s overall performance.

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?

-Strengthen news and current affairs rules. To make sure the BBC reaches the widest audiences possible with its news and current affairs content, we have increased quotas

- Increase requirements around programmes for children

- Secure a more distinctive BBC across all its services 

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

- Safeguard vulnerable genres such as arts, music and religious programmes

- Support a wide range of valued genres

- Increase requirements around programmes for children

it shows they are trying to be inclusive and protect who they can.

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

-We are also announcing an in-depth review of how different audiences are represented and portrayed on the BBC. All audiences should feel that the BBC offers something for them, however, our research shows that several groups feel that it does not adequately represent their interests or lives

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

- Yes as they offer a wide range of content for audiences to access.