Woman's Hour Flashcards
INDUSTRY AND AUDIENCE
Who regulates radio?
OFCOM
The BBC is also self regulatory, what is their remit?
- Sustaining citizenship and civil society
- Promoting education and learning
- Stimulating creativity and cultural excellence
- Representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities
- Bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK
(OR simply, to inform, educate and entertain)
What is the role of OFCOM?
To ensure a wide range of television and radio services of high quality and wide appeal is available.
What is Livingstone & Lunt’s theory?
Regulating media to protect citizens from harmful content can limit freedom of expression.
What is Curran and Seaton’s theory?
Media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by the logic of profit and power
The idea that media concentration generally limits of inhibits variety, creativity and quality
How can Curran and Seaton b applied to Woman’s Hour?
- ## BBC being funded by license fee and not through advertisements, does not inhibit creativity. BBC is a PSB, it’s free from commercial pressures.
Woman’s Hour episode on male fertility, teenage girls and social media and talking to children about the Holocaust notes:
- Hosted by Emma Barnett
- Emma says they’re going to be “frank” and not shy away from details. Can link to Living stone and Lunt’s regulation theory.
- Proper personal experiences shared, gives a sense of relatability (uses & gratifications)
- Show is called “Woman’s Hour” yet features a male guest talking about his experiences on fertility issues as a male, attracts not only a female audience who may be looking to be educated on it but also attracts men looking for shared experiences or also education on something that affects them.
- Rhod Gilbert talks about wanting to get over the stigma around male fertility and wants to educate male audiences.
- Emma Barnett constantly in conversations mentions engagement from listeners
- Cross media synergies - mentions Rhod Gilbert’s documentary, both Woman’s Hour are gaining from having him as guest sharing his experiences, but Gilbert is also gaining visibility by talking about his documentary and making an appearance.
- Topic of teenage girls and social media targets a younger audience and engages them.
- Offers social interaction (uses &gratifications) on the controversial topic of social media.
- Topic on holocaust is very educational and adheres to BBC’s remit.
Where is Woman’s Hour broadcasted?
BBC Radio 4
When was the first edition of Woman’s Hour aired?
October 7th 1946 with a male presenter, Alan Ivimey.
- Was an attempt to target female housewives to listen whilst doing chores
-> could be seen as tokenism seeing as they didn’t even have a female presenter
What significance does the broadcasting slot have?
Broadcast at 10am daily with an omnibus on Saturdays at 4 so audiences can catch up
- Omnibus reflects changing audience behaviour as women now will be at work on weekdays
- 10am slot also suggests an older, retired audience eg 55+ or wealthier traditional women who can afford to stay at home
How does Woman’s Hour make use of modern technology?
- WH is also available online via their website, and BBC sounds
- Interactive content offered, especially on social media (Clay Shirky end of audience)
- Like, share, comment
BBC is a PSB, what does that mean?
PSB means Public Service Broadcaster, which means they are funded through the TV license fee rather than through advertisements.
What does BBC being funded through a license fee mean they are able to do?
This means they don’t have to appeal to a mainstream audience and can afford to make more niche content such as Woman’s Hour.
How does Woman’s Hour adhere to the ‘entertain’ part of the BBC’s remit?
Chat based format - guests and presenters joking and controversial content.
- Bridgerton, Wonderwoman
How does Woman’s Hour adhere to the ‘educate’ part of the BBC’s remit?
Tackles a range of issues
- Choked up campaign, male fertility, Holocaust education
