BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat: Blog tasks

 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?

12/06/24

Gaza genocide , Mosquitoes , Football , Rugby and Bridger-ton.

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

They cover all types of topics that would be relevant to younger audiences.

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

It appeals to the public as it broadcasts important news in an accessible and convenience way.

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? If you studied this as part of GCSE Media you will already know much of this.

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. The first words spoken by him were, “Welcome to the exciting new sound of Radio One.”

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. News, documentaries and other speech content focuses on areas of relevance to young adults in the UK today and aims to help them make sense of the world around them.

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? 

A particular focus on serving BAME (British English, Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities and appealing to all age groups through different media produce.

5) How is Newsbeat constructed to appeal to audiences? 

15 minutes which means it is a quick source of news that features important points in short bulletins.

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

. Content production is made by ‘symbol creators’

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

. Using star names to reach audiences

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

That the media is controlled by a small number of companies driven by profit and power. This is applicable towards Radio 1 Newsbeat as it is a mainstream media organisation that produce the work and they make an effort to appeal to all types of audiences.

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 media utilise citizens in order to understand how there produce should be regulated.

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. Upon reviews and reactions from audiences it is visible that they are not always pleased and interested in what they are receiving off Radio 1 Newsbeat.

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

The media constructs a range of identities which audiences are free to choose from. Which can refer to the wide variety of production in order to appeal to all.

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 BBC is the UK’s most widely-used media organisation

. BBC must deliver the mission and public purposes set out in its new Royal Charter

.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 - as they intend to reach the widest audience possible. 

Support social action campaigns on BBC radio - BBC intend to do this through the use of radio 1.

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

Support a wide range of valued genres.

Secure a more distinctive BBC.

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

Encrypting these will ensure that the BBC stay a high level media production service.

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

Understand how different audiences and people from different diversities are represented.

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

Some may argue yes no but i believe it is fair as BBC provide media of all types from being news and sports source to having kids channels and radios as well as websites they ensure they provide subscribers with all media necessary in the current digital age.