Facts:

War of the Worlds is a drama, and it uses the codes and conventions of a news broadcast in order to make a made up explosion and invasion of aliens seem like a real world issue and crisis.

‘War Of The Worlds’ was a live broadcast which broadcasted on Columbia broadcasting systems (CBS) on October 30th 1938 8-9pm

Arguments

it was presented within the format of normal evening of radio programming – Can leave to confusion

There appears to be a routine report from the “Government Weather Bureau” about a “slight atmospheric disturbance” along the east coast of America. He presents the information in a way which would be believable at first listening, but when you start to really think about it and do research, you realise its not true. We are then “entertained by the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra”, another fictional character, 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.

the writers were warned against using the original names by the legal department at Columbia Broadcasting Company because they were worried about the threat of litigation. These changes are very subtle so most listeners would not be able to spot the difference. This blurring of boundaries between fact and fiction could be one of the reasons why members of audience believed aliens were attempting to destroy the human race.

Theorists:

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”.

Essay Questions:

1. Explain how Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds broadcast used the codes and conventions of radio to convince the audience Martians were invading New York.
2. How do the cultural and historical circumstances affect the audience’s interpretation of media texts? Refer to the Close Study Product War of the Worlds in your answer.
3. Discuss how and why audiences might respond to and interpret media texts differently depending on the social context they are consumed. Refer to the Close Study Product War of the Worlds in your answer.
4. “There is no doubt the media has a profound influence on the audience’s thoughts and behaviour.” To what extent does your analysis of the Close Study Product War of the Worlds support this view?
   
   Uses news bulletins to make viewers believe its real (Mention time)
   
   1. Talk about history and what people were like at time of creation and social contexts.
   2. Reference the pay
   3. Theorists
   4. Talk about audiences and how they react to the news station

The War of the Worlds

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675022243_George-Orson-Welles_War-of-the-Worlds_future-broadcasts_journalists-interviewing

• well acted
• well written
• appealing scenery
• good build up to the major events
• interesting plot
• more than one genre, drama, comedy romance – Steve Neale
• showcases the social and cultural contexts – Stuart Hall

broadcasting- communicating with a large number of people

narrowcasting- for a niche target audience

what is the ethos of the BBC?

“To inform entertain and educate” which was developed lord Reith

BBC charter

what is the distinction between populism and paternalism?

Populism what the audience want to watch and consume

Paternalism is action that limits a person’s or group’s liberty or autonomy and is intended to promote their own good.

The argument of opening up ‘new worlds’ to everyday (= common? poor? working class? uneducated???) people could be applied to new media platforms – so what is the difference?

could it be argued that the BBC are saying that by broadcasting to the working class can be bragging that they re smarter than who they were now broadcasting to

Grace Wyndham-Goldie changing nature of modern communication, essentially by transforming time and space. her editor told her not to go to see this and that television would not be important in her lifetime, but she disagreed and believed that it was important, you can see and hear people in another space. this links to Habermas and the transformation of the public sphere.

there was a fear of new technology

the BBC was acting like a social cement as it connected us all together

Habermas and the transformation of the public sphere-

• allows people to connect to other places around the world and hear and see things which are happening outside of where you are from where you are – transforming time and space
• allows for people who have never experienced certain events be included and allow for more discussion from different groups of people such as the working class

Seaton-

• “Broadcasting in Britain – monopoly or duopoly- always depended on assumption of commitment to an undivided good” p342
• “Reaching all parts of the country regardless of cost, seeking to educate inform and improve” p343
• “The goal that the British broadcasting should move towards a sophisticated market system based on consumer sovereignty” p343
• ” The questions which the public asked about broadcasting… were becoming ‘more critical, more hostile and more political” p346
• “Broadcasters have come to see the state as their enemy” p353
• “Thus, without a commitment to public service, broadcasters are increasingly vulnerable to detailed political interference in the content of programmes” p353

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How do the cultural and historical circumstances affect the audience’s interpretation of media texts? Refer to the Close Study Product War of the Worlds in your answer

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Viewer Reception

DRAFT:

My argument to the BBCs newsbeat is that they are trying to include younger audiences in order to stay relevant. By discussing different topics that are relevant to young people like the cost of living issue. They use upbeat music and young presenters to keep their audiences entertained instead of boring them. However their target audience (15 – 29) isn’t being reached. Statistics show that the mean age of listeners are 30 even though it is targeted to teens and young adults.

The BBC created a news program called ‘newsbeat’ which was introduced in 1973 and launched on commercial radio stations across the UK which was different to the typical news. Newsbeat can be heard on BBC radio 1, BBC Radio 1 Xtra and BBC Asian Network at 12:45 and 17:45 for 15 minutes. The BBCs main target audience for newsbeat are for ages between 15 – 29 and they are active with their audiences letting them call in or message them about their problems that relates to the topic they are reporting on. A quote from the head of BBC radio 1 “Radio 1 is about giving young people a voice, thoughts, concerns and attitudes on what its like to be young in the UK in 2022”

The BBC is a Public Service Broadcaster, funded by the TV licence fees. It includes no advertisements and focuses to educate people on what is going on. Radio broadcasting is regulated by Ofcom which focuses on content including use of language, impartiality and protection of under 18s. Because Radio has moved online and to podcasts, regulation has become more stricter.

Newsbeat is a fifteen-minute news programme on BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and the Asian Network, transmitting live over digital audio broadcast frequencies during most weekdays at 12:45 and 17:45, and shorter bulletins throughout the day at thirty-minute intervals. It is produced by BBC News but contrasts other BBC programmes by providing news specifically designed for an audience of teenagers and young adults.

Broadcasting since 1973, Newsbeat promises its younger listeners local and worldwide news with energetic presenters who ensure complex issues become easily accessible for their target audience by using informal speech, interactive games, and audience participation.

RADIO CSP 1 – NEWSBEAT

Newsbeat is the BBC’s radio news programme broadcast on Radio 1. 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.

Extra Examples: 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.

Media Industries

The BBC is a Public Service Broadcaster, funded via the TV license fee. No advertisements. Focuses on informative and educate. Large Company. Also broadcast on BBC radio 1 extra, a digital radio channel reflecting popularity of converged / merged online technology. Aimed at a more urban black audience, reflecting BBC’s remit to provide content for a diverse audience. Reaching and connecting with anyone.

There might be a voice ident where the presenter mentions the name of the broadcast and the current time: “This is Newsbeat at 3.45pm”. The intro could be in the form of a bulletin – a list of the main stories which will be featured in the broadcast. / The Newsbeat producers responded to this challenge by serving content on their website, YouTube channel, Twitter account and Instagram profile. Taking a multi-platform approach ensures the product remains relevant to its audience.

Media Audiences

Stuart Hall argued producers encoded meaning and values into their texts which was then decoded by the audience, but our reactions are shaped by our individual frameworks of knowledge. / Newsbeat had to compete against traditional print media and the conventions of roll news channels, but mobile-first audiences are now learning about important events through what is trending on their social networks and notifications of breaking news flashing on their screens.

Possible Questions

1. Ideology can be defined as a collection of values and beliefs.
2. To what extent do media products target audiences by constructing an ideological view of the world?
3. Identify two strategies or techniques used by Radio 1 to attract a youth audience Explain the reason for each

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. Broadcasting House was the BBC’s first purpose-built home for radio broadcasting.
3.  the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, employing over 22,000 staff in total, of whom approximately 19,000 are in public-sector broadcasting.
4. it is widely thought that the name “Newsbeat” was taken from the Radio Caroline news service of the same name, as was the concept of short bulletins on the half-hour.
5. Roisin Hastie Radio 1 Newsbeat interview (Breakfast newsreader)
6. Pria Rai (Afternoon newsreader and programme presenter)
7. 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.
8. The BBC was officially created on 18 October 1922.
9. Reith wrote in his diary on applying for the BBC job – “I know nothing whatsoever about broadcasting”, but then very few people did. It was so new and few guessed how it would evolve to become so compelling a part of everyone’s life.
10. This started in 1923, costing 10 shillings, then split 50/50 between the BBC and the Government.
11. Radio coverage was patchy in the UK, securing 94% reach across the UK.
12. Women over 21 got the vote in 1928, and the BBC created The Week in Parliament, to help women navigate their early understanding of the world of politics.

Justification

Radio xtra is a digital radio channel reflecting popularity of converged / merged online technology that reflects BBC’s remit to provide content for a more wider and diverse audience, so that they can satisfy their audience by not targeting a preferred section of the popularity.

The media audiences are targeted in different ways as different podcasts, news, songs are specifically trying to target a certain age range. They have different categories for what kind of music you would like to listen to such as music from the 50s, 60s all the way to 2000s.

The BBC should help everyone learn about different subjects in ways they will find accessible, engaging, inspiring and challenging. The BBC should provide specialist educational content to help support learning for children and teenagers across the United Kingdom. It should encourage people to explore new subjects and participate in new activities through partnerships with educational, sporting and cultural institutions.

The layout of newsbeat is set up in categories to be easily differentiated to the public for their personal preference. Targeting younger audiences as it is a social media page, non gender specific.

Questions that may come up-

• How is the BBC regulated / organised / controlled?
• How does the BBC attract new audiences (when there is so much choice?)
• How does Newsbeat entertain, inform, educate?
• What would Lord John Reith think about Newsbeat?
• Did Newsbeat only develop because of the changes in new technologies?
• How does Newsbeat appeal to a young / younger audience?
• How does Newsbeat use new technologies?

Some facts to know

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. Broadcasting House was the BBC’s first purpose-built home for radio broadcasting.
3.  the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, employing over 22,000 staff in total, of whom approximately 19,000 are in public-sector broadcasting.
4. it is widely thought that the name “Newsbeat” was taken from the Radio Caroline news service of the same name, as was the concept of short bulletins on the half-hour.
5. Roisin Hastie Radio 1 Newsbeat interview (Breakfast newsreader)
6. Pria Rai (Afternoon newsreader and programme presenter)
7. 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.
8. The BBC was officially created on 18 October 1922.
9. Reith wrote in his diary on applying for the BBC job – “I know nothing whatsoever about broadcasting”, but then very few people did. It was so new and few guessed how it would evolve to become so compelling a part of everyone’s life.
10. This started in 1923, costing 10 shillings, then split 50/50 between the BBC and the Government.
11. Radio coverage was patchy in the UK, securing 94% reach across the UK.
12. Women over 21 got the vote in 1928, and the BBC created The Week in Parliament, to help women navigate their early understanding of the world of politics.

i understand that newsbeat mainly targets younger audiences but i argue that it should try harder to focus more on how it targets people.

RADIO CSP 1 – NEWSBEAT

Newsbeat is the BBC’s radio news programme broadcast on Radio 1. 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.

Extra Examples: 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.

Media Industries

The BBC is a Public Service Broadcaster, funded via the TV license fee. No advertisements. Focuses on informative and educate. Large Company. Also broadcast on BBC radio 1 extra, a digital radio channel reflecting popularity of converged / merged online technology. Aimed at a more urban black audience, reflecting BBC’s remit to provide content for a diverse audience. Reaching and connecting with anyone.

There might be a voice ident where the presenter mentions the name of the broadcast and the current time: “This is Newsbeat at 3.45pm”. The intro could be in the form of a bulletin – a list of the main stories which will be featured in the broadcast. / The Newsbeat producers responded to this challenge by serving content on their website, YouTube channel, Twitter account and Instagram profile. Taking a multi-platform approach ensures the product remains relevant to its audience.

Media Audiences

Stuart Hall argued producers encoded meaning and values into their texts which was then decoded by the audience, but our reactions are shaped by our individual frameworks of knowledge. / Newsbeat had to compete against traditional print media and the conventions of roll news channels, but mobile-first audiences are now learning about important events through what is trending on their social networks and notifications of breaking news flashing on their screens.

Possible Questions

1. Explain how historical contexts influence how audiences respond to media industries. You should refer to the close study Newsbeat to support your answer.
2. To what extent is the BBC regulated.

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. Broadcasting House was the BBC’s first purpose-built home for radio broadcasting.
3.  the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees, employing over 22,000 staff in total, of whom approximately 19,000 are in public-sector broadcasting.
4. it is widely thought that the name “Newsbeat” was taken from the Radio Caroline news service of the same name, as was the concept of short bulletins on the half-hour.
5. Roisin Hastie Radio 1 Newsbeat interview (Breakfast newsreader)
6. Pria Rai (Afternoon newsreader and programme presenter)
7. 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.
8. The BBC was officially created on 18 October 1922.
9. Reith wrote in his diary on applying for the BBC job – “I know nothing whatsoever about broadcasting”, but then very few people did. It was so new and few guessed how it would evolve to become so compelling a part of everyone’s life.
10. This started in 1923, costing 10 shillings, then split 50/50 between the BBC and the Government.
11. Radio coverage was patchy in the UK, securing 94% reach across the UK.
12. Women over 21 got the vote in 1928, and the BBC created The Week in Parliament, to help women navigate their early understanding of the world of politics.

Justification

Radio xtra is a digital radio channel reflecting popularity of converged / merged online technology that reflects BBC’s remit to provide content for a more wider and diverse audience, so that they can satisfy their audience by not targeting a preferred section of the popularity.

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