Women’s Hour (I&A)

Question 1

When was the first edition of women’s hour broadcasted?

Answer 1

1946

Question 2

Who originally presented Women’s Hour?

Answer 2

Alan Ivimey

Question 3

What were the early episodes of WH like?

Answer 3

Thought by some women to be patronising, focusing on the role of the housewife with features including ‘Mother’s Midday Meal’ and ‘How to hang your husband’s suit’

Question 4

What did WH evolve into?

Answer 4

Covered hard hitting topics including abortion, domestic violence, equal pay and other lighter elements including why there is no body hair on Bridgerton and changing trends in maternity fashion.

Question 5

Notable guests on WH

Answer 5

Oprah, Angelina Jolie and Hillary Clinton

Question 6

When did the BBC start a regular public television broadcasting service in the UK?

Answer 6

1932

Question 7

Where is WH broadcasted?

Answer 7

BBC Radio 4

Question 8

When is WH broadcasted?

Answer 8

Everyday at 10am

Omnibus at 4pm on a Saturday

Late Night Woman’s Hour at 11pm once a month

Can be found on BBC Sounds

Question 9

What is Radio 4’s mission statement?

Answer 9

“The service should appeal to listeners seeking intelligent programmes in many genres which inform, educate and entertain.”

Question 10

What is the most-used brand in the UK for media?

Answer 10

BBC

Question 11

What is interactive radio?

Answer 11

Let’s you open a specific app and gives you more control over the radio station - allowed audiences to access additional/catchup content as well.

Question 12

How does Woman’s Hour reflect tokenism?

Answer 12

It is a show set aside for women which may imply that other radio content was oriented towards men.

Question 13

What is tokenism?

Answer 13

the practice of doing something only to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being treated fairly

Question 14

How is the BBC funded?

Answer 14

Licence fee

Question 15

Importance of BBC funding

Answer 15

It allows them to continue being an independent, impartial broadcaster that is not under pressure to appeal to advertisers

Question 16

What is the BBC considered to be by many?

Answer 16

A pillar of British life and a reliable and trustworthy source

Question 17

What is the Royal Charter?

Answer 17

The constitutional basis for the BBC. It sets out public purposes of the BBC and guarantees its independence.

Question 18

What is the BBC’s mission?

Answer 18

To enrich people’s lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain.

Question 19

Who would Radio 4 appeal to?

Answer 19

Anyone interested in intelligent speech as its schedule is packed with insightful journalism, witty comedy and fascinating features.

Question 20

Is Radio 4 niche or mainstream?

Answer 20

Niche

Question 21

How does the Radio market itself?

Answer 21

• cross platform marketing
• website links to specific station
• BBC taster: allows the audience to sample new programmes and interact with BBC (only for 16+))
• the schedule: marketed regularly through the day with trailers and published in the Radio Times.

Question 22

How are radio schedules created?

Answer 22

• based on research to maximise the target audience
• created in relation to what people would be doing

Question 23

When was BBC Sounds launched?

Answer 23

2018

Question 24

What is the BBC Sounds slogan?

Answer 24

‘Listen without Limits’ - reflects the way that the BBC has changed the way it distributes its content to address developments in technology and audience consumption.

Question 25

Stats of UK plays for BBC Sounds (2020-21)

Answer 25

1.3 billion

Question 26

Who are the current presenters of Women’s Hour?

Answer 26

Emma Barnett and Anita Rani

Question 27

Who is Emma Barnett?

Answer 27

A journalist and broadcaster who has written the ‘Tough love’ ‘Agony Aunt’ advice column in the Sunday Times Magazine

Light hearted style - unafraid to explore emotionally sensitive/controversial issues

Question 28

Who is Anita Rani?

Answer 28

Established and popular presenter

Presented several explorative documentaries e.g. Bollywood: The World’s Biggest Film Industry

The choice of her on WH addresses one of the key purpose of BBC creative remit - ‘To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the UK’s nations and regions.’

Question 29

What topics are discussed on WH?

Answer 29

Not strictly based around female experiences but they are female centric. They offer a female perspective on issues that would also interest male listeners.

E.g. abortion, equality, interior design, cooking, grief.

Question 30

Curran and Seaton’s Profit and Power Theory- WH

Answer 30

Challenges the idea that the media is controlled by a small number of companies driven by the logic of profit and power - BBC is large and significant company but they are a PSB and have content that would challenge this idea.

Supports the idea that socially diverse patterns of ownership help create conditions for varied and adventurous productions - important part of channels’ schedule, targeting specific social group.

Question 31

Livingstone and Lunt’s Regulation Theory - WH

Answer 31

The developments in technology with content distributed across different digital platforms has made regulation more complex.

BBC is self-regulated so challenges their idea that ‘new media’ is harder to regulate.

E.g. when there as over 500 complaints regarding a WH interview with Zara Mohammed, the first female leader of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, the BBC removed the clip from all platforms.

Question 32

Who regulates BBC?

Answer 32

Ofcom

Question 33

Role of Ofcom

Answer 33

Ensures that services are high quality and appealing to a wide audience and protect audiences from offensive/harmful material.

Question 34

Regulation of BBC as PSB

Answer 34

As a PSB, the BBC has strict guidelines on what content can be broadcast/published.

E.g. BBC 1 rarely features sex, nudity or swearing. All the broadcast channels follow the ‘watershed’.

Question 35

How many listeners did the BBC have each week in 2021?

Answer 35

Over 34 million

Question 36

How many listeners did Radio 4 have each week in 2021?

Answer 36

Over 10 million

Question 37

Percentage of male to female listeners for BBC Radio 4

Answer 37

Men - 51%
Women - 49%

Question 38

What is the age bracket who listens to Radio 4 the most?

Answer 38

65+ as speech-led stations tend to be targeted at an older demographic.

Question 39

What is the social grade who listens to BBC Radio 4 the most?

Answer 39

AB

Question 40

Conventions of Woman’s Hour

Answer 40

• Presenter
• Discussions
• Contributors

Question 41

What would a male response be to WH?

Answer 41

May be unsettling or alienating for male listeners.

Question 42

What would a female response be to WH?

Answer 42

It may appeal to them as they feel their concerns are underrepresented.

Question 43

Interaction within WH

Answer 43

WH encourages an interactive relationship with their listeners - it has been designed to invite audience members into their discussion as their viewpoints are read out at the end of sections of the programme which creates additional discussion and debate.

Audiences can respond o WH on their website and social media.

Question 44

How does WH reflect the needs of a specialised audience?

Answer 44

As a PSB, the BBC has a remit to produce content for all audience demographics.

Specialised audiences contribute to the diversity of the BBC.

WH - choice of presenters, guests and topics selected

Question 45

Hall’s Reception Theory - WH

Answer 45

Preferred reading - some audiences will welcome a programme dedicated to pertinent issues relevant today

Oppositional - may question the need for such a specialised product (sexist male listener))

Question 46

bell hooks Feminist Theory - WH

Answer 46

Radio 4’s audience is often pigeonholed as being white and middle class and hooks argued that women of lower class/different ethnicity are even more oppressed by the patriarchy.

Her idea is challenged through the presenter Anita Rani.

Question 47

Shirky’s End of Audience Theory - WH

Answer 47

Audiences have changed as the ways in which they access media products have revolutionised the ability to interact with and respond to media products. WH encourages audience interaction.