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