Radio index

1) Radio: Introduction to Radio
2) Radio: Life Hacks
3) Radio: War of the Worlds

Music video index

1) Music Video - introduction and factsheet questions
2) Music Video theory and This Is America analysis
3) Common - Letter to the Free context and analysis
4) Michael Jackson - Billie Jean context, analysis and MM article

Radio: War of the Worlds (1938)

War of the Worlds: Blog tasks

Media Factsheet

Go to our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive and open Factsheet #176: CSP Radio - War of the Worlds. Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets - you'll need to save the factsheet to USB or email it to yourself in order to complete this at home. Read the factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What is the history and narrative behind War of the Worlds?   

The narrative behind War of the worlds is alien invasions which was first broadcast 

2) When was it first broadcast and what is the popular myth regarding the reaction from the audience?
It was first broadcast on the 30th October 1938 

  

3) How did the New York Times report the reaction the next day?
MANY FLEE HOMES TO ESCAPE ‘GAS RAID FROM MARS’ – PHONE CALLS SWAMP POLICE AT BROADCAST OF WELLES FANTASY they report the hoax as a real life issue.  

4) How did author Brad Schwartz describe the the broadcast and its reaction?
War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News’ suggests that hysteria it caused was not entirely a myth. “Instead it was something decades ahead of its time: history’s first viral-media phenomenon.”  

5) Why did Orson Welles use hybrid genres and pastiche and what effect might it have had on the audience?
By creating a hybrid form – mixing conventional storytelling with news conventions – Welles blurred the boundaries between fact and fiction in a way that audiences had never experienced. 

6) How did world events in 1938 affect the way audiences interpreted the show? 

Booked radio reports were hindered with crisis cut-ins, about Hitler and his arrangements to attack and begin the following scene war.  

7) Which company broadcast War of the Worlds in 1938?

CBS
 

8) Why might the newspaper industry have deliberately exaggerated the response to the broadcast?
Papers were under risk as radio turned into another contender as they were new so along these lines they misrepresented the reaction to the communicate trying to make a frenzy encompassing the effect of the radio business.

9) Does War of the Worlds provide evidence to support the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle theory?
War of the Worlds does provide evidence to support the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic needle theory to some extent because the audiences clearly believed what the media had told them and reacted according to this. 

10) How might Gerbner's cultivation theory be applied to the broadcast?

Gerbner's cultivation theory in response to the broadcast emphasizes the long term effects the media has upon the audience and the broadcast plays a big factor.Cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages and the belief that they are real.
 

11) Applying Hall's Reception Theory, what could be the preferred and oppositional readings of the original broadcast?
The dominant or preferred reading by the audience is the one intended by the creator of the text. However, a person might read it in an oppositional way depending upon factors such as their age, gender or background.  The preferred reading was for it to just be hoax to prank their audience as a joke for Halloween.

 12) Do media products still retain the ability to fool audiences as it is suggested War of the Worlds did in 1938? Has the digital media landscape changed this?
IN the war of the worlds, There wasn't that many media platforms therefore, the media did not have that big of an affect on people in contrast to now. Before, the audience were confused what was right or true whereas now, people create ideologies through the use of the media.

Analysis and opinion

1) Why do you think the 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds has become such a significant moment in media history?

In the 1938, it created confusion amongst the audience as they were not sure what was true or false, however, some people believed what the news showed whereas other people had mix feelings.
 
2) War of the Worlds feels like a 1938 version of 'fake news'. But which is the greater example of fake news - Orson Welles's use of radio conventions to create realism or the newspapers exaggerating the audience reaction to discredit radio?
Some news were over exaggerated which gave it away that it was fake news.

3) Do you agree with the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle theory? If not, was there a point in history audiences were more susceptible to believing anything they saw or heard in the media? 

I agree with the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle Theory as it gives a better insight why people are manipulated by the news.

4) Has the digital media age made the Hypodermic Needle model more or less relevant? Why?
In the digital media age, media platforms have become very subjective therefore, which makes the hypodermic needle model less relevant as there are many media platforms which the audience could interpret and find whats right or wrong.

5) Do you agree with George Gerbner's Cultivation theory - that suggests exposure to the media has a gradual but significant effect on audience's views and beliefs? Give examples to support your argument.
I believe Gerbner's Cultivation theory gives explanation to the exposure of the media as people are manipulated due to high frequency of the media or television.

6) Is Gerbner's Cultivation theory more or less valid today than it would have been in 1938? Why?
 I believe its more valid as there are more access to digital devices which reinforces the high frequency of people watching or using the digital devices.

Radio: Life Hacks

Radio: Life Hacks

Our first CSP for radio is the BBC Radio 1 show Life Hacks.

Our key concepts for Radio are industries and audience so these are the contexts we need to consider when studying the texts.

Previously on: The Surgery

Before being merged into Life Hacks, The Surgery was an evening radio show on BBC Radio 1 that ran between 1999 and 2017. Most recently, it was on every Wednesday at 9pm and ran for 60 minutes. It featured presenter Katie Thistleton and advice from Dr Radha Modgil.

It worked like an agony aunt column in old teenage magazines and took on controversial subjects such as gender identity, sexuality, relationships and mental health. It featured texts and calls from listeners and the post-watershed slot meant adult topics could be discussed.

The Surgery > Life Hacks

In November 2017, The Surgery was merged into a new Sunday afternoon show called Life Hacks that runs between 4pm – 6pm presented by Cel Spellman and Katie Thistleton. This mostly plays music but offers advice segments with Dr Modgil covering similar topics to The Surgery.

Although both The Surgery and Life Hacks ran in scheduled broadcast slots, in recent years the programme has been available as a podcast and encourages digital consumption and interaction. 

The Surgery



Life Hacks: Stormzy interview



Life Hacks: debt advice feature on BBC Sounds

Listen to this debt advice feature on BBC Sounds.


BBC Radio 1: History

BBC Radio 1 launched in 1967 playing pop music and using jingles in the style of American radio. It was a significant change from previous BBC content and was hugely popular in the 1970s and 1980s (some shows had 10m+ listeners).

It became available on DAB digital radio in 1995 but not promoted until digital radios were more popular in 2002. It is available via digital TV and online via BBC Sounds.

Radio 1 is famous for events as well as radio – summer Roadshows, Big Weekends and the annual Teen Awards.


Industries: Radio in decline

Although the BBC still boasts impressive audience figures for BBC Radio 2 and 4, it has struggled to attract young listeners to BBC Radio 1 in recent years.

Since 2010 listeners have declined – and although BBC R1 targets 15-29 year olds the average listener in 2017 was aged 30. Radio 1 is increasingly focusing on digital and social media with 16m weekly YouTube views reached in 2018.

BBC Radio 1 - Life Hacks: Blog tasks

Analysis

Listen to the extracts from Life Hacks above and answer the following questions:

1) What do the titles The Surgery and Life Hacks suggest?

 hey suggest that they will make your life better/easier, the same way that a surgery has the long term intention of improving quality of life.

2) How are the programmes constructed to appeal to a youth audience?

The language used is not that formal which is understandable and suitable for the youth. The programmes touches on topics such as school, anxiety which the youth do face in the real life,

 

3) What does the choice of presenters (Cel Spellman and Katie Thistleton) and Dr Modgil suggest about the BBC’s approach to diversity and representation?

Katie Thistleton is from Manchester and Dr Modgil is half-Indian. BBC have deliberately chosen a diverse pair as to show the audience that they respect all cultures and applaud diversity. This makes BBC more appealing as audience members will believe that they are showing are sense of diversity

4) Go to the Life Hacks iPlayer page and analyse the content. What does this suggest regarding the Life Hacks audience and what the BBC is hoping to achieve with the programme?

This promotional graphic constructs a representation of a youth audience due to the emojis, which a youth audience can engage with.

5) Go to the Life Hacks podcast episodes page. Listen to a few episodes of the podcast and explain how the topics may a) appeal to a youth audience and b) help fulfil the BBC's responsibilities as a public service broadcaster. 

These topics appeal to the youth audience as it covers over things that this generation faces such as ethnicity, identity and getting sleep.  This helps fulfill the responsibilites of BBC which are to inform, educate and entertain. 

Audience

1) What is the target audience for BBC Radio 1?

15-29 year olds

 

2) Who is the actual audience for BBC Radio 1?

BBC Radio one is in the bracket of 40-45.

3) What audience pleasures are offered by Life Hacks? Apply Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratifications theory.

Personal identity could be applied due to people being able to reflect them selves amongst these topics. Diversion also could be applied as it also gives a sense of entertainment such as listening to Stormzy.

 

4) Read this Guardian review of Life Hacks. What points does the reviewer make about Life Hacks and the particular podcast episode they listened to?

'I found myself listening to a few life inspiration/entrepreneurial podcasts last week.'

 

5) Read this NME feature on Radio 1 listener figures. What are the key statistics to take from this article regarding the decline in Radio 1 audience ratings?

Radio 1 has lost 200,000 weekly listeners since May, when they attracted 9.4 million listeners a week.

There was better news for Radio 1 in terms of its digital audience, with the station now posting a record 16 million YouTube views a week. 
The station is also still the top choice for listeners aged 15 to 24 in the UK.

Industries

1) How does Life Hacks meet the BBC mission statement to Educate, Inform and Entertain? 

They educate their audience by providing them with advice regarding youth related issues.

They inform them on current news and popular stories.

They also entertain with music, such as radio stations providing this.

2) Read the first five pages of this Ofcom document laying out its regulation of the BBC. 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. The public hasexceptionally high expectations of the BBC, shaped by its role as a publicly-funded broadcaster with a remit to inform, educate and entertain the public, and to support the creative economy across theUK.

 

 To meet these expectations, the BBC must deliver the mission and public purposes set out in its new Royal Charter(the Charter). For the first time, the BBCwill be robustly held to account for doing so by an independent, externalregulator. Alongside responsibilities for programme standards and protecting fair and effective competition in the areas in which the BBC operates, the Charter gives Ofcom the job of setting the BBC’s operating licence(the Licence). This sets binding conditions, requiring the BBC to deliver for licence fee-payers. Itis also our job to scrutinise, measure and report on the BBC’s performance. 

 

On 29 March2017, 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. We have carefully considered more than 100 responses from members of the publicand industry.We have taken account of the BBC’s interim annual plan for 2017/18, published on 3July2017. We have also carried out bespoke research into audience opinions and expectations of the BBC.

 

3) Now read what the license framework will seek to do (letters a-h). Which of these points relate to BBC Radio 1 and Life Hacks?

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 and giving them a platform to engage with is one of the key ways Radio 1 can set itself apart from other radio stations.

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

Support social action campaigns on BBC radio; it helps educated and raise awareness of things which helps them achieve one of their mission statement. It also attracts more younger audience it shows they care about social issues.

 

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

Ofcom are planning to review the on-screen diversity.

 

Read this Guardian interview with BBC 1 Controller Ben Cooper.
6) What is Ben Cooper trying to do with Radio 1? His mission is to make BBC Radio 1 a radio version of Netflix, allowing a new wider audience for the BBC.
 

7) How does he argue that Radio 1 is doing better with younger audiences than the statistics suggest? Cooper remains under pressure to bring the age of listeners of BBC Radio 1 down. The target is 15- to 29-year-olds, the average is 32. 8) Why 

 

8) does he suggest Radio 1 is distinctive from commercial radio? He suggests that the difference is the amount of songs available through Radio 1; radio 1 has 4,000 songs available while commercial radio contains roughly 400 

  

9) Why is Radio 1 increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms?

They are increasingly focusing on Youtube views and digital platforms they believe that the younger audience are more engaged with Youtube and therefore things such as radio are becoming less popular, they believe if they focus on this it will bring a wider range of audience.

 

10) In your opinion, should the BBC’s remit include targeting young audiences via Radio 1 or should this content be left to commercial broadcasters? Explain your answer. 

 

I think they they should leave the content for commercial broadcasters because the younger generation are less likely to listen to Radio 1 as there are so many other places where they can such as spotify or youtube.

Music Video theory - blog tasks

Music Video theory - blog tasks

Childish Gambino, the musical stage name of writer and performer Donald Glover, released an incredible critique of American culture and Donald Trump with This Is America last year.

The music video is a satirical comment on American culture, racism and gun violence. Racking up 10m views in the first 24 hours, it now stands at over half a billion views and has been dubbed ‘genius’ and ‘a masterpiece’.

Create a blogpost called 'Music video: theory', watch the video again then answer the questions below:

 1) How does the This Is America video meet the key conventions of a music video?
This is America consists of many key conventions. It inhabits a performance element as it showcases lip-singing with dance moves. Throughout the song, the narrative is messaged through the singing and the dance moves. Mise-en- scene also portrays the narrative as there are different locations used with different props to show synergy with the lyrics. 
 
2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence?
In this video, it highlights how guns have corrupted America and increased gun violence in America due to the legislation. This is shown evidence in the music when you see innocent lives being taken away at a terrorist attack at a church. This implies that that America are not in harmony and not strict on gun violence which results to the increase in crime rates. 
 
3) Write an analysis of the video applying the theories we have learned: Gilroy, Hall, Rose and Dyson. 

Gilroy:
Gilroy is particularly interested in the idea of black diasporic identity – the feeling of never quite belonging or being accepted in western societies even to this day. Gilroy suggests that black music articulates diasporic experiences of resistance to white capitalist culture. As shown in this video, Gambino tries to raise the issue of racism, and how they have essentially have to be submissive to white people in America.

Hall:
Stuart hall talks about how the audience would often blur racism and leading people to associating with particular races with certain social classes. He also exclaims that western cultures remain dominated by white culture and that ethnic ethnic minorities are misrepresented due to underlying racist tendencies.

Rose: 
Rose recommended that hip jump at first gave gatherings of people a knowledge into the lives of youthful, dark, urban Americans and furthermore gave them a voice (counting engaging female specialists). Nonetheless, Rose has since reprimanded business hip bounce and recommends dark culture has been appropriated and abused by private enterprise. In this video, Childish Gambino is endeavouring to give the crowd a knowledge of how it resembles living in America if your dark.

Dyson:
Dyson suggests how political hip hop back in the 90s didn't gain enough commercial success as it deserved to get which eventually led to today's music which is very stereotypical as things are mainly sexualised and violent. This is very different to Dysons view as he believes "Hip hop music is important precisely because it sheds light on contemporary politics, history and race.

Read this Guardian feature on This Is America - including the comments below.

4) What are the three interpretations suggested in the article?
He’s playing Jim Crow
He’s duping us with dance
He’s taking on the police
5) What alternative interpretations of the video are offered in the comments 'below the line'?
 
One user states, "could his message be that America is evil, racist and violent? Nah, that would be too obvious. Everyone already knows that. As with all satirical masterpieces, there must be a hidden meaning that requires ponderous artistic explanation".

Film & TV assessment: Learner response

Film & TV assessment: Learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).
WWW:
Good use of some media terminology 
EBI:
A mix developed answer to Q3- include theory of a conclusion


2) Read the whole mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Identify at least one potential point that you missed out on for each question in the assessment (even if you got full marks for the question).
Q1:Kingsman: The Secret Service is a parody (there are definitely suggestions of comedy) the
poster as a whole asks to be taken seriously.

Q2:Construction of the Chicken branding on the poster/DVD packaging etc. effective in
communicating the genre and key selling points of the film – arthouse, social realism,
beautiful cinematography, theme of nature etc.

Q3: London in 2015 that is designed to appear authentic but perhaps subtly reinforces capitalist ideologies (e.g. reward for hard work).

3) The first question demanded a response using postmodern terminology. Write a definition here of the three main terms:

Bricolage: The juxtaposing of old and new texts, images, ideas and narratives to create new meanings.

Pastiche:This refers to media products that imitate the style of another text, artist or time period. Pastiche is an example of intertextuality and takes a positive view of the original source.

Intertextuality: Text that your analysing shows reference to other texts.

 4) The second question was on the film industry. Write down two points from the mark scheme about Chicken's promotion and distribution that you didn't include in your answer. 
-Film festivals were vital in the promotion of the film as awards and acclaim from influential
industry figures helped to raise the profile of the film. E.g. quote on poster from acclaimed
actor Sir Ian McKellen.
-Chicken successfully used the film festival circuit to gather critical acclaim and build up
positive publicity for the film. Film festival awards included Edinburgh, Busan, New
Hampshire, Palm Beach and Julien. 
5) Look over your mark, teacher comments and the mark scheme for Question 3 - the 25 mark essay question on your TV Close-Study Products. Write a complete essay plan for this question based on the suggested answers in the mark scheme. You can either use something similar to your actual answer or alternatively start from scratch. Make sure it is an extensive, detailed plan focused on the question (representations; social and cultural contexts of production) and offering specific references to Capital and Deutschland 83 for each section. Try and cover the two texts equally if you can and aim to plan around 5-6 paragraphs in total.

Introduction to radio: blog tasks

Read this Guardian feature on the launch of BBC Sounds and answer the following questions:

1) Why does the article suggest that ‘on the face of it, BBC Radio is in rude health’?
BBC Radio is in rude health. It has half the national market, with dozens of stations reaching more than 34 million people a week. Radio 2 alone reaches 15 million listeners a week and for all the criticism of the Today programme (“editorially I think it’s in brilliant shape,” says Purnell)


2) What percentage of under-35s use the BBC iPlayer catch-up radio app?
Although millions of young Britons continue to tune in to traditional BBC radio stations, Purnell says just 3% of under-35s use the iPlayer catch-up radio app.


3) What is BBC Sounds?
BBC Sounds, a new app and website that formally launches on Tuesday with a glitzy event at Tate Modern. It will bring radio livestreams, catchup services, music mixes and podcasts together under one roof.

4) How do audiences listen to radio content in the digital age?
just as Netflix upended TV viewing habits, the growth of podcasts and Spotify means listeners increasingly expect their audio content to be personalised to them.

5) What does Jason Phipps suggest is important for radio and podcast content aimed at younger audiences?
He says there is a need to reconsider the entire tone of how the BBC tells stories, shifting away from rigid formality if it wants to attract the precious under-35 audience.

6) Why does the BBC need to stay relevant?
Because the BBC is really important and valued by licence fee [payers] it’s got to continue to be relevant. 

Now read this review of the BBC Sounds app.

7) What content does the BBC Sounds app offer?
Music, news, drama, documentaries, true crime, comedy – if you want it in your ears, you start with the orange button.  

8) How does it link to BBC Radio?
The app lets you click through to any live BBC radio station, but it also offers you other forms of listening, from podcasts to playlists.  

9) What are the criticisms of the BBC Sounds app?
The BBC sound app is dreadful, it's a massive step backwards on the iPlayer radio app, from what I can see so far there is no Chromecast support, no way of choosing a download quality 

10) Two new podcasts were launched alongside the BBC Sounds app. What are they and why might they appeal to younger audiences?

End of Days, Beyond Today ; These podcasts may appeal to younger audiences because they discuss socio-political topics that younger audiences may be interested in. For example, in the second episode of Beyond Today, trey discussed an Iraqi star being killed for being too provocative.

ShoutOut Network

Read this Huffington Post feature on the Shout Out Network and answer the following questions:

1) What is the ShoutOut Network?

The Shoutout Network, a London-based network of diverse podcasts, has put together a fantastic offer for businesses to purchase advertising slots across a range of their podcasts for three months from just £1.

2) What podcasts are offered by the ShoutOut Network?

The network is launching a flash sale titled #PodLuck, to encourage brands to embrace podcast advertising in the UK.

3) What audience do they reach?

3.7 million adults listen to podcasts which equate to around 6.5% of the adult population.

4) What are the 2015 statistics on podcast listening in the UK?

3.7 million adults listen to podcasts which equate to around 6.5% of the adult population.

It also adds that 57% of the people use them on smartphones, while their preferred activity to listening to podcasts was 47% while commuting and 34% relaxing or doing nothing.

5) The article suggests podcasts are ‘picking up more steam’. Do you think podcasts the future of radio?
Due to Netflix, the digital age is more keen to listen to radio through podcasts as they touch on more topics that reinforces personal identity. As well as it educates young adults.