Aimed at an audience of teenagers to early twenties, however median age of listeners is around 30

Launched on 10th Sep 1973

Transmitted live over digital audio broadcast most weekdays at 12:45 and 17:45. The show can also be watched online with a BBC account, with episodes watchable for up to thirty days after they originally aired.

Its funded by the tax from the government, the money from certain tax goes to the BBC for education.

Broadcast on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Xtra and the BBC Asian Network

02/11/22 – Show had a story on James Corden stealing Ricky Gervais’ joke – popular story that can be found on social media which may impact amount of listeners as they may have already seen the story.

Presenters/Reporters on the show have been told to address listeners as if they were “talking to a friend” according the the programme’s editor. Adds a friendly feel to the programme which may entice listeners. They have also been told to steer clear of polysyllabic words which allows for listeners to not have to pay as much attention when listening.

How does Newsbeat appeal to a young / younger audience?

• I want to argue that BBC Newsbeat is attempting to stay relevant through appealing to younger audiences. This can be seen through a number of things; young presenters, active social media presence, and focus on stories that interest / affect young people.
• Statistics suggest that they are failing to do so.

Media Industries

BBC is a PSB. focus is on informing and educating.

BBC is a large company with over 22000 staff, offices.

Newsbeat is the BBC’s radio news programme broadcast on Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network. 

The fifteen-minute Newsbeat programme is broadcast at 12:45 and 17:45 during the week on Radio 1

Newsbeat is a multi-platform media project. It can be accessed on their website, on twitter, and on Instagram.

BBC newsbeat – very active on social media – twitter and Instagram

Media Audiences

Newsbeat is produced by BBC News but differs from the BBC’s other news programmes in its remit to provide news tailored for a specifically younger audience of teenagers and early twentysomethings.

There was 9 million listeners in the first week of 2022 – shows how they reach a wide audience.

Even though their target audience is young, their average listener is 30 years old.

Newsbeat is broadcast on BBC Radio 1, targeting 15–30-year-olds who enjoy chart-based music

Majority of newsbeat hosts are in their 20s

Deliver news in fairly simple terms – easy to understand

Focus on celebrity content

Many news stories on things that affect young people:

for instance, on results day, they always run a story on the results

Plus, although the BBC is neutral, newsbeat covers things that might interest more left-leaning individuals, for instance, LGBT community.

Newsbeat bulletins are short – 2-3 minutes – assumption is that young people dont have the attention span for anything longer.

Newsbeat is a fifteen-minute news programme on BBC Radio 1, being transmitted live over digital audio broadcast frequencies during most weekdays at 12:45 and 17:45. It is produced by BBC News but contrasts other BBC programmes by providing news specifically designed for an audience of teenagers and young adults.

and edited by Danielle Dwyer.

It is recorded in the Broadcasting House in London and was originally launched on the 10th of September, 1973.

Potential Questions

_{Identify two strategies or techniques used by Radio 1 to attract a youth audience.
Explain the reason for each.
[4 marks]}

_{“Media audiences always respond to media products in the way that producers intended.”
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
[20 marks]}

_{Explain how historical contexts influence how audiences respond to media products.
[9 marks]}

^{‘The relationship between producers and audiences has changed over time.’
How far do you agree with this statement?
[20 marks]}

Data

The producers hope to appeal to their listeners by framing the content through an informal tone, quick overviews, upbeat links, and audience participation.

According to Ofcom, public service broadcasters are tasked with “delivering impartial and trusted news, UK-originated programmes and distinctive content”.

BBC Trust claims that Radio 1’s target audience is 15-29 year olds and it also provides some programmes for younger teenagers. However, the Radio Joint Audience Research suggests that the average listener is 30 years old.

According to Statista, Radio 1 reached just under 9 million listeners every week in the first quarter of 2020.

My Argument

I want to argue that the BBC’s strategy of creating news that is more appealing and accessible

INDUSTRIES:

At a local level, BBC local websites have all too often piggybacked on the work of independent news providers without properly attributing their source.

The NMA believes that news media publishers should be allowed to compete in a fair marketplace which does not include taxpayer-funded state competitors.  The industry successfully campaigned for new rules preventing local authorities from publishing council newspapers more often than quarterly

REGULATION:

• Radio broadcasting is regulated by Ofcom

The availability of non-regulated broadcasts via the internet poses a challenge both for the regulator and the regulated radio broadcasters.

AUDIENCES:

• The techniques the broadcast uses to target a youth audience and create audience appeal, eg
o Presentation style:

“Presenters and reporters on Newsbeat have been told to steer clear of polysyllabic words and address listeners as if they were talking to a friend, the programme’s editor has revealed.” – catering towards a younger audience and talking to a friend suggests they can like create a sense of reliability.

“We are looking at ideas for the general election that involve telling some of the stories through a series of games, that kind of thing,”
o News values
o Content selection

bbc charter

11. To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them

2To support learning for people of all ages

3To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive output and services

4To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom

5To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world

• Newsbeat is both a traditional radio programme with a regular schedule of broadcast times. But also available to watch later online.
• Its been broadcasting since 1973 on BBC radio 1.
• targets a audience of young people between 15 and 30.
• Its funded by the tax from the government, the money from certain tax goes to the BBC for education.
• Its a 15 minute programme that broadcasts at 12:45 and 17:45
• newsbeat presenters use shorts words and talk simply to make the majority of the young people listening better understand what their saying.
• 9 million listeners in the first quarter of 2020.
• Its broadcasted on radio 1, radio 1 extra and the Asian Network.

1. Regulated by Ofcom and includes the use of language for the protection of under 18s.
2. Targets audiences between 15 and 30, simplifies words for them.
3. Newsbeat is also available to watch online, and not live.
4. It broadcasts on radio 1, radio 1 extra and the Asian Network.
5. Its funded by the government.
6. They first started broadcasting in the 10th September 1973.
7. One of their purposes is to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them.
8. Main programmes broadcast at 12:45 and 17:45.

I argue that the BBC want to get the younger audiences attention. For newsbeat to appeal to their target audience of young people. They use tactics like simplifying words, not using complex words, and shortening the time of newsbeat to prevent boredom.

Industry:
Newsbeat is the BBC’s radio news programme broadcast on Radio 1.
Original Release – 10 September 1973 – present
Radio broadcasting is regulated by Ofcom (office of communications)

Audience:
Its remit to provide news tailored for a specifically younger audience of teenagers and early twentysomethings.

Presenters and reporters on Newsbeat have been told to steer clear of polysyllabic words and address listeners as if they were talking to a friend, the programme’s editor has revealed. – This shows that they know people are starting to not listen to radio as they feel the listeners don’t want to engage. Using smaller words requires less attention.

Newsbeat became apparent on 10th September 1973 and now was a target audience of 16-24 year olds.

Until the start of the 21st century, the Newsbeat brand was only used for the 15-minute lunchtime and teatime bulletins as all other news bulletins, which were always broadcast at half-past the hour, were branded as Radio 1 News. Also, for the first four years of the 1990s, Newsbeat was only broadcast at lunchtime as the evening bulletin was a 30-minute programme called News 90/91/92/93.

Having listened to a small part of a newsbeat radio station, the story was on James Cordon stealing Ricky Gervais’ jokes. This kind of information can be found on any type of social media which is a reason as to why not many young people are listening to radio; Newsbeat.

Presenters and reporters on Newsbeat have been told to steer clear of polysyllabic words and address listeners as if they were talking to a friend, the programme’s editor has revealed. – This shows that they know people are starting to not listen to radio as they feel the listeners don’t want to engage. Using smaller words requires less attention.

Media Industries

• Newsbeat as a BBC News product with bulletins are broadcast on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Xtra and BBC Asian Network
• The funding of BBC Radio through the license fee, concept of hypothecated tax
• Issues around the role of a public service broadcaster within a competitive, contemporary media landscape
• The distinctive nature of the programme connected to its public service remit
• Arguments on the need for addressing a youth audience already catered for commercially
• The influence of new technology on media industries – Newsbeat as multi–platform media product. eg
o Website
o Twitter
o Instagram
• The regulation of the BBC via Ofcom and the governance of the BBC

Media Audiences

• The techniques the broadcast uses to target a youth audience and create audience appeal, eg
o Presentation style
o News values
o Content selection
• The opportunities for audience interaction, participation and self-representation
• The way external factors – such as demographics and psychographics – are likely to also affect audience response and produce differing interpretations
• Cultivation theory including Gerbner
• Reception theory including Hall

Questions that may come up about Audience and Industries

1. How has Newsbeat caught up with new technologies?
2. How does Newsbeat attract its audience?
3. Does Newsbeat reflect who their target audience is?

Things I know

1. Newsbeat has a target audience of age 16-24 but 84% of the viewers are aged between 12-14.
2. BBC is funded by the public paying their TV license.
3. The BBC has a Royal Charter that they check every 5-10 years. The current charter will be reviewed in 2027.
4. Newsbeat is a 15-minute program run on BBC Radio 1, Radio 1 Xtra and Asian Network at 12:45 and 17:45 during the week.
5. Newsbeat launched on 10th September 1973.
6. Newsbeat provides written articles, podcasts and videos as well as live radio.
7. Newsbeat have changed their language to engage younger viewers.

What I want to argue

I want to argue that the BBC are putting in all their effort to keep providing news to the younger audience but still sticking to the main principles of the BBC but it is inevitable that

Example Essay Questions:

1. To what extent can regulators shape the output of media texts? Refer to the Close Study Product Newsbeat to support your answer.
2. How convincing are the arguments for and against the regulation of radio broadcasts? In your answer, you should refer to your Close Study Product.
3. Explain why producers of radio programmes are using new digital technologies to distribute their texts.
4. “Media audiences always respond to media products in the way that producers intended.” Referring to the Close Study Product Newsbeat, to what extent do you agree with this statement?
5. It has been argued social and cultural contexts influence how audiences respond to radio broadcasts. How far do you agree with this statement?
6. Explain the influence of economic factors on the production and content of radio broadcasts.
7. To what extent does Newsbeat meet the requirements of its public service broadcasting remit?
8. Explain how Newsbeat targets a youth audience through the use of new technologies.
9. How do Radio products challenge the social and cultural contexts they are created in? Refer to close study product Newsbeat in your answer.

Newsbeat is an example of a transitional media product which reflects changes in the contemporary media landscape. Newsbeat is both a traditional radio programme with regular, scheduled broadcast times, but it is also available online after broadcast. The broadcast itself and the use of digital platforms provides opportunities for audience interaction. Newsbeat also exemplifies the challenges facing the BBC as a public service broadcaster that needs to appeal to a youth audience within a competitive media
landscape.

Newsbeat has a duration of 15 mins, this emphasises the target demographic as young people may have a shorter attention span.

Takes an informal approach to a stereotypically formal programme.

Uses social media in order to connect with their audience.

Industries:

• Newsbeat as a BBC News product with bulletins are broadcasted on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Xtra and BBC Asian
Network
• The funding of BBC Radio through the license fee, concept of hypothecated tax
• Issues around the role of a public service broadcaster within a competitive, contemporary media landscape
• The distinctive nature of the programme connected to its public service remit
• Arguments on the need for addressing a youth audience already catered for commercially
• The influence of new technology on media industries – Newsbeat as multi–platform media product. e.g. Website,
Twitter or Instagram
• The regulation of the BBC via Ofcom and the governance of the BBC

Audience:

• The techniques the broadcast uses to target a youth audience and create audience appeal. e.g. Presentation style, News values, Content selection.
• 84% are 12 – 15 ages
• The opportunities for audience interaction, participation and self-representation
• The way external factors – such as demographics and psychographics – are likely to also affect audience response and
• produce differing interpretations
• Cultivation theory including Gerbner
• Reception theory including Hall

Social and Cultural contexts:

• Newsbeat is part of BBC News. The BBC has a unique place in society as the ‘national’ broadcaster with an expectation of
impartial reporting of the news. There is an expectation that the BBC will be a reliable source of accurate reporting in the
context of rising concerns about fake-news.
• The BBC is at the heart of political arguments regarding its social role, the content of its programming and the fact that it
offers competition for commercial media industries.
• Traditional news providers (Radio, TV and Newspapers) are in competition with a host of digital websites and social media
platforms who have become the primary providers of news for many, especially young people.

Possible questions Newsbeat:

How does Newsbeat challenge the social and cultural contexts in which it’s made

How is the BBC regulated

How does Newsbeat appeal to a younger audience

AUDIENCE:

2-step flow model Lazarfeld

Uses and Gratifications Haas, Katz and Gurevitch 1973 personal social needs.

INSTITUTION

David Hesmondalgh

John Reith established the tradition of independent public service broadcasting in UK

84% of viewers are 12-15

the Ethos of the BBC is to inform, entertain and educate.

Theodor Adorno explained that Leisure time should be used productively instead of recreational entertainment. This exhibits the idea of Populism and paternalism.

Habermas, transformation of the public sphere.

Jean Seaton- theory of public service broadcasting

Peacock report- Richard Collins 2009

The Royal charter and mid term reviews, regulation.

In the essay I will argue that the rule of Mrs Thatcher sparked the deterioration of the relationship between the state, public service broadcasters and the public. This transformed the public sphere.