Danielle Dwyer, editor of BBC Radio One’s Newsbeat.
- it is a traditional radio show when it comes to timing and the layout of the show,
- however, it seems to have a more progressive and audience as some of the stories they cover such as mental health are targeted at a particular audience.
- for example, a younger audience (used to try encouraging them to listen to news)
- you can also access it after it has aired
- around 3.3 million listeners
- More 15 to 24-year-olds (34% of them) get their news from Newsbeat than from any other BBC TV or radio outlet
- Newsbeat delivers its reports and stories with a very distinct style. The producers hope to appeal to their listeners by framing the content through an informal tone, quick overviews, upbeat links, and audience participation.
- there is opportunity for audience interaction
10 September 1973
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.
Why is your style so different from the rest of BBC news?
Because that’s the way you like it. We’ve done a great deal of research into exactly what you want from Newsbeat. You tell us you want a good digest of the issues that matter to you. You’re after complex stories explained well. Entertainment news and sport play a big part on Radio 1 News because that’s what our listeners are into.-
potential exam questions:
“Media audiences always respond to media products in the way that producers intended.”
To what extent do you agree with this statement? In your answer, refer to your Close
Study Products War of the Worlds (1938) and The Surgery (BBC Radio 1).
identify two strategies or techniques used by Radio 1 to attract a youth audience.
Explain the reason for each.
Briefly define public service broadcasting (PSB).
Explain how historical contexts influence how audiences respond to media products.
You should refer to the Close Study Product The War of the Worlds to support your
answer.
10 things to remember:
- Newsbeat delivers its reports and stories with a very distinct style. The producers hope to appeal to their listeners by framing the content through an informal tone, quick overviews, upbeat links, and audience participation.
- it can be accessed online in the form of a podcast allows more people to access it (cross media)
- reached just under 9 million listeners every week in the first quarter of 2020. (Large audience)
- The Newsbeat producers hope their short-form news stories will engage their audience and keep them up to date about the latest events around the world this short form of presenting information had been done so that the younger audience will listen to it as the tone is very informal and the wording is simple so they may not understand some of the wording
- There are many factors which might influence our position to the programme, such as age, values and ideology, geography and even our mood. Importantly, we don’t always react in the way the producers intended.
- Newsbeat had to compete against traditional print media
- 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.