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?

-Football- Euros, Celebrities- Music , child celebrities  and Politics, election , War.

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

-The news is presented very fast paced so that the youth are not easily bored.

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

-It fulfils the entertain and educate aspects by informing listeners of news quickly so that they can enjoy and catch up with what's happening around them.

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 with 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? 

-It aims to entertain and engage young listeners with a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech.

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? 

-Multiple voices, regional and national accents; Welsh, Irish, Scottish.
-Code-switching from formal to informal is used in order to target and appeal to different demographics.
-Simplifying of language and content.
-Personalisation and anecdotes.
-Use of sound beds/effects: also known as imagining, that run underneath the voices. These are used to maintain interest throughout the broadcast.
-Recorded interviews with diegetic sound.

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.

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

-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.

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

-Their key idea are that media can have a citizen- based approach to regulation. 

Industry contexts: reading and research


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

-BBC must fulfil mission and public purposes in new Charter, held accountable by independent regulator.
-Licence and performance measures designed for BBC's success.
-Enhancing BBC identity with original productions & diverse music to serve UK audiences.

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?

-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. We have therefore confirmed higher requirements for BBC One and BBC Two to show programmes in these genres.
-Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. We are requiring Radio 1 to offer a minimum number of major social action campaigns each year. Providing information and raising awareness of social issues affecting young people.

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

-Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. We are requiring Radio 1 to offer a minimum number of major social action campaigns each year. Providing information and raising awareness of social issues affecting young people.Allows people who aren't on social media much to learn about these campaigns and overall help them reach new heights and audiences.
-Strengthen news and current affairs rules. To make sure the BBC reaches the widest audiences possible with its news and current affairs content, we have increased quotas for news on BBC One and current affairs on BBC One and BBC Two, and set new regulatory conditions for radio. Eliminates the chances of either a) People missing out on news or stories; or b) eliminating the possibility of covering the wrong topics or fake news in general.
-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. We have therefore confirmed higher requirements for BBC One and BBC Two to show programmes in these genres.

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

-Its popular peak time shows. The review will ask what audiences expect from the BBC to.  

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

-No, because consumers can still get the same media for free and consumers that pay would be getting the same content as those that do not pay.

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