BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

Newsbeat analysis

Use BBC Sounds to listen to Radio 1. Select a Newsbeat bulletin (8am or 12.45pm are good options) and then answer the following questions:

1) What news stories were featured in the bulletin you listened to?

-Politics

-Sports

-Celebrities

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

Framing the content through an informal tone, quick overviews, upbeat links and audience participation.

3) How might Newsbeat help fulfil the BBC's responsibilities as a public service broadcaster?

Radio 1's remit states that it must provide news and not just music alone.

Media Factsheet #246: BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

Read Factsheet #246 BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. You'll need your Greenford google login to access it. Answer the following questions:

1) How is the history and launch of Radio 1 summarised in the factsheet? If you studied this as part of GCSE Media you will already know much of this.

Newsbeat started in 1973 but to understand this CSP you need to know a bit of history around Radio 1, the home of Newsbeat. For many years BBC radio had a monopoly of the airwaves, it was the only radio station that people in the UK could legally listen to. However, this monopoly was challenged in the 1960s when pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg started illegally transmitting commercial programming via ships in international waters and on land.

2) Look at page 3 of the factsheet. How is Radio 1 attempting to appeal to its 15-29 age demographic?

Today, Radio 1 is supposed to cater for the 15-29 year old demographic. It aims to entertain and engage young listeners with a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech. The programmes showcase a wide range of new music styles and support emerging artists, in particular those from the UK; with at least 60 hours a week dedicated to specialist music programming. News, documentaries and other speech content focuses on areas of relevance to young adults in the UK today and aims to help them make sense of the world around them.

3) What did young people used to get from radio? Focus on audience pleasures / Uses & Gratifications here (see top of second column on page 3).

• To connect themselves to popular culture products (identity).
• To gain an insight into the world beyond their own experience: relationships, romance, politics (information and surveillance).
• To build para-social relationships with media personalities (both musicians and DJs) – create fandoms.
• For pure entertainment.

4) How has Radio 1 and Newsbeat in particular diversified its content for the digital age?

Radio 1 has diversified its content beyond the studio, from Live Lounge sessions to a Big Weekend
of live music, its output is wide and diverse.

5) How is Newsbeat constructed to appeal to audiences?

The way young people access both music and news has irrevocably changed and traditional radio stations are struggling to compete with other platforms.

6) What are the three key ideas from David Hesmondhalgh and which apply to Radio 1 Newsbeat?

Cultural Industries are made to create profit. The BBC is a PSB provider, free from commercial impulses. All profits go back into making more content for the people.

Content production is made by ‘symbol creators’. The diverse output of Radio 1 and Newsbeat is huge. Creators are governed by professional guidelines but they are also free to be creative to make products to excite youth audiences.

The internet has not challenged the centralised power of providers or allowed audiences to challenge content. Radio 1 and Newsbeat is finding it difficult to challenge the social media giants in targeting a youth audience, but it does try to utilise these platforms with its content.

7) Now look at Curran and Seaton. What are their key ideas and can they be applied to Radio 1 Newsbeat?

-The media is concentrated in the hands of powerful commercial media giants.
-Culture is controlled by social elites.

The BBC has its remit written into The Royal Charter, which states that it must remain independent
and that the mission of the BBC is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the
provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and
entertain. The BBC is also funded by the licence fee which is set at by the government.

8) What key idea for Livingstone and Lunt is on the factsheet and how does it link to the CSP?

Media can have a citizen- based approach to regulation.

-Citizen-orientated regulation is concerned with content-based issues.
-Citizen-based regulation is a positive form if regulation that directs media content so that it can improve the lives of citizens and contribute the wider well-being of society.
-Citizen-based regulation promotes forms of media that can hold powerful groups to account.

9) How can we apply Stuart Hall's Reception theory to Radio 1 Newsbeat?

Media producers encode media products in a way that they think will appeal to them. This is not always successful. The BBC tries to appeal to young people with its content, but it faces competition from other platforms that appear to be catering for them in a better, more appealing way.

10) Choose one other audience theory on the factsheet and explain how it links to Radio 1 Newsbeat.

Audiences select media products in an active way, for various reasons. Newsbeat could satisfy the need for information and surveillance. Radio 1 has many aspects of entertainment.

Industry contexts: reading and research

Read the first five pages of this Ofcom document laying out its regulation of the BBC.

1) Pick out three key points in the 'Summary' section.

-The BBC is the UK’s most widely-used media organisation, providing programming on television and radio and content online.

-For the first time, the BBC will be robustly held to account for doing so by an independent, external regulator.

-On 29 March 2017, we consulted on a draft Licence setting out requirements for the BBC to fulfil its remit, and plans for Ofcom to measure the BBC’s overall performance.

2) Now read what the license framework will seek to do (letters a-h). Which of these points could we relate to BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat?

-Secure a more distinctive BBC across all its services – a central feature of the Charter – through a range of new measures.
-Safeguard vulnerable genres such as arts, music and religious programmes. Our research shows these areas are important for some audiences; but some are in decline.
-Require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population. We are requiring the BBC to put in place a new commissioning Code of Practice for Diversity, approved by us, by April 2018.

3) Which do you think are the three most important aspects in the a-h list? Why?

-Support a wide range of valued genres. The BBC must support a wide range of genres across its channels and services, such as drama, comedy, factual programmes and different types of music. Ofcom expects the BBC to support valued genres, particularly those that have seen declining investment.

-Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. Providing information and raising awareness of social issues affecting young people and giving them a platform to engage with.

-Increase requirements around programmes for children. CBeebies has to provide a range of programming that supports pre-school children’s learning;

4) Read point 1.9: What do Ofcom plan to review in terms of diversity and audience?

We are also announcing an in-depth review of how different audiences are represented and portrayed on the BBC. As part of our analysis we plan to examine the on-screen diversity of the BBC’s programming, including in its popular peak time shows.

5) Based on your reading and research, do you think BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat offers licence fee payers good value for money?

In my opinion, BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat does not provide good value for the money spent on it because it continues to fall short of reaching its intended audience. BBC is also potentially losing an audience to other platforms such as YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.