| Theme | Newsbeat | War of the Worlds |
| Ownership | Owned by the BBC, the BBC is owned and payed for the by the public. Payed through TV licenses BBC Charter: Educate, Inform, Entertain | Owned by CBS, CBS is payed for by Paramount global. Privately owned, available to everyone. |
| Regulation | Regulated by Ofcom which receives it regulation rules through the UK gov. Also regulates off of the BBC’s Charter. | CBS is regulated by the The Federal Communications Commission (US FCC) |
| Habermas | Transformation of the public sphere, the BBC (when making money) re-invests it into BBC to make it better, adapt it and sticks to their charter tighter. | Sticks to making a profit rather than bettering itself. Does not transform the public sphere, the polar opposite of the BBC. |
| Chomsky | ||
| Audience | Active consumption, choosing to listen in and create opinions and thoughts based on the stories which are on the media/radio from newsbeat. | Passive consumption, taking in what war of the worlds is saying and just believing it. |
| Lazarfeld | two-step flow of mass communication – gravitate to people who share the same interests The book explains that people’s reactions to media messages are mediated by interpersonal communication with members of their social environment. | not everyone who was terrorised by the radio play was actually listening to the broadcast. They heard the rumours from people they trusted in their social circle. |
| audience (active/passive) | uses and gratifications Audiences are more active, they are not just given programmes that they want but are given what they need (Paternalism) | Audiences are more passive, they are only shown the programmes that they want to allow in order for CBS to make a profit. |
| Stuart Hall | Hall’s encoding / decoding model of communication offers three hypothetical positions – the dominant, oppositional, and negotiated readings. | In terms of Stuart Hall’s reception theory and his encoding / decoding model of communication, this is the audience’s framework of knowledge. |
| New Technology | Newsbeat is on social media, internet radio and apps. | |
| Cross media creation | Newsbeat is on social media, internet radio and apps. Can be read and understood on different platforms for the younger audiences to access it anywhere and whenever they want. | |
| Curran | “profit-driven motives take precedence over creativity” CBS creating the idea of a a massive panic to create a huge amount of money over the idea of making a good entertainment. | |
| Seaton | POWER AND MEDIA: patterns of ownership and control are the most significant factors in how the media operate. Controls how they want to target audiences that are informed and want to learn. Seaton says “Sells audiences to advertisers not products to audiences” which the BBC doesn’t do, they do this by sticking to their “educate” ethos and making stories to educate. | Provides to audiences the idea of entertainment without sticking to any sort of ethos or education. Only entertainment and selling a big story which we don’t know is true (I.E people running out of their homes in fear of the story that they are hearing. |
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING – RADIO CSP’S (AND TELEVISION RE-CAP)
| Theme | Newsbeat | War of the wrlds |
| AUDIENCE (ACTIVE / PASSIVE) | Newsbeat has adapted to the younger generations short attention span who need their news in short digestible chunks instead of being complex and requiring thought however Audiences are more active, they are not just given programmes that they want but are given what they need (Paternalism) as a result of not being arsed to look further | The broadcast of wotw + the reaction raises debate and evidence regarding lazarsfield’s theory about passive audiences |
| AUDIENCE (LAZARSFELD) (active/passive) | Theory on people being drawn to those with similar opinions, BBC is essentially an opinion leader | |
| AUDIENCE (HALL) | 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 is the preferred reading. Some listeners might appreciate the snackable content but will be then turn to other sources for the stories behind the headlines. This could be considered a negotiated reading. Other listeners will simply reject the encoded message and construct their own meanings. Perhaps the news stories are irrelevant to their own situations. They might even tune into another station if they just want to hear music. | the anticipated reading was it was fictional, rejected reading was that it was really happening |
- Press/newspapers negatively reporting on TWOTW, as radio was still a new media form
| THEME | NEWSBEAT | WAR OF THE WORLDS |
| OWNERSHIP | BBC, PSB, Government, BBC board of trustees ?? DG (Lord Reith), BBC multi-media / cross-media, transnational / transglobal, not a monopoly, concentration of ownership (ie small number of firms who own TV and radio even though there are lots of different stations) I think the BBC has a left wing libertarian ideology ??? | CBS, Private company, Multi or cross media Conglomerate, transnational / transglobal (??), monopoly (???), it is an example of concentration of ownership ie just a few companies own everything (oligopoly ?? / cartel ??), vertical / horizontal integration ??? |
| HABERMAS | Transformation of the public sphere – media is constantly changing BBC keeping up. BBC intention enshrined in their ethos to inform, entertain and educate. Not to make money or profit – they put money back into programmes so Quality is important. I think this fits into Habermas notion of transforming the public Therefore the BBC is more paternalistic – what you need not what you want (this is tricky) | Most private business are aimed at making a profit – I think private business don’t care about the public, I think they care about profit. so they are more concerned with entertainment than education. Just for profit is a commercial ethos – not in the spirit of Habermas |
| CHOMSKY | ||
| CURRAN | James Curran writes about the ideas that underpin The Liberal Free Press, but much can apply to transformation of Public Sphere (Habermas) which in turn connects to ethos of PSB | some general ideas: 1. concerns about the commercial interest of big companies (prioritising profits over social concerns) 2. concentration of ownership – although not monopolies, the small number of big companies is not good for 3. competition 4. Diverse range of voices (plurality) 5. audience choices |
| SEATON | Seaton makes us aware of the power of the media in terms of big companies who own too much. commercial Seaton also makes clear that broadcasters selling audiences to products NOT audiences to programmes (ie no adverts on BBC) therefore BBC not chasing big exaggerated stories Newsbeat seeking informed citizens who want knowledge accountability – ie who looks after the BBC and makes sure it does what it is supposed to do: Annan Report 1980 “on balance the chain of accountability is adequate” independence – ie keeping free from state control “without a commitment to public service, broadcasters are increasingly vulnerable to political interference” | Seaton talks about rise and inevitable need for competition with new technologies – which provides choice Provides more entertainment for wider audiences ??? WoW targets mainstream entertainment seeking audiences the allusion of Choice – “Choice, without positive direction is a myth, all too often the market will deliver more -but only more of the same” |
| REGULATION | Ofcom, BBC Charter governed by Parliament, license fee regulates BBC as well. BBC / PSB ethos ‘to entertain, to inform and to educate’ (Reith) New technologies mean BBC faced with more competition NO advertising! | Federal Communications Commission as regulator for private business ie not necessarily in the public interest |
| AUDIENCE (ACTIVE/ PASSIVE) HYPODERMIC NEEDLE THEORY | Newsbeat links to audience being active as audiences are able to engage in the stories they want | War of the world links to audiences being passive believing everything they read in the media as they believed the martian invasion 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” |
| AUDIENCE (LAZARSFELD) | Two step flow – messages are taken in and given thought by consumers – happens with newsbeat a lot more than War of the Worlds. People follow those with the same beliefs as you – BBC as an unbiased opinion leader, the public follow programs made from the BBC as they know it is not made to spread an agenda or make profit. | two-step flow model of communication provides some insight into how the panic unfolded. For example, a “throng of playgoers had rushed” from a “theatre” because “news” of the invasion had “spread” to the audience. |
| AUDIENCE (HALL) | Short-form news stories will engage their audience and keep them up to date about the latest events around the world= preferred reading. Some listeners might appreciate the snackable content but will be then turn to other sources for the stories behind the headlines= negotiated reading. Other listeners will simply reject the encoded message and construct their own meanings = Oppositional meaning | Preferred reading of the text- Orson Welles “It’s supposed to show the corrupt condition and decadent state of affairs in democracy.” |
| NEW TECHNOLOGY | ||
| EXAMPLES |
Newsbeat VS War of the Worlds
Comparative Table
| THEME | NEWSBEAT | WAR OF THE WORLDS |
| OWNERSHIP | BBC, PSB, Government, BBC board of trustees ?? DG (Lord Reith), BBC multi-media / cross-media, transnational / transglobal, not a monopoly, concentration of ownership (ie small number of firms who own TV and radio even though there are lots of different stations) I think the BBC has a left wing libertarian ideology ??? | CBS, Private company, Multi or cross media Conglomerate, transnational / transglobal (??), monopoly (???), it is an example of concentration of ownership ie just a few companies own everything (oligopoly ?? / cartel ??), vertical / horizontal integration ??? |
| HABERMAS | Transformation of the public sphere – media is constantly changing BBC keeping up. BBC intention enshrined in their ethos to inform, entertain and educate. Not to make money or profit – they put money back into programmes so Quality is important. I think this fits into Habermas notion of transforming the public Therefore the BBC is more paternalistic – what you need not what you want (this is tricky) | Most private business are aimed at making a profit – I think private business don’t care about the public, I think they care about profit. so they are more concerned with entertainment than education. Just for profit is a commercial ethos – not in the spirit of Habermas |
| CHOMSKY | ||
| CURRAN | James Curran writes about the ideas that underpin The Liberal Free Press, but much can apply to transformation of Public Sphere (Habermas) which in turn connects to ethos of PSB | some general ideas: 1. concerns about the commercial interest of big companies (prioritising profits over social concerns) 2. concentration of ownership – although not monopolies, the small number of big companies is not good for 3. competition 4. Diverse range of voices (plurality) 5. audience choices |
| SEATON | Seaton makes us aware of the power of the media in terms of big companies who own too much. commercial Seaton also makes clear that broadcasters selling audiences to products NOT audiences to programmes (ie no adverts on BBC) therefore BBC not chasing big exaggerated stories Newsbeat seeking informed citizens who want knowledge accountability – ie who looks after the BBC and makes sure it does what it is supposed to do: Annan Report 1980 “on balance the chain of accountability is adequate” independence – ie keeping free from state control “without a commitment to public service, broadcasters are increasingly vulnerable to political interference” | Seaton talks about rise and inevitable need for competition with new technologies – which provides choice Provides more entertainment for wider audiences ??? WoW targets mainstream entertainment seeking audiences the allusion of Choice – “Choice, without positive direction is a myth, all too often the market will deliver more -but only more of the same” |
| REGULATION | Ofcom, BBC Charter governed by Parliament, license fee regulates BBC as well. BBC / PSB ethos ‘to entertain, to inform and to educate’ (Reith) New technologies mean BBC faced with more competition NO advertising! | Federal Communications Commission as regulator for private business ie not necessarily in the public interest |
| AUDIENCE (ACTIVE / PASSIVE) | Active – Newsbeat often gets people listening to participate and talk on the show. Younger people often are more engaged with the broadcast and are consuming it actively, thinking about what the broadcast is suggesting. It is also helped by the constant upbeat music played – helps concentration. | Passive – War of the Worlds made the audience seem foolish and passive – not judging whether the message conveyed was correct or true in the first place. |
| AUDIENCE (LAZARSFELD) | Two step flow – messages are taken in and given thought by consumers – happens with newsbeat a lot more than War of the Worlds. People follow those with the same beliefs as you – BBC as an unbiased opinion leader, the public follow programs made from the BBC as they know it is not made to spread an agenda or make profit. | Not two step flow – Hyperdermic Needle theory? – Lasswell – messages aren’t given any thought, simply taken n board. War of the Worlds could e said to be so as people immediately believed that the broadcast was legitimate and martians were invading. |
| AUDIENCE (HALL) | Dominant reading – enthusiasm about the program from young people. | Stuart Hall – Preferred reading – Dominant reading would be to acknowledge the broadcast as not real and a work of fiction, while other people took it very seriously and it greatly affected their lives. CE Hooper rating survey conducted 12 hours after the program went live found 98% of the people at the time weren’t listening. Of the 2%, no one took it as a legitimate news broadcast. This shows that the dominant reading as depicted by Hall’s theory of preferred reading is that people treated it as fake. |
| NEW TECHNOLOGY | ||
| SPECIFIC TEXTUAL EXAMLES | Prince William and Kate presenting a special newsbeat edition on mental health Kanye article | blurred codes of drama and news. Programme starts with title music, announcer introduction ‘Mercury Theatre Company presents . . . ‘ followed by Orson Welles prologue to War of the Worlds .. . |
COMPARISON BETWEEN ‘Newsbeat’ AND ‘WAR OF THE WORLDS’
| THEME | NEWSBEAT | WOTW |
| OWNERSHIP | BBC, Public Service Broadcasting, Government, BBC Board of Trustees, DG (Lord Reith), Multimedia, transnational, not a monopoly, concentration of ownership – owned by the public, everyone is a shareholder. | CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System), Private Company, Multimedia conglomerate, transnational(Yes), monopoly(No), U.S. COMPANY example of concentration of ownership i.e. a few companies own everything – oligopoly / cartel (??), vertical & horizontal integration (??) |
| HABERMAS | Transformation of the public sphere, media is constantly changing – BBC is adapting, BBC intention enshrined in their ethos, profit is not a priority – they put money back into programmes so Quality is important. Fits notion of transforming the public. Therefore more paternalistic, give you what you need instead of what you want. | Private business, likely to prioritise making profit. Quality is not as important as long as a profit is made. This profit will not go back into programmes. Does not fit the notion of transforming the public. Less paternalistic, gives you what you want if it makes them money. |
| CHOMSKY | Second filter (advertising) The BBC does not run ads in the UK | Second filter (advertising) CBS runs ads which helps them accrue profit |
| REGULATION | OFCOM, BBC Charter governed by parliament, license fee regulates BBC, BBC Ethos – educate, inform and entertain (Reith) BBC has a left wing, libertarian ideology (??) | Federal Communications Commission regulates private businesses i.e. not necessarily in public interest |
| AUDIENCE (ACTIVE/PASSIVE) | Audiences are more active, they are not just given programmes that they want but are given what they need (Paternalism) | Audiences are more passive, they are only shown the programmes that they want to allow in order for CBS to make a profit. |
| AUDIENCE (LAZARSFELD) | The two-step flow of communication model hypothesizes that ideas flow from mass media to opinion leaders, and from them, to a wider population. It was first introduced by sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld in 1944 This relates to the specific textual example of Prince William and Kate presenting a special newsbeat edition on mental health The mass media flow ideas into the PSB BBC, flowing their ideas through various outlets as they are a multimedia convergence. They help promote their message through various opinion leaders such as Stormzy, Prince William and Kate presenting a special newsbeat edition on mental health | Can use opinion leaders to make message more relevant |
| SPECIFIC TEXTUAL EXAMLES | Prince William and Kate presenting a special newsbeat edition on mental health Kanye article. ^ This proves that the BBC care more about the viewers and want to supply a service that is educational, informal and entertaining | blurred codes of drama and news. Programme starts with title music, announcer introduction ‘Mercury Theatre Company presents . . . ‘ followed by Orson Welles prologue to War of the Worlds .. . |
| AUDIENCE (HALL) | Reception Theory – | |
| GERBNER | The Cultivation Theory suggests heavy television exposure will have a significant influence on our perception of the real world. The more we see a version of reality being depicted on the screen, the more we will believe it is an accurate reflection of society. | Cultivation theory links as the newly heavy influence of new media productions, through the introduction of radio, shows an example of this theory as it could have affected the public in a large way as a lack of knowledge and an imbedded naiveness that may of allowed the public to be victim to this hysteria produced by War of the worlds. |
| NEW TECHNOLOGY | New Technologies mean that the BBC is faced with more competition. Newsbeat is on social media, internet radio and apps. | Radio |
| CROSS MEDIA CONVERGENCE | ||
| CURRAN | – “depended on a set of linked and radical expansions” – “the BBC creating an image of its audience as ‘participants’ in the great affairs of the nation…” – Since the BBC is a PSB it uses the money it makes to improve itself and further benefit the public with a massive majority of different opinions straying away from lack of creativity that large conglomerates supply in which only function as a motive to generate a profit, which differs from the BBC. | – Private Company, Multimedia conglomerate. This means that CBS only operates as a function to generate a profit and please the shareholders, in which can lack creativity and care for the public. It will generate any kind of story in hopes to generate a profit, meaning they can lack integrity. |
| SEATON | Seaton makes us aware of the power of the media in terms of big companies who own too much. – Commercial broadcasters selling audiences to products NOT audiences to programs like the BBC. (ie no adverts on BBC). Meaning that the BBC are not chasing big exaggerated stories and appeals to informed citizens who want knowledge. | Seaton talks about rise and inevitable need for competition with new technologies. – Providing choice and more entertainment for wider audiences perhaps. the allusion of Choice – “Choice, without positive direction is a myth, all too often the market will deliver more -but only more of the same” CBS, as well as other businesses, create different media products as a sole motive to generate a profit. Meaning that when they produce programs, they will only generate products that they know will perform well, creating this idea on the illusion of choice, whereas in reality it is a well thought out process which involves repeated actions and choices in which have been largely successful in practice. |
Revision (Newsbeat & War of the Worlds)
| Theme | Newsbeat | War of the Worlds |
| Regulation | – Ofcom regulates BBC therefore regulates Newsbeat. Government gives regulative guidelines to Ofcom. – The Royal Charter is the constitutional basis for the BBC. It sets out the BBC’s objective (BBC Charter). | – Regulated by the Federal Communication Commissions (Regulate media across the United States) |
| Ownership | – Owned and produced by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) – TV license fee | – Owned by CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) which is owned by Paramount Global. |
| James Curran (Power and responsibility) | – ‘Independence poses a serious threat to political institutions’ – Pg 134 meaning that the independence of the BBC is threatening political institutions such as the government. | – “profit-driven motives take precedence over creativity” meaning that CBS creates the idea of a massive panic to produce a large sum of money over the idea of making a good entertainment. CBS are in for the money making scheme rather than an entertainment scheme. |
| Jean Seaton | – ‘Commercial broadcasting is based not on the sale of programmes to audiences but on the sale of audiences to advertisers’ – pg 126 – meaning broadcasting requires advertising revenue to maintain programming and they are designed to attract ‘economically affluent audiences’, meaning audiences who want to buy the product that are promoted, although the BBC does not have adverts. The BBC does not want to chase big fantasy stories, this proves they seek to inform audiences on international and national information rather than entertain. | – Seeks to entertain with stories rather than inform audiences. |
| Noam Chomsky | ||
| Paul Lazarfeld (Two-step flow communication model) | – Two-step flow communication model is most people form their opinions under the influence of opinion leaders, who in turn are influenced by the mass media. (People form their ideas from influencers and those with a high reputation.) – An example of this is Prince Harry and Kate the Princess of Wales promoting mental health through Newsbeat. This impacts audiences as opinions leaders like the royal family are helping others. (11th October 2022 – Prince and Princess of Wales take over Radio 1 Newsbeat on World Mental Health day) | – Famous author Orsen Welles reads War of the Worlds, to share their message of entertainment. |
| Jurgen Habermas (Transofrmation of the Public Sphere) | – He states that a variety of factors have affected the way people share their ideas and social issues willingly and freely. -Transformation of the public sphere. – The BBC (when making money) re-invests back into the company to make it better, adapt it and sticks to their charter tighter. (Inform, entertain, educate) | – CBS sticks to making a profit rather than creating better content for their audiences. They do not transform the public sphere as CBS do not share knowledge and news, but only entertain. |
| Cross Media | – | – |
war of the worlds and newsbeat comparison
| THEME | NEWSBEAT | WAR OF THE WORLDS |
| OWNERSHIP | BBC is a PSB (public service broadcast) owned by government and BBC board of trust feeds – founded by Lord John Reith BBC multi-media / cross-media, transnational / transglobal, not a monopoly, concentration of ownership | Owned by CBS Radio Network who provide over 1000 radio stations to US – a private company conglomerate |
| HABERMAS | Transformation of the public sphere – keep up with ever changing media ethos is to inform educate, entertain and educate. Not to make money of profit they put money back into making more shows therefore the BBC is more paternalistic | |
| CHOMSKY | ||
| REULATION | The BBC is regulated by Ofcom – The Charter gives Ofcom responsibility for regulating the content standards of the BBC’s television, radio and on-demand programmes. | Federal communication commissions FCC, regulates for private business ie not in the public interest |
| CURRAN | James Curran writes about the ideas that underpin The Liberal Free Press, but much can apply to transformation of Public Sphere (Habermas) which in turn connects to ethos of PSB | |
| SEATON | ‘broadcasting should be regarded as a public service for a social purpose’ Seaton makes us aware of the power of the media in terms of big companies that own too much. Seaton also makes it clear that broadcasters selling audiences to products and not audiences to programmes (no adverts on BBC) therefore the BBC is not chasing big exaggerated stories. Newsbeat seeking informed citizens who want knowledge | Seaton talks about rise and inevitable need for competition with new technologies – which provides choice Provides more entertainment for wider audiences WoW targets mainstream entertainment seeking audiences |
RADIO 20 MARK REVISION
| Theme | Newsbeat | War of the Worlds |
| Ownership | Owned by the BBC, the BBC is owned and payed for the by the public. Payed through TV licenses BBC Charter: Educate, Inform, Entertain | Owned by CBS, CBS is payed for by Paramount global. Privately owned, available to everyone. |
| Regulation | Regulated by Ofcom which receives it regulation rules through the UK gov. Also regulates off of the BBC’s Charter. | CBS is regulated by the The Federal Communications Commission (US FCC) |
| Habermas | Transformation of the public sphere, the BBC (when making money) re-invests it into BBC to make it better, adapt it and sticks to their charter tighter. | Sticks to making a profit rather than bettering itself. Does not transform the public sphere, the polar opposite of the BBC. |
| Chomsky | 5 filters of mass media: 1.Structures of ownership – BBC owned by the public, regulated by their own Ethos. 2.The role of advertising – Ads for the BBC are on social media platforms displaying what they offer, for example the “Trust is earned” publication video they made. 3.Links with ‘The Establishment’ – BBC isn’t directly connected to the government however it is regulated by a set of rules the government chooses. 4.Diversionary tactics – ‘flack’ – None really applies as the BBC specialises in its truth. 5.Uniting against a ‘common enemy’ | |
| Audience | Active consumption, choosing to listen in and create opinions and thoughts based on the stories which are on the media/radio from newsbeat. | Passive consumption, taking in what war of the worlds is saying and just believing it. |
| Lazarfeld | Harry and Kate promoting mental Health on mental Health Day, Stormzy being put on the show. This uses opinion leaders so that its not the BBC directly telling the audience how to feel, its their favourite influencers. | It is written by Orsen Wells, who was a popular author uses the two step flow of directly injecting the idea of entertain through War Of the Worlds, at 0:20 it is announced that Orsen will be reading the show and is also announced it is a story from the Theatre on Air. |
| Stuart Hall | ||
| New Technology | Newsbeat is on social media, internet radio and apps. | |
| Cross media creation | Newsbeat is on social media, internet radio and apps. Can be read and understood on different platforms for the younger audiences to access it anywhere and whenever they want. | The show was originally published as a book in the UK and US in 1897, then a radio show in 1938 and then a TV series in 1988 |
| Curran | “profit-driven motives take precedence over creativity” CBS creating the idea of a a massive panic to create a huge amount of money over the idea of making a good entertainment. | |
| Seaton | POWER AND MEDIA: patterns of ownership and control are the most significant factors in how the media operate. Controls how they want to target audiences that are informed and want to learn. Seaton says “Sells audiences to advertisers not products to audiences” which the BBC doesn’t do, they do this by sticking to their “educate” ethos and making stories to educate. | Provides to audiences the idea of entertainment without sticking to any sort of ethos or education. Only entertainment and selling a big story which we don’t know is true (I.E people running out of their homes in fear of the story that they are hearing. |
war of the worlds
hybrid radio form
The broadcast and the initial response to it has historical significance as an early, documented, example of the mass media apparently having a direct effect on an audience’s behavior.
War of the Worlds provides an historical context for broadcasting, being produced at a period when radio was the only form of domestic media; the 1930s and 1940s became known as the ‘golden age’ of radio.
Audiences
The Daily News in New York went with the headline “Fake Radio ‘War’ stirs terror through U.S.”
hypodermic needle theory- media text cant have a powerful and immediate effect on the passive audience. So many terrified listeners “rushed out of their houses”
Cultivation theory- This explains the hysteria. Gerbner– heavy television users. If texts resonate with the viewer, they become more susceptible to its message.
Even the two-step flow model of communication provides some insight into how the panic unfolded. For instance, a “throng of playgoers had rushed” from a “theatre” because “news” of the invasion had “spread” to the audience. The New York Times also reported how the “rumor” of war “spread through the district and many persons stood on street corners hoping for a sight of the ‘battle’ in the skies”.7 Therefore, not everyone who was terrorised by the radio play was actually listening to the broadcast. They heard the rumours from people they trusted in their social circle.
To fully appreciate why some listeners panicked, we need to consider the historical and social context behind the broadcast. In terms of Stuart Hall’s reception theory and his encoding / decoding model of communication, this is the audience’s framework of knowledge
Stuart Halls reception theory- Why some listeners panicked
“a wave of mass hysteria seized thousands of radio listeners”
Radio was a new platform- became beneficial, families, news entertainment.
Mercury on the air theatre segment- for people interested in drama and theatre
Directed and narrated- Orson Wells
Orson wells- successful, familiar voice to families= engage audiences.
writer= howard koch
based on an existing book- HG wells
Book had previous fan base who are familiar with story- reduces risk
Designed to feel like a real life breaking news broadcast
-fake interruptions to give it a real feel e.g orchestra
-to get auidences on edge
-reporter o scene- panicked voice
-real locations e.g new york city- engaged audiences
– radio falls silent ‘is there anyone there’
creating fear in an audiences that believed it was real
no ads- added to feeling of reality, suspend disbelief, immerse themselves.
several reports of panic and real.
huge number of police calls 2000 in 2 hours- real worried audiences
power cut coincidence – escalated panic.
12500 new paper articles- big reaction from audiences
possible deaths, heart attacks, hospital emissions.
why?
historical context– just before ww2
conflict and tensions from diff countrys – fearing invasions e.g germany v europe, munich
misinterpretations – germans invading.
warning in intro- audiences missed it
no tv, social media- could only talk to the police.
less educated audience- likely to accept it was real.
modern day- used to fiction
many complaints hadnt listened only read, heard from friends.
audiences react without hearing- sheep- Two step flow theory
news papers exaggerated- radio, newspapers competition
Industry
news was filled with tension e.g hitlers rise to power, war.
people turned to radio- opportunity which was more up to date, globally.
radio station- columbia broadcasting company cbc
relied on getting large numbers of listeners
need for high revenue, rating- broadcast controversial
directed- orson wells
-young prodigy
-borrowed ideas- inspired by the barricades
writer- howard cotch
-success with sci-fi products- Lower the risk
based on book- has fan base
-reduces risk
changed the setting- modern day new york
-in order to be more up to date and marketable
-lots of actors, voice over actors, orchastra, sound effects.
self regulation
-cbs changed the real names and companys to fictional to not get sued
-later reminders that it was fiction
scheduling- October 30th – day before Halloween ‘halloween special’
FCC radio regulators- got lots of complaints
banned fictionalised news reports.
NEWSBEAT
Newsbeat is the BBC’s radio news programme broadcast on Radio 1.
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
digital audio broadcast (DAB)
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.
Newsbeat was launched on 10 September 1973
presenters- Prison Hastie and ben Mundy
15 min program – available to download
Not gender specific ]
Sony radio acedemy award.
The programme’s first presenter was the Radio 1 DJ Ed Stewart and he was succeeded by Laurie Mayer and Richard Skinner.
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.
More 15 to 24-year-olds (34% of them) get their news from Newsbeat than from any other BBC TV or radio outlet.
…
- tailored for younger audiences
- transitional media- live show, recordings, video.
- Not gender specific
- funded by tv licence (hypotheticated tax)
…
gerb
hall
- how does the BBC industry work in terms of news beat.
- how is representation presented though the BBC in terms of news beat.
- how does BBC attract audiences, in terms of news beat.
I understand that the BBC which is government regulated, owns News beat and takes a transitional approach in order to appeal to a younger audience who are shying away from radio.