• Its focused on two parents who go to France and lose sight of their son.
• The series was originally titled The Breakdown
• Filming began in February 2014 with help from the Belgian government’s tax shelter scheme
• The story is paralleled by flashbacks to 2014 and is set near a British army garrison in Eckhausen, Germany
• There are 16 episodes
• There are two series
• It was written by the brothers Harry and Williams

Symbolic montage in the title sequence
the use of melancholic music
The story will often be focused on
crime and police investigations
Muted colours Investigator is a ‘lone wolf hero’ who
has personal problems to contend with
and/or a dark past
Subdued and low-key lighting Investigator ‘hero’ may struggle with
personal relationships
Other characters are shown to be
complex and often flawed
Settings are often wintery Authority figures cannot always be
trusted
Rural landscapes are often presented
as ‘bleak’
Focus on the consequences of violent
crime
Urban landscapes are often presented
as industrial
Dramatic tension and suspense

conventions of
the crime drama are recognisable but they are also challenged and sometimes subverted

Owning a variety of media company types enables the conglomerate to distribute product benefits across a range of media forms

crime is a genre to remain popular with a range of audience groups
who seek different experiences from it

The Witnesses

is a French police procedural television series, investigate when bodies of murder victims are unearthed and left for discovery in the show homes of a housing developer

Who is the primary, secondary and tertiary audience for these products?

Genre – Similar conventions, all have detectives and is a crime story – Stephen Neale

commercial media: such as newspapers, cable TV, film, events, magazines, books, sports shows, free to air TV. The missing: BBC One

public service broadcasting :co-production between the BBC and Starz. 

media concentration few companies make the same things

we lack media pluralism- a healthy balance of products made by different media company types.

vertical integration: bbc

Life hack vs war of the worlds, talk about audiences and industry.

Show evidence of listening to the programmes- eg use quotes and textual reference. Do not analyse the programme, just use evidence to support your answer. For example- in the 3rd minute this presenter said… vick and katie

children’s mental health week, how people cope. A lot more inclusive with the audience

BBC- life hacks, PBS made by us for us. Charter, and ethos, to entertain, inform and educate.

Centred around younger audience – episode ‘ expressing yourself and lockdown hair disasters’

Casual talk, rather than scripted, less injecting information more chatty and discussing things, unlike war of the worlds which is hypodermic model where media and radios aim was to inject the mass with certain thoughts. It is more active rather than passive

War of the worlds 1937, technological development things have changed.

PBS- tv licence to pay for this service, minimise risk- ‘media is a risky business’ as hesmondhalgph.

production of culture- should the bbc stay? when it isn’t used just for information and education.

New generations challenge everything are more active.

Curran and seaton- diversification, bbc life hacks cater to everyone but not all at once

Radio is now personal, especially during lock down in the uk.

Essay- decide on what argument and carry through the essay, the value of PBS , we don’t need PBS, technology has changed the way people think. More participatory, interactive( life hacks ask audience to call in and tell stories. As well as online votes which influence what the radio discuss.

Needs to be interesting for people to interact or listen at all.

diversity and representation- PBS everyone is includes, men and women voices, different sounds.(life hacks) where as war of the worlds- older men telling you what i what

More democratic (life hacks) theory of preferred reading as well as uses and gratifications

Structure of my essay- Radio is more democratic- 1930’s Laswell hypothermic model, War of the worlds after he world war audience is passive takes in information and doesn’t challenge it. War of the worlds= aliens attacking the earth

1960 uses and gratification- escapism, uses the media for certain things for example watching a film at a certain time and just being a passive audience.

Stuart hall – preferred reading 1980’s, Encode decode oppose people consume things differently depending on their demographics ( age,race, gender ect..)

Shirky- 2000’s , theory of end of audience, audience is now proactive no longer passive. Can interact with publishers and producers , more of a ‘community’ people can now “talk back”. people can share comment like different things. Thanks to twitter people can put their input into productions and tell the producers what they like and dislike. For example life hacks is more interactive and is less top down but more of a flat hierarchy. People can interact with the radio as they can call in, suggest songs, chat with the host, vote for certain things.Things have change dramatically due to technology. For example ‘ 14.51, Vik and Katie introduce Racheal a listener about the silliest thing they have done’ Connecting and supporting people ‘ your not alone’. PBS- is made for the people by the people and is now used especially during the global pandemic. 81199 is announced to text in to the show to be included.

BBC- provides for all, allows people to have a voice, rather than dominating one overall message or certain things for profit, BBC is a non profit organisation.

War of the worlds is produced by the CBS radio network. Talking about the aftermath of an invasions by Martians on earth. The producer proceeds to say “Is there anyone on the air? Isn’t there… anyone?” with no response in the first section of the broadcast – this made people believe that this broadcast was real, and not a science fiction. 

Radio has wider representation and more participatory rather than closed off. This is due to new tech and ideas. However, this leads to a lack of PSB and traditional media.

War of the Worlds

By Columbia Broadcasting Company – large top down approach.

1938 – part of Halloween special.

Reception theory by Hall

Life Hacks

‘Children’s Mental Health week’ – ‘express yourself’

BBC works with a charter (regulations) and ethos – educate, inform and entertain. Is it important as they talk about lockdown hair disasters – pay for BBC through tax. Not target audience as only young people. – Public Service Broadcasting

New tech such as streaming services could dominate the BBC.

Curran and Seaton diverse landscape – Life Hacks is very intimate and applies to certain audiences

Not top down – by the people – Clay Shirky and Jenkins rather than WotW which is made by large company to ‘inform’ rather than participate.

Diversity – Run by two women including a black lady part of life hacks and interactive while WotW by Orson Welles who is a white man.

Theory

Hypodermic vs Two Step Flow Model

Hesmonhalgh – BBC mitigates risk by PSB and WotW by vertical and horizontal as big company.

Curran and Seaton diverse radio landscape – Life Hacks more

Jenkins on participatory culture and Shirky on audience feedback

Representation leads to uses and gratifications as people see themselves.

• The aliens in War of the Worlds could be a metaphor for the enemies because the War of the Worlds podcast was produced in 1930s, which was when the Great Depression, the American Dust bowl and WW2 began.
• It is a radio podcast of a science fiction novel that was written by H.G Wells
• War of the Worlds radio drama had left listeners into suspended disbelief and became famous because it tricked people into believing aliens were invading Earth due to the “breaking news” style of the broadcast.
• “The War of the Worlds” was the 17th episode of the CBS Radio series The Mercury Theatre on Air, which was broadcast at 8 pm ET on Sunday, October 30, 1938.
• H. G. Wells’ original novel tells the story of a Martian invasion of Earth. The novel was adapted for radio by Howard Koch, who changed the primary setting from 19th-century England to the contemporary United States, with the landing point of the first Martian spacecraft changed to rural Grover’s Mill, an unincorporated village in West Windsor Township, New Jersey. 
• The science fiction drama was broadcasted from CBS, which is the Columbia Broadcasting System
• The radio science fiction drama was directed by Orson Welles and was adapted by Howard Koch
• It was described as an anti-war film by Debra Sanders
• It is a hybridization of the science fiction genre and the mystery genre.
• Normal radio episodes were broadcasted and then there was a gap before War of the Worlds was played, which makes it seem as if these broadcasts are a metaphor for other things
• War of the Worlds was a Halloween special
• In 1938, radios were just being introduced,s o it can be interpreted that War of the World was fake news to try and get more people to listen to CBS and buy radios.
• On it’s opening evening, it was estimated that around 30 million people were tuning into the broadcast and around 80% of Americans owned a radio then.

Overview:

– It’s a programme/podcast from BBC Radio 1

– The show replaced ‘The Surgery’ in 2017 and took the Sunday Teatime slot

– The programme is hosted by Katie Thistleton and Vick Hope

– The show was previously hosted by Cel Spellman, Katie Thistleton and Radha Modgil

– The programme includes discussion of health and social issues such as exam stress, sexual health, alcohol and drugs.

– Although both ‘The Surgery’ and Life Hacks ran in scheduled broadcast slots, in recent years the programme has been available as a podcast and encourages digital consumption and interaction. 

How it attracts a young audience:

– The language used and the way the presenters present themselves suggest that they are trying to appeal to more of a youth audience as they tend to use informal language as if they were speaking to a friend – this also makes it more personal which may make the listeners feel as if they are being directly addressed.

– The content discussed is mainly targeting a youth audience as it specifically discusses growing up and going through life from a teenager/ younger persons position (university etc)

What audience pleasures are offered by ‘Life Hacks’? (Using uses and gratifications theory):

Audience pleasures that are offered by Life Hacks would be Diversion, education and personal relationships.

Personal relationships: the feeling of support that is experienced as a result of knowing that there is an area/space for advice and help- knowing that people are going through the same thing as you. 

Personal identity: Being able to relate to stories being told and seeing your character reflected in the different topics mentioned.

Education: learning about different ways of handling problems etc.

Diversion: listening to different podcasts( reflecting what you are going through)- able to escape from what you are going through by seeking help and allowing yourself to listen to other people’s stories etc.

What does the title “Life Hacks” Suggest?:

‘Life hacks’ is a terminology associated with the youth demographic – suggests that the show is targeting youth/millenials

Listening Stats:

– Radio listening figures in the UK- 90% of the population tune in to the radio every week 
– 61% tune of the population tune in to digital radio every week.

transitional media product– reflects changes in the contemporary media landscape (it is the replacement for a previous, similar programme, The Surgery

traditional radio programme with a regular, scheduled broadcast time (Sunday 6pm 14/02/21)

available online after broadcast for streaming and downloading. 

opportunities for audience interaction (Audiences can take part in their projects as it is simple to follow along with common equipment)

Media Industries
Life Hacks is a Radio 1 product and therefore has a public service status as part of the BBC. (Tax Payer funded)

Identification of funding for Radio 1 through the license fee, concept of a hypothecated tax. (The hypothecation of a tax is the dedication of the revenue from a specific tax for a particular expenditure purpose. This approach differs from the classical method according to which all government spending is done from a consolidated fund. ) Video

Issues around the role of a public service broadcaster – how does Life Hacks reflect the need to represent the nation. Arguments over the need for addressing a youth audience
already catered for commercially. (Why should programmes be made for a demographic that already has enough media content already by the private sector such as youtube and TikTok).
The influence of new technology on media industries – Life Hacks as multi – platform media product.

Media Audiences
Life Hacks is reflective of the way the industry targets niche audiences and provides an opportunity to consider industry regulation and the availability of new technology shapes audience targeting and response.
• What techniques does the broadcast use to target a youth audience? Using online media instead of printed media so it is more accessible to the youth as they use online media much more.
• Consider the way that external factors – such as demographics and psychographics – are likely to also affect audience response and produce differing interpretations
• Consider the opportunities for audience interaction and self-representation viewers can follow along and make the same life hack as the people in the media creating a sense of gratification and satisfaction from completing the life hack
• cultivation theory including Gerbner
• reception theory including Hall

Social and cultural contexts
Life Hacks reflects an acceptance of diversity and a degree of openness in contemporary culture around personal, social and identity issues.

• example of a transitional media product which reflects changes in the contemporary media landscape

• it is the replacement for a previous, similar programme, The Surgery

• a traditional radio programme with a regular, scheduled broadcast time

• also available online after broadcast for streaming and downloading

• provides opportunities for audience interaction

• the challenges facing the institution as a public service broadcaster that needs to appeal to a youth audience within a competitive media landscape

MEDIA INDUSTRIES

• a Radio 1 product – has public service status as part of the BBC.

• Identification of funding for Radio 1 through the license fee, concept of a hypothecated tax.

• Life Hacks as multi – platform media product – new technologies

MEDIA AUDIENCES

• niche audiences and provides an opportunity to consider industry regulation and the availability of new technology shapes audience targeting and response

• how are demographics and psychographics likely to affect audience response and produce differing interpretations
• Consider the opportunities for audience interaction and self-representation
• cultivation theory including Gerbner
• reception theory including Hall

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXTS

• Life Hacks reflects an acceptance of diversity and a degree of openness in contemporary culture around personal, social and identity issues.

overview ig:

• A podcast type programme from BBC Radio 1
• It replaced The Surgery in 2017 and took the Sunday Teatime slot
• It is hosted by Katie Thistleton and Vick Hope but was previously hosted by Cel Spellman, Katie Thistleton and Radha Modgil
• Although both The Surgery and Life Hacks ran in scheduled broadcast slots, in recent years the programme has been available as a podcast
• This encourages digital consumption and interaction
• Target audience: 15 – 29, however only 41% are in the target audience age range and their median age is 32
• Title – associated with the youth demographic, suggesting that the show is targeting youth/millennials
• 90% of the population tune in to the radio every week
• 61% tune of the population tune in to digital radio every week.

how it appeals to younger audiences:

• The content discussed is mainly focused on topics that concern the younger generation, for example, issues surrounding mental health, anxiety, stress & relationships etc
• The presenters give the audience some insight into their personal life which helps the listeners to feel more connected and supported by them
• This forms a relationship as audiences feel relief in the fact that other young adults are going through similar things
• The music is usually upbeat and pop which matches the pace of the show and appeals to the mainstream audience

in terms of uses and gratifications (Blumler and Katz):

• Audience pleasures:
• Personal identity – being able to relate to the stories being told and seeing yourself in the different topics mentioned
• Personal relationships – feeling of support as a result of knowing that there is an area for advice and help e.g. knowing that people are going through similar experiences
• Education – learning about different ways of handling problems ect
• Diversion – listening to different podcasts meaning you are able to escape from what you are going through by seeking help and allowing yourself to listen to other people’s stories

branding/advert??? idek:

• Colour scheme – bright and uses quite cartoonish colours which would appeal more to a younger audience 
• Emojis – the emojis suggest that this ad is aimed at more of a youth audience; stereo typically the younger generation is more accustomed to social media and would be more likely to be attracted to social media linked content
• “How does social media make you feel?” – this question directly links to social media thus creating a discussion about its influences

• 1938

andrew cresell wrote book “understanding radio”

says that radio is a blind medium = you cant see it ( you have images and p;pictures in your head)

aliens represent something

fake news is nothing new

“hard times are a breeding ground for misinformation”

• American science fiction disaster film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp
• produced by Paramount Pictures and Dream Works Pictures.
• won Academy Awards nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.
• described as an anti-war film (civilians run and only try to save themselves and their family instead of fighting back against the alien Tripods)
• Debra Saundras (an american journalist) compared the film to independence day
• released in american Ziegfeld Theatre on June 23, 2005
• Director: Steven Spielberg

Budget: 132 million USD

Narrator: morgan freeman

Box office: 603.9 million USD

• example of hybrid radio film
• CBS broadcast
• was a Halloween special – broadcast in Halloween – was it a foax? was it deliberate
• suspending disbelief – people were distressed – are aliens real?
• interesting as its a layer over fake new over fake news
• they want you to believe it was real
• Stanley Cohen wrote a book “folk devils and moral panic” – every time something bad happens, blame the media. The media causes bad things

• it was performed and broadcasted live as a halloween episode at 8pm on over on Columbia broadcasting system radio network
• Sunday, October 30th 1938
• The episode became famous for allegedly causing panic among its listening audience, though the scale of that panic is disputed, as the program had relatively few listeners
• 1 hour programme
• released a year before WW2 – audience already distressed due to Austria war

The novel was adapted for radio by Howard Koch, who changed the primary setting from 19th-century England to the contemporary United States

• radio is a blind medium
• uses speech as the primary mode of communication 
• essentially and primarily auditory, consisting of speech, music, sounds and silence. 
• identifying and de-coding a number of signs and symbols
• connect the signifier (the thing you hear) and the signified (what it means): Ferdinand de Saussure
• trying to understand signs as they operate as denotations, connotations and myths: Roland Barthes.

C. S. Pierce: icon, index and symbol

•  an ICONIC SOUND will actually sound like its’ object – person
• An INDEXICAL SOUND, will create an association to it’s object – sound of movement (this changes through microphone placements, sound processing and reverb
• SYMBOLIC SOUND is one that is more arbitrary, random and vague – sound effects (echo)

• Radio, like moving image, is LINEAR and SEQUENTIAL, in that it moves in a chronological order, from (a) beginning to (an) end. In this respect, it is important to refer to NARRATIVE THEORY when trying to understand and de-code radio meaning

LINK TO WORLD OF THE WARS