Radio – War of the Worlds and Newsbeat
| Newsbeat | WotW |
| regulation free market public sphere media literacy convergence bardic function resonance moral panic hypodermic needle theory | regulation free market public sphere media literacy convergence PSB surveillance bardic function mass amateurisation |
| -launched in 1973 -target audience of newsbeat- 16-25 year olds -appeal to audience by – bringing in younger hosts, less formal, use of social media -focuses on current issues, to fulfil their purpose, but makes it more creative and exciting to appeal to audiences EG focus on political matters – ‘Rishi Sunak Speaks’ (25th Oct 2022) – but also pop culture events -‘Adidas drops Kanye’ (25th Oct 2022). 84% – 12-14 age -broadcasts last on average 15 minutes – more digestible for young audience -have a website, Instagram and twitter to broaden their audience – radio station on the BBC/ part of the BBC news -BBC is a PBS – funding through TV licenses (hypothecated tax) -OfCom – PSBs tasked with ‘delivering impartial and trusted news;’ | -1938 – CBS Radio Network – a trusted network -Orson Welles adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds -Mercury Theatre on the Air radio broadcaster -produced during the golden age of radio – radio was the only form of domestic media – direct competition to newspapers – regulated by the Federal Communications Commission – ce hooper rating survey – 98% of listeners of the CBS were not tuned into mercury theatre on air, and the 2% did not believe it was news – indicating it was the news papers who exaggerated – The New York Times reported “a wave of mass hysteria seized thousands of radio listeners” – “dressing up in a sheet, jumping out of a bush and saying, ‘Boo!’” – Welles states at the end of the broadcast |
| May 2023 explosions in ukraine is AI scary? April 2023 City v Arsenal! Time to bereal! | New York Times reported “a wave of mass hysteria seized thousands of radio listeners” “dressing up in a sheet, jumping out of a bush and saying, ‘Boo!’” |
| Livingstone and lunt: fulfils both citizen and consumer orientated approach as it both protects audience from harmful material and ensures choice (multiple broadcasts a day) and value for money (free to consume) Habermas: the BBC is government owned, paid for by TV licenses, accessible to the entire country, available to the poor, uneducated, lower class – “opening up new worlds to people” Cecil Lewis Hall: preferred: producers hope to keep younger generation up to date about latest events negotiated: some listeners will be interested in the more digestible stories but will turn to other sources for stories oppositional: reject the encoded message and construct their own meanings, maybe the focus is irrelevant to their own situation changes in in the contemporary media landscape Mcquail and blumler: young audiences will seek to inform themselves: on politics ‘Rishi Sunak Speaks’ (25th Oct 2022), events occuring around the world ‘Seoul’s Party Crush’ (31st Oct 2022) young audiences will also seek entertainment: incorporation of popular culture ‘Adidas drops Kanye’ (25th Oct 2022) this highlights how their audience actively seeks uses from media | Livingstone and lunt: broadcast did not act in public interest due to being produced against a background of war hysteria and depicts audience’s limited media literacy due to their inability to determine the broadcasts accuracy or credibility Gerbner: audience were convinced that an alien invasion was occurring due to the media having a heavy focus on the intense atmosphere in Europe which had been threatening war for quite some time – people were anticipating an invasion and therefore believed one was actually occurring – mean world index Hypodermic needle theory: those who supposedly believed the broadcast to be true illustrates how media can have a profound, direct impact on an audience – audience just accepted the messaged without referring to their own media literacy Hall: preferred: gain entertainment from the broadcast and would understand its trivial but amusing nature negotiated: understand that the broadcast is not a real depiction of what is occurring but may not feel appreciate its amusing aspects oppositional: feel terrified by what is being broadcasted and believe that what is its depicting is a reality |