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?

Belfast stabbing, heart attack during a football match of a younger person and sport in general.

2) How does Newsbeat appeal to a youth audience?

It uses jingles, originally used in America, to hook the audience in and create a sense of hype for the up coming story. Furthermore, the stories they talk about are relevant to a youth audience whether it be that they can personally identify due to their age or stories that are condensed to be consumed easily.

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

Newsbeat helps the BBC to fulfil it remit to inform educate and entertain as the radio serves to a younger audiences needs when informing them as most audiences within that demographic simultaneously need to be entertained when consuming media that by itself wouldn't usually be interesting. 

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?

Radio 1 was opened in 1973 due to audiences listening to pirate radio as a source for pop music.

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

It attempts to target their age demographic using contemporary pop music with a wide range of different genres. 

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).

Identity - connect with popular culture

Surveillance - learn what is happening around them

Relationships - build para social relationships with DJs and music artists

Diversion - entertainment by listening to a wide range of distinct music

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

It has diversified its content from live lounge sessions to a big weekend of live music which increases their overall output. 

5) How is Newsbeat constructed to appeal to audiences? 

Multiple accents and code switching from formal to informal tones help appeal to their audiences as they seem diverse and open to modern attitudes. 

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?

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

I believe that these cannot be applied as the BBC is a PSB and focuses on providing impartial news for the needs of the public 

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. The BBC's regulation with content is citizen based

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 Newsbeat attempts to appeal to a youth audience.

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

Uses and gratification - audiences can relate to presenters but also form para social relationships. Audiences also learn about what's happening in the world in simple ways. 

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.

 . 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 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. We have carefully considered more than 100 responses from members of the public and industry

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? 

 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. 

 Require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population.

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

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. This will ensure that on- and off-screen diversity considerations are embedded in the commissioning process.

Increase requirements around programmes for children. CBBC must show at least 400 hours – and CBeebies at least 100 hours – of brand new, UK commissioned programmes each year. CBeebies has to provide a range of programming that supports pre-school children’s learning; 

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.

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

They want to reflect on how audiences feel on their representations within 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 believe Newsbeat doesn't offer good value for the licence fee as younger audiences still tend to prefer social media as a source of news despite Newsbeats many attempts to target their audience.