BBC Radio 1 - Newsbeat

Newsbeat analysis

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

Politics, Celebrities, and Social Issues

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

It appeals to a youth audience by having a fun, upbeat and diverse presentor that grabs the audience's attention with the stories that are lined up for the day.

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

The presentor themselves are diverse, filling the BBC's need to inform and represent different audiences.

Media Factsheet #246: BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat

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.

BBC Radio 1 initially launched in 1967 to combat pirate radio stations, those of which were on boats to avoid regulation and were wildly popular with the youth. The station set out to emulate the "DJ-style" of the popular pirate radio stations to draw in a more youthful audience. Tony Blackburn was featured heavily on Radio 1 and opened it during its first broadcast.

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

It tries to be fun and interesting for young people. It has a unique mix of modern music and speech and the programmes show a wide range of new music styles. Not to mention, they also help emerging artists, especially those from the UK. They spend at least 60 hours a week for specialist music.

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? 

Newsbeat is constructed to appeal to audiences as the sessions are short (only about 15 min in length) and tries to adapt young people's changing media habits to the media of radio.

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

- Cultural Industries are made to create profit

- Content production is made by ‘symbol creators’

- The internet has not challenged the centralised power of providers or allowed audiences to challenge content

2 and 3 apply to Radio 1 Newsbeat, as the diverse output of Radio 1 and Newsbeat is huge, and Radio 1/Newsbeat is finding it difficult to keep audiences engaged and diversify.

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

No. The BBC does not own everything/a majority of the global media and their remit is written into The Royal Charter.

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. It links to the CSP as the BBC is an example of a citizen-based approach to regulation. 

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

We can link a part of Reception theory to Newsbeat. Mainly, that media producers encode media products in a way that they think will appeal to them. This isn't always successful. And it's evident if we take a look at Newsbeat/BBC. They try to appeal to young audiences with the content, however it isn't going as well as they'd initially hoped.

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

Uses and Gratifications - Audiences select media products in an active way, for various reasons. This could possibly link to Radio 1 Newsbeat as it satisfies the need for info and surveillance. Radio 1 also has many, many aspects of entertainment.

Industry contexts: reading and research

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

- The BBC is the UK's most widely-used media organisation
- The BBC must deliver the mission and public purposes set out in its new Royal Charter 
- The Charter gives Ofcom the job of setting the BBC’s operating licence

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?

- Strengthen news and current affairs rules: providing updated and entertaining news content to young people
- Secure a more distinctive BBC: Newsbeat allows BBC to diversify more and grab new audiences
- Support social action campaigns on BBC radio: Since it is a news show, it is bound to do this
- Support regional and national audiences, and creative economies across the UK: Newsbeat ropes in regional and national audiences with its content

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

Supporting regional and national audiences, securing a more distinctive BBC and strengthening the news. This is because it matches the BBC's remit of "inform, educate, entertain".

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

They're planning to research what audiences expect from the BBC.

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

I feel like it does, as it provides informative yet educative content for a good value.