Woman's hour and Radio-Everything I need to know

Edequas A level- use these if you want

Owned and produced

BBC/BBC Radio 4

Available on

BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 4, Websites, Podcast apps like spotify, live on radio

Radio: Modern statistics

Average listener listens to 20.5 hours a week. 76 per cent on digital, 88 per cent tune into radio. 61 per cent listen at home, 25 in car, 14 work or elsewhere.

Key terms

Conventions​: The recognisable & expected ingredients to a brand or genre.​

Synergy / cross-media convergence​: Where brands work together to promote content on different platforms. ​

Technological Diversity: How a product is available on a range of platforms.​

Terrestrial broadcasting​: Using land-based towers to send signals over the airwaves to antennas on receivers

Web 1.0 (Producer to consumer)

• A world ruled by Media Gods​

• Key texts produced by media moguls andconglomerates.​

• A focus on Western mainstream traditionalmedia​

• Recognition of internet & new digital mediaas an ‘add-on' to the traditional media​

• A preference for conventional researchmethods where most people are treated asnon-expert audience ('receivers’) ​

• If part of the formal media industries, they areexpert 'producers'

Web 2.0

• Focus on everyday meanings produced by the diversearray of audience members​

• Attempt to embrace the truly internationaldimensions of media – not only the processes ofglobalisation, but also of the diverse perspectives onmedia and society ​

• Internet and digital media have fundamentallychanged the ways in which we engage with all media​

• Media audiences are seen as extremely capable interpreters of content, with a critical eye and an understanding of media techniques​

• Individuals should open themselves to collaborative projects​

Analogue radio

• Work by encoding audio datainto waves of differentfrequencies, phases, andamplitudes. ​

• The radio signal carries theinformation to the receiver​#

• AM​

  • Constant frequency (space)​

  • Modulated amplitude (length)​

  • FM​

    • Modulated frequency (space)​

    • Constant amplitude (length)​

Digital Audio Broadcasting Radio (DAB)​

• DAB relies on converting datainto a series of ones and zeros (orpositives or negatives), ratherthan relying on modulated radiosignals​

​Uses digital technologies that package together several radio stations(multiplexing)​

• Multiplexed stations broadcast on single frequency networks = moreradio stations using less frequencies​

• BBC operates its own multiplex​

Internet radio

• On PC, smartphone or tablet; a specific app gives more control over theradio station in question​

• Added bonus of being able to access additional or catch-up content as well ​

Podcasting (iPod Broadcasting)​

• Popularised by the arrival of the iPod era​

• Typically offer episodic shows​

• Can be linked to already existing radio shows, or standalone broadcasts​

• Minority groups, who have traditionally been excluded from mainstream radio,have used podcasts to find a voice​

• Producers have utilised the lack of regulation to discuss controversial issues,especially personal or sexual matters​

• Female-produced podcasts (The High Low, Dope Queens, The Broad Experience)also attract high profile guests ​

• BBC Radio built a symbiotic relationship with podcast presenters, often invitingthem to guest on BBC Radio programmes (Radio 1, 4 and 6 particularly do this) 🡪cross-media convergence​

Expectation of radio

Past: Listen news at given times, fixed programming schedule, programmes target specific audiences, host lest important

Present: Constant news updates, choose from a range of current affairs podcasts, programmes that can target a greater range of audiences​, greater focus on the persona of the host

The Benefits of DAB & Convergence​

• Time slot (Post-watershed): allowsbroadcasters freedom to makechallenging or controversialcontent in the knowledge that itcan still reach audiences​

• Audience consumption patternshave shifted due to the rise ofdigitally convergent platforms​

• Audiences can now listen ondevices other than radios anddownload podcasts to enjoy attheir leisure ​

• The time a broadcast airs livemight be less significant.​

Audience appeal​

• The Blind Medium: it only involves the sense of hearing with no visual images. use their imagination. ​

• The Companion Medium: the radio format provides a strong sense of personal communication for the audience. It also offers interactive opportunities

• The Intimate Medium: radio is very personal. direct mode of address. ​

• The Undemanding Medium: it allows the audience to do other things while listening.

Difference between public service and commercial?

Public service:

License fee & international sales ​

Minority and niche audiences as well as the mainstream​

Responsibility (remit) to educate, inform & entertain​

Commercial:

Sale of advertising slots​

Mass, mainstream audiences​

Mainly driven by ratings and profit​

Low-risk, audience-driven​

Woman’s hour social media

Facebook (don’t post but audience can “mention” them,) Instagram (links to app, presenter and website to access programme and behind the scenes content, posts embed links and hashtags to continue the convo,) Twitter/X (largest audience base of over 200k followers, synergy, interaction)

Who presents woman’s hour?

Anita Rani: South east asian woman from the north

Nuala Mcgovern: Irish

Ex host Emma Barnett: Manchester, scandal involving interview with an Islamic religious leader. Left the show (not due to scandal)

Mcgovern UK Civil Service, Pelvic Mesh and an Author.

First woman to run the Civil Service ‘Dame Antonia Romeo’ is now facing claims of bullying. The Times claimed misogony. 2 experts invited to discuss.Targets an ABC1 audience​, fufils remit.Presenter reads out a statement from the government – BBC being unbiased / balancing the views speech led radio.

Belle Burden – author and former lawyer. Born into ‘High Society’ (Elite). ​Stranger, memoir of marriage. Personal Identity / relatable. “I don’t have your husband’s version of events” – Presenter showing that there may be anotherpoint of view (unbiased) Audience encouraged to message own stories.

Women and girls in Sudan – The UN calls it the largest humanitarian crisis. BBC Africa correspondent.Vertical integration / Conglomerate. Educated ABC1 audience.

Pelvic Mesh and SEND in the spotlight.

Anita Rani- Examples

“Tell me” Call to action, direct, tech convergence

Female Pensioners in poverty: Balanced arguement, lots of jargon, informative, abc1 educated. Consumer specialist and doctor Jenkins.

Sexual offence investigations are being delayed: Host gives warning about topic. Explains what super complaint is, gives an example of Victim Rachael who had to wait 7 years for a charge. Explores impact, BBC action line for advice and guidance.

Storytime – discussion with novelist Decline of parents reading aloud to children. CBeebies podcast on parenting –vertical integration. ADVICE ON HOW TO READ TO CHILDREN – INFORM/EDUCATE​

Madeleine Gray – Chosen Family. LGBTQ+ story

Audience ralatability, social identity