Introduction to radio: blog tasks
Create a new blogpost called 'Introduction to Radio' on your Media 2 Coursework blog and complete the following tasks:
Read Media Factsheet #224 Understanding the Industrial Context of Radio. This will give you a wider perspective on industry contexts for radio with particular focus on the industry theorists (Hesmondhalgh, Curran & Seaton, Livingstone & Lunt). Answer the following questions:
1) Read the first two pages of the factsheet. How does the Factsheet argue that radio still has cultural significance in the digital age?
it still reaches billions of people. In some developing countries in Africa where people still have limited or no access to the Internet – radio is still the dominant medium to inform and entertain them.
2) Look at the page 4 section on media theories. Briefly summarise the ideas of Curran and Seaton, Hesmondhalgh and Livingstone and Lunt.
Media output is concentrated in the hands of a few.
The media put profit before creativity.
Media regulation should have a consumer-based approach.
3) What is the definition of public service broadcasting?
“public service broadcasting” refers to broadcasting intended for public benefit rather than to serve purely commercial
interests.
Look at the list of eight key principles for BBC Radio on page 6 of the factsheet. Choose the three you think are most significant and explain why.
Universal geographic accessibility – you can listen to radio
anywhere in the country.
Universal appeal – across the board the programming will
have something for all an everyone.
Attention to minorities – inclusive and non-tokenistic
programming.
5) What does the Factsheet suggest is the future of PSB radio? Do you agree?
As it stands the BBC is surviving but its future is looking more and more precarious, especially it cannot convince the young that it is worth paying for. It could be that P.S.B radio broadcasting might have to have a separate licence fee, or we may see the development of individual subscriptions to stations.
