| Radio | War of the Worlds | Newsbeat |
| Summary | Orson Welles’ adaption of “The War of the Worlds” provides a terrific introduction to the debate surrounding the media’s ability to influence the audience and shape our behaviour and beliefs. Performed live in 1938, the radio drama depicted a Martian invasion of earth, but the broadcast allegedly provoked widespread panic because many listeners thought the attack was real. | Broadcasting since 1973 on BBC Radio 1, Newsbeat promises its younger listeners all the news they need to know from the UK and around the world. The energetic presenters ensure complex issues remain accessible to the target audience through their informal mode of address, interactive games, and audience participation, but can this traditional format continue to compete against podcasts and streaming apps? |
| Key Facts | Although the story of interplanetary warfare is typical of the science fiction genre, it was presented within the format of normal evening of radio programming. There appears to be a routine report from the “Government Weather Bureau” about a “slight atmospheric disturbance” along the east coast of America. We are then “entertained by the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra” who are playing a tango from the Park Plaza Hotel. Even the “special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News”, which interrupts the music, met the expectations of the contemporary audience. First, “The War of the Worlds” was aired by Columbia Broadcasting Systems (CBS) – one of only two national broadcasters who were trusted by millions of listeners every day to deliver reliable and impartial news. It is also important to note that CBS frequently interrupted scheduled programmes to inform their listeners of the latest updates from Europe. In the weeks prior to “The War of the Worlds” episode, the network reported on Hitler’s continued occupation Czechoslovakia and the inevitability of another global conflict. | The BBC is the largest public service broadcaster in the UK. According to the regulator, Ofcom, PSBs are tasked with “delivering impartial and trusted news, UK-originated programmes and distinctive content”. The BBC’s mission is outlined in its charter. The corporation has to provide “impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain”. Newsbeat certainly satisfies these requirements with its focus on current affairs. The main fifteen-minute Newsbeat programmes are transmitted live over digital audio broadcast (DAB) frequencies at 12:45 and 17:45 during most weekdays. You can listen to the latest stories, entertainment gossip and sport headlines by tuning into Radio 1, 1Xtra and the Asian Network. This simultaneous transmission is known as a simulcast. There are also shorter bulletins broadcast throughout the day, usually at thirty-minute intervals. |
| Key Words | Moral Panic, Genre, Hybrid Genre, Narrative, Science fiction trope, Hypodermic needle theory, Gerbner, cultivaion theory, Reception Theory, Stuart Hall, Encoding, Decoding, | Reception Theory, Stuart Hall, Encoding, Decoding, the dominant, oppositional, and negotiated readings, |
| Talking Points | By incorporating these basic radio codes into the start of the script, it is clear the writers were trying to make the story sound plausible. According to Baudrillard’s simulation theory, this would be the first stage which is a “reflection of reality”. The New York Times reported “a wave of mass hysteria seized thousands of radio listeners” with some adults requiring “medical treatment for shock and hysteria”. Apparently, “thousands of persons” phoned different agencies “seeking advice on protective measures against the raids” The hypodermic needle theory suggests a media text can have a powerful and immediate effect on the passive audience. It would seem “The War of the Worlds” production supports this argument because so many terrified listeners, for example, “rushed out of their houses” to escape the “gas raid”. The mode of consumption could also explain their lack of awareness. Some listeners may not have been fully engaged with the message because the radio was only background noise while they did other things in the house. However, the special bulletins grabbed their attention long enough for them to think New York was being attacked. | The BBC is often accused of political bias because it seems to reinforce a more liberal ideology. There have been plenty of commentators and government ministers who have called for the institution to be defunded and forced into the private sector to compete against subscription services and other channels which rely on advertising revenues. These critics question why the public should pay a licence fee when we spend most of our time online. |
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