Embedded Files
RADIO- BBC NEWSBEAT BROADCAST
This is a Targeted Close Study product for which you will need to focus on the following areas of the Theoretical Framework:
• Media Industries
• Media Audiences
You will need to listen to excerpts from the broadcast, but the focus will be considering industry and audience issues.
Click the link below and find examples of:
What news stories there are?
How long can you access stories?
How long are the episodes?
Where else can you access Newsbeat?
NEWBEAT OVERVIEW
Newsbeat is the BBC radio news programme aimed at young adults in the UK between the age of 15-35 who are interested in the news and also like to use digital media.
It started in 1973
Newsbeat is an example of a transitional media product which reflects changes in the contemporary media landscape. Newsbeat is both a traditional radio broadcast programme with regular, scheduled broadcast times, but it is also available online after broadcast.
The broadcast itself and the use of digital platforms provides opportunities for audience interaction.
Newsbeat also exemplifies the challenges facing the BBC as a public service broadcaster that needs to appeal to an active (not passive) youth audience within a competitive media landscape with commercial radio stations like Kiss FM and Capital Radio competing to snare the youth radio audience.
INDUSTRY
RADIO CODES AND CONVENTIONS
RADIO NEWS CODES & CONVENTIONS
Intro: The newsreader introduces the episode, often mentioning the broadcast name and time (e.g., "This is Newsbeat at 3.45pm"), and may give a quick overview of the main stories.
Live Cross: If a story is developing, the broadcast cuts to a reporter on the scene for live updates.
Two Way: Back in the studio, the newsreader may ask the correspondent questions or interview a specialist about the story.
Cue: The introduction to a correspondent's report, often featuring clips like actuality, soundbites, vox pops, expert opinions, or relevant music. (meanings below)
The Wrap: The newsreader concludes the report, signaling the end with a stinger before moving on to the next section.
Outro: The presenter’s sign-off that ends the broadcast.
MEDIA LANGUAGE:
Actuality (real-life recordings or clips, often used in news or documentaries).
Soundbites (short, memorable quotes used to convey key messages).
Vox pops (brief interviews with the public to represent popular opinion).
Expert opinions (insights from specialists to add authority to a topic).
Relevant music (music chosen to enhance the mood or message of a scene).
Stinger (a short, sharp sound or musical cue used to signal a transition or highlight a moment).
TYPICAL NEWSBEAT CODES AND CONVENTIONS:
Music: Short bursts to signal program starts and maintain pace.
Continuous Beat: A fast-paced beat for urgency.
Simple Language: Clear, friendly language for young listeners.
Interviews & Commentary: Using clips to support stories.
CLICK THE IMAGE TO LISTEN TO EACH RADIO CHANNEL:
RADIO NEWS
Newsbeat is a BBC radio program aimed at young people aged 18-35 in the UK. It reaches up to 9 million listeners weekly on radio and another 1 million online.
THREE CHANNELS- DISTRIBUTION
Newsbeat broadcasts live on the hour on 3 BBC radio channels:
R A D I O 1 (Mainstream Young Audience)
1 X T R A (Niche Young Black Audience)
A S I A N N E T W O R K (Niche Young Asian Audience)
BBC SOUNDS (Online)
It is PRODUCED by BBC News.
FORM & STRUCTURE
Newsbeat features short, variable news bulletins.
Breakfast: Full news, sports, and weather updates.
Daytime: Main headlines and notable sports stories.
Lunchtime: The 13:30 bulletin is read by a rotating newsreader, usually the last person in the office.
Weekends: Scaled-back bulletins with sports updates.
BBC Radio serves a broad range of audiences from mainstream youth (Radio 1) to niche ethnic minorities (Asian Network, 1Xtra).
NEW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Technological advances like the internet and smartphones have greatly impacted radio media.
Newsbeat is a multi-platform product targeted at younger audiences through websites and social media.
YOUNG PEOPLE
Newsbeat differs from other BBC programs by catering specifically to the 18-35 age group.
YOUNG JOURNALISTS
The program is produced by a team of young journalists who understand the issues affecting young British audiences.
Newsbeat features trendy newscasters like Pria and Callum.
15 MINUTES
Newsbeat typically lasts around 15 minutes. (short and to the point; appeals to young audience)
PUBLICLY FUNDED
As a publicly funded program, Newsbeat is free from commercial advertisements, unlike commercial stations like KISS FM.
SCHEDULED BROADCAST
Newsbeat has regular broadcast times (e.g., on the hour or half hour) and is available online after broadcast on streaming platform: BBC SOUNDS.
DIGITAL REVOLUTION
Young people now prefer to choose when and where to listen to media using apps, streaming services like Spotify, and digital radio.
DAB RADIO- D I G I T A L A U D I O B R O A D C A S T - 1995
It used to be broadcast across sound waves, but now you need a DAB radio to access radio.
CHOOSING HOW, WHEN, & WHERE TO LISTEN
With platforms like Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music, young audiences have more control over their listening preferences.
SIMULCAST
As of 2020, Newsbeat is simulcast (broadcast at the same time) across:
R A D I O 1 more mainstream- 18-30 audience.
1 XTRA urban music and black culture, appeals to younger, urban black audiences.
A S I A N N E T W O R K caters to young British Asians under 35.
BBC SOUNDS Online
BBC Sounds offers episodes of Newsbeat, reflecting the shift to online media consumption.
NEWSBEAT APP CLOSED
The Newsbeat app has been discontinued, but episodes are still accessible via BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Newsbeat uses social media to engage young audiences through platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
STORIES ON NEWSBEAT
Topics focus on issues relevant to young audiences like finances, Covid, popular culture, music, Brexit, mental health, drugs, and sports.
BROADCAST VS ONLINE
Tech stories are more common online, while traditional broadcast focuses on core news.
COMPETITION
Newsbeat competes with other radio stations, newspapers, and online outlets, as young audiences prefer fast, accessible news.
MOBILE PHONE NEWS
Young audiences learn about breaking news through social media and mobile notifications.
MULTI PLATFORM
Newsbeat embraces multi-platform distribution to remain relevant and competitive.
THE BBC
The BBC is the UK's largest public service broadcaster, delivering impartial, high-quality content, as regulated by Ofcom.
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING (PSB)
The BBC’s mission is to provide impartial, distinctive output that informs, educates, and entertains.
NICHE AUDIENCES
The BBC serves diverse communities, including young black people (1Xtra) and young Asians (Asian Network).
MAKING MONEY
BBC revenue comes from the license fee and BBC Studios, which sells content like Doctor Who globally.
RESPONSE TO FAKE NEWS
The BBC’s reputation for accurate reporting contrasts with unregulated commercial outlets, countering the rise of fake news.
POLITICAL BIAS
The BBC has faced accusations of bias from both sides of the political spectrum, but it remains a trusted news source.
The BBC has faced accusations of political bias.
Initially criticized for supporting liberal ideologies.
Recently accused of being right-wing for backing the Conservative government in the Gary Lineker controversy.
Government ministers and commentators have called for the BBC to be defunded and privatised to compete with subscription services and ad-funded channels.
Debate surrounds why younger audiences should pay the BBC license fee when they mostly consume content online.
Despite these concerns, the BBC remains a trusted global news source.
As the 'national broadcaster', the BBC is expected to provide impartial, accurate reporting, especially amid growing concerns about fake news.
TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE:
Different technologies come together in one device or platform. It means you can access multiple services and content from a single source.
For example:
Smartphones combine a phone, camera, music player, internet browser, and more.
Media like TV, radio, and news can all be accessed online through apps or websites.
It makes things more convenient and flexible, allowing people to enjoy a variety of content in one place.
MULTI PLATFORM
Newsbeat is a multi–platform media product aimed at a younger audience e.g.
Website
Social Media
(Youtube, Instagram, Facebook,Twitter & Tik Tok)
OFCOM and Regulation:
OFCOM: The regulator responsible for overseeing public service broadcasters (PSBs) like the BBC.
PSB Responsibility: OFCOM ensures PSBs deliver impartial, trusted news and distinctive content that serves the public interest.
BBC's Mission: The BBC must provide impartial, high-quality, and distinctive content that informs, educates, and entertains, as outlined in its charter.
Content Control: OFCOM regulates BBC broadcasts to ensure content meets high standards, avoiding fake news and harmful material, contrasting with commercial stations.
Challenge: The BBC competes with commercial media while maintaining strict content regulation, offering quality control and safe, reliable news.
POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR DEBATE Q's
• The funding of BBC Radio through the license fee, concept of hypothecated tax
• Issues around the role of a public service broadcaster within a competitive, contemporary media landscape
• The distinctive nature of the programme connected to its public service remit
• Arguments on the need for addressing a youth audience already catered for commercially.
• The influence of new technology on media industries – Newsbeat as multi–platform media product. e.g. Website Twitter Instagram
• The regulation of the BBC via Ofcom and the governance of the BBC Media Audiences
• The techniques the broadcast uses to target a youth audience and create audience appeal. e.g.
Presentation style
News values
Content selection
• The opportunities for audience interaction, participation and self-representation
• The way external factors – such as demographics and psychographics – are likely to also affect audience response and produce differing interpretations.
TARGET AUDIENCE
NEWSBEAT TARGET AUDIENCE:
Newsbeat primarily targets young people in the UK, aged 15-35. It caters to mainstream youth on Radio 1, as well as niche audiences on 1Xtra (young black audience) and the Asian Network (young Asian audience). It covers issues that are relevant to this group, such as popular culture, mental health, politics, and social issues.
Newsbeat targets young Britons aged 15-35, covering issues that impact them.
AUDIENCE REACH: It reaches up to 9 million listeners weekly on radio and another 1 million online.
ASIAN NEWS NETWORK
Caters to younger UK Asians under 35, offering news and current affairs with trendy broadcasters like Nikita Kandana.
1 XTRA focuses on urban music and black culture, appealing to younger, urban black audiences.
NICHE AUDIENCES
The BBC serves diverse communities, including young black people (1Xtra) and young Asians (Asian Network).
APPEALING TO THEIR TARGET AUDIENCE
Appealing to the Audience:
Tone and Style: Newsbeat uses an informal, friendly style with simple language and upbeat tones to keep the content engaging. This matches the youthful vibe of the target audience, helping them relate to the broadcast.
Short-Form Content: The use of short bulletins and quick overviews makes the news more digestible, appealing to the audience’s desire for “snackable” content. This format fits the audience's busy lifestyle and digital habits (e.g., short online videos or social media updates).
Audience Participation: Newsbeat actively engages the audience through social media, encouraging interaction and sharing of stories. The use of platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok allows listeners to be a part of the conversation, giving them a voice in shaping the news.
Youth-Centric Content: Topics like music, movies, sports, and social issues resonate with younger listeners. Newsbeat covers trending topics that are relevant to their daily lives, from COVID-19 and Brexit to mental health and knife crime.
Trendy and young Presenters/ hosts: Newsbeat features young and trendy newscasters such as Pria and Callum, which helps the audience feel more connected to the show, as the presenters are seen as relatable and in tune with their interests.
Flexible Listening: Newsbeat caters to young people’s digital habits by offering content across multiple platforms like BBC Sounds and social media. This provides more flexibility in how, when, and where to consume the news, allowing the audience to listen on their phones, tablets, or through streaming services.
In conclusion, Newsbeat targets young UK listeners by using a relatable, interactive, and youth-focused approach. Through engaging content, a friendly tone, and an emphasis on digital platforms, it successfully connects with its audience’s interests and lifestyles.
RECEPTION THEORY
ENCODED MESSAGE: Newsbeat delivers its reports and stories with a very distinct style. The producers hope to appeal to their listeners by framing the content through an informal tone, quick overviews, upbeat links, and audience participation. However, we may not interpret the message in the way the producers originally intended.
DECODING: Listeners/ Audience might decode the message in 3 different ways according to Hall.
Preferred Reading
Newsbeat's short news stories aim to keep listeners informed and engaged with current events.
Negotiated Reading
Some listeners enjoy the quick content but seek deeper stories from other sources.
Oppositional Reading
Some listeners reject the news, find it irrelevant, or switch to another station for music.
EXAM QUESTION
‘The relationship between producers and audiences has changed over time.’ How far do you agree with this statement?
You should refer to the Close Study Products War of the Worlds and Newsbeat to support your answer . (20 Marks)
MARK SCHEME
STRUCTURE FOR 20 MARKS
INTRO- Use words from the question. Give overview of CSP's and argument. 2-3 sentences max
___________________________________________________________________________________________
PARAGRAPHS: (REPEAT FOR 4-5 THEORIES)
THEORY
WOTW EXAMPLE
NEWSBEAT EXAMPLE
LINK TO QUESTION/ FORM AN ARGUMENT- IS THIS THEORY RIGHT/ WRONG?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION - Summarise argument. Link back to question. 2-3 sentences max.
MODEL ANSWER
The relationship between media producers and audiences has evolved due to technological advances and changes in audience behavior. By analysing War of the Worlds (1938) and Newsbeat (BBC, 1973–present), we can explore how the roles of producers and audiences have changed, particularly in terms of engagement.
In War of the Worlds, broadcasting technology limited audience interaction, with audiences primarily acting as receivers of media content. The radio drama, presented as a news bulletin, exemplified the power of the producer to influence and engage listeners (Bandura's Effect's Theory and Laswell's Hypodermic Needle Theory where the audience are passive and have no agency). However, the audience’s reaction to the broadcast revealed some level of an active audience, as listeners complained to CBS and authorities, showing they weren’t entirely passive. This supports Stuart Hall's Reception Theory and suggests a negotiated reading where audiences engaged with the content, questioning its authenticity. The dominant reading at the time would have been that radio producers held the power to craft narratives for a passive audience, but the public's response demonstrated early signs of audience engagement and influence.
In contrast, Newsbeat, created for a younger audience, operates within a different context of media consumption. Since its inception in 1973, it has adapted to new technologies and changing audience expectations. The internet and social media platforms has shifted the relationship between producers and audiences, as younger listeners now have the ability to directly interact with the content. For example, Newsbeat encourages audience participation via platforms like Twitter and Facebook, promoting a synergy between producers and audiences. The interactivity of these platforms allows audiences to shape the content they consume, moving the relationship toward a more active model, with the audience playing a role in shaping narratives.
Using Henry Jenkins’ Fandom Theory, we see how Newsbeat taps into the idea of audience participation, fostering a sense of community among listeners. The audience, particularly the 'digital natives', can comment on and share news stories, thus becoming part of the production process. This reflects the shift from a passive to active audience, where listeners are not only receiving the news but also contributing to its dissemination and interpretation.
Furthermore, the evolution of Newsbeat reflects the idea of convergence culture, where multiple forms of media and technologies intersect. Unlike the early days of broadcasting, where audiences had limited access to content and little control over the narrative, today’s audiences expect to be able to engage and interact across different platforms. This shift is evident in Newsbeat’s use of social media, where audiences can engage directly with the content and the producers, demonstrating the changing power dynamics between the two.
While War of the Worlds showcased a more traditional model of broadcasting, where producers controlled the narrative and audiences passively consumed the content, Newsbeat represents a more interactive model. This shift aligns with theories of active audiences and interactivity, reflecting how the relationship between producers and audiences has changed over time. Today’s media products, like Newsbeat, offer greater opportunities for engagement and participation, whereas earlier media products, like War of the Worlds, maintained a more one-way communication model.
In conclusion, the relationship between producers and audiences has clearly evolved, with technological advancements and audience expectations reshaping this dynamic. War of the Worlds represents the earlier, more passive model of audience interaction, while Newsbeat exemplifies a shift toward active engagement, with producers and audiences co-creating content in an era of convergence culture. This change highlights the growing empowerment of audiences and their increasing role in the media production process.
MORE QUESTIONS:
Explain how regulatory contexts shape the output of media industries. You should refer to your radio Close Study Product, Newsbeat. [9 marks]
To what extent can regulators shape the output of media texts? Refer to the Close Study Product Newsbeat to support your answer.
How convincing are the arguments for and against the regulation of radio broadcasts? In your answer, you should refer to your Close Study Product.
Explain why producers of radio programmes are using new digital technologies to distribute their texts.
“Media audiences always respond to media products in the way that producers intended.” Referring to the Close Study Product Newsbeat, to what extent do you agree with this statement?
It has been argued social and cultural contexts influence how audiences respond to radio broadcasts. How far do you agree with this statement?
Explain the influence of economic factors on the production and content of radio broadcasts.
To what extent does Newsbeat meet the requirements of its public service broadcasting remit?
Explain how Newsbeat targets a youth audience through the use of new technologies.
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