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.

Broadcasting since 1973 on BBC Radio 1

• Newsbeat- radio service from the BBC
• The main focus is news towards teenagers and “twentysomethings”.
• Funded by the tax from the government, hypothecated tax, money from a specific tax goes towards the BBC for education.
• Launched on the 10th September 1973
• The name was taken from another radio program, “Radio Coraline”, this is because one of Radio Coralines workers “Roger Gale” worked on Newsbeat with the BBC
• Broadcasted on Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network.
• 15-19, 84% listeners 12-15

Audience

1.Targets youth- talks about important and difficult matters that might make them feel understood (mental health which will draw in the young audience.)

2.An example of a transitional media product which reflects changes in the contemporary media landscape.

 3. Good values- talk about negative issues going on making it important

4. ‘Newsbeat promises its younger listeners all the news they need to know from the UK and around the world‘

5. To bring in the younger audience, Newsbeat changed the language and style they present in, bringing in teens by using street slang and making stories on popular, younger generation topics, like Tik Tok, Celebrities and Young topics.

6. Linking to Stuart Hall’s ideas on ‘preferred reading’: Dominant, Oppositional and Negotiated readings

7. Producers appeal to listeners- framing the content through an informal tone, quick overviews, upbeat links, and audience participation.

8. ‘it’s a myth that young people are not interested in news; the challenge is how to reach them’

9. Radio broadcasting is regulated by Ofcom

10. Newsbeat can be seen as part of the BBC’s remit to address diverse audiences – by age, location, ethnicity etc

11. Stuart Halls theory of encoding and decoding

Possible Questions

1. To what extent do historical contexts influence how audiences respond to media industries. You should refer to the close study Newsbeat to support your answer.
2. Did Newsbeat only develop because of the changes in new technologies?
3. To what extent is the BBC regulated.
4. How does Newsbeat support the ethos of the BBC? (entertain, inform, educate)
5. How does Newsbeat appeal to a young / younger audience?
6. ‘The relationship between producers and audiences has changed over time.’ How far do you agree with this statement? You should refer to the Close Study Newsbeat

10 facts

1. John Reith was the BBC’s first general manager when it was set up as the British Broadcasting Company in 1922 and he was its first Director-General when it became a public corporation in 1927.
2. Newsbeat was launched on the 10th September 1973
3.  BBBC is the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, with over 22,000 staff in total-approximately 19,000 are in public-sector broadcasting.
4. 15-19, 84% listeners 12-15
5. The ethos of the BBC was to ‘inform, educate and entertain’
6. Newsbeat is notable for the distinctive musical imaging it has used for most of its history. At first, this was a just jingle at the beginning of the bulletin, but in the late 1990s this expanded to music throughout.
7. The BBC was officially created on 18 October 1922.
8. Louisa Compton, editor of BBC, says ‘it’s a myth that young people are not interested in news; the challenge is how to reach them.’
9. This started in 1923, costing 10 shillings, then split 50/50 between the BBC and the Government.
10. Radio coverage was patchy in the UK, securing 94% reach across the UK.
11. ‘Resources have been switched from the Newsbeat radio programme to online and social media, with less polished, “super-produced” content and more immersive videos to reflect what its audience watches on YouTube’ – The Guardian article- Radio 1’s newsbeat rips up the rulebook to lure young listeners

What I Understand

1. Newsbeat is widely available online on places such as the BBC website or on radio 1 at times of 12.45 and 5.45 and after broadcast for streaming, meaning it is accessible to youth as they can access it at any time

Exclusive music news, big interviews, entertainment, social media trends and video from the news people at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

12:45 everyday

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

BBC Radio 1’s remit as a public service broadcaster meant it had to broadcast news. Newsbeat was launched on 10 September 1973 in response to the launch of a network of commercial radio stations across the UK which supplied a news service very different from the style of traditional BBC News. 

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.

The BBC = Largest PSB cooperation in the UK

Their ethos is to provide “impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain”

Cecil Lewis- ”opening up the world to people”.

• It has been broadcasting since 1973
• ‘Newsbeat promises its younger listeners all the news they need to know from the UK and around the world‘
• The main fifteen-minute Newsbeat programmes are transmitted live over digital audio broadcast (DAB) frequencies at 12:45 and 17:45 during most weekdays. The broadcasts can also be listen to, on demand, through the BBC Sounds app or BBC website. This encourages a younger audience who would most likely view content online, on a mobile device.

potential questions:

how does the newsbeat inform educate and educate

10 facts:

• • 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

• 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

argue that due to new technologys bbc introduce new concepts to newsbeat as people dont listen to radio as much

Media Industries

• Newsbeat is owned by the BBC

• Some details on mental health about 3 teenagers who died by suicide giving a important message to the youth bringing up very important issues
  • talks about the NHS in a negative way which shows their opposition to government
  • The regulation shows that they aren’t controlled by the government as they talk bad about the NHS negatively
  • They talk about se4rious issues so external factors can seriously affect how people interpret the things that they talk about

Media Audiences

• Targets youth as it talks about important matters that might make them feel understood and heard as it talks about mental health which will draw in the young audience.
• They sound like they have good values as they talk about negative issues going on in importance making it important rather than some other ones who may just ignore it they bring importance to it
• talks about peoples problems rather than being bias they taking the publics problems and bringing light to them
• Stuart Halls theory of encoding and decoding
• 845 of audiences are age 12-15

regulation