audiences

Question 1

social context:
what is the BBC considered as?

Answer 1

Not one to shy away from controversy

Question 2

social context:
what has the BBC opened the gates to?

Answer 2

opened the gates to less talked about topics and issues in recent years

Question 3

social context:
what has been building for some time?

Answer 3

The domestic abuse storyline of Rob and Helen

Question 4

social context:
what are the listeners’ privileged position?

Answer 4

of being able to eavesdrop in on characters’ private conversation has added a very real touch to the storyline

Question 5

social context:
what has audiences witnessed from the story of Rob and Helen?

Answer 5

first-hand Rob’s controlling nature, his coercive behaviour and insidious ways (e.g. constantly undermining Helen’s looks and clothing)

Question 6

coercive

Answer 6

relating to or using force or threats

Question 7

insidious

Answer 7

(of something unpleasant or dangerous) gradually and secretly causing harm

Question 8

social context:
what has the audiences witnessed of Rob’s action?

Answer 8

and listened whilst he has progressively isolated her from friends and family

Question 9

social context:
what has the realistic portrayal of this storyline done?

Answer 9

has even prompted audiences to raise over £100,000 in charitable donations, proving the importance of such a show – and the strong relationship it has forged with its audience

Question 10

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:
what has radio soap operas historically always as?

Answer 10

focused primarily on women’s lives, particularly family relationships, domesticity and marriage

Question 11

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:

therefore, what was the target audience traditionally?

Answer 11

females who looked after the home

Question 12

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:

what is due to multi-stranded narratives?

Answer 12

Listeners from different walks of life could engage with the show in different ways

Question 13

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:

what might you be rooting for as a listener?

Answer 13

for one particular character whilst your friend might be interested in another character relationship entirely (multi-stranded narratives)

Question 14

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:

what is the archers perceived as?

Answer 14

a high quality soap opera

Question 15

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:

what has the archers distinguishes itself from?

Answer 15

TV soaps by providing soap for the educated middle-classes

Question 16

consider the ways in which media organisations target audiences:

what does it mean if radio four has a high cultural status?

Answer 16

the audience for The Archers consists mainly of well-educated middle-class professionals, most of whom are middle aged and above, white women

Question 17

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

why was the archers a familiar friend for many of these listeners?

Answer 17

provided a comforting background and, until fairly recently, there was an unwritten rule that nothing too terrible would ever happen

Question 18

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what has some listeners complained in recent years?
give one example from the storyline of rob and Helen

Answer 18

that The Archers is beginning to mimic the excesses of TV soaps such as EastEnders.
The most notable example of this is the 2016/17 storyline of Rob’s abusive relationship with his wife

Question 19

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what has some listeners they once considered as?

Answer 19

they once considered to be light, mellow drama, has now morphed into actual melodrama

Question 20

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

why has the archers move attract new listeners?

Answer 20

due to it being a melodrama which they are welcomed by the broadcasters

Question 21

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what is the argument?

Answer 21

that such shows should reflect the society in which they are aired

Question 22

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what has the move given the BBC the opportunity to do?

Answer 22

to open a conversation about topics like domestic violence

Question 23

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what is imp to understand as the BBC can be accessed from around the world?

Answer 23

that some of the online audience is global, including British people living abroad

Question 24

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what is the archers a crucial way for?

Answer 24

for them to keep in touch with British life

Question 25

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what has some listeners from urban areas stated?

Answer 25

how they like the sense of rural life that is evident in the show

Question 26

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what may the audience dream of?

Answer 26

Perhaps, like many, they dream of getting away from the city and moving to the country and helps them imagine this for a short time.

Question 27

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what is the Blumler and Karl’s Uses and Gratifications theory?

Answer 27

a communication theory that focuses on the ways in which individuals actively seek out and use media to satisfy their specific needs and desires

Question 28

consider how audiences may respond to and interpret media products, and the social, cultural and political significance of media products:

what can we argue that audience members listen with the uses and gratification theory?

Answer 28

1. simply for entertainment/diversion from their everyday lives
2. to be informed or educated about rural life or topical issues that the storyline may be dealing with
3. for social interaction to discuss with
   family/friends or by continuing the conversation on Twitter or Facebook
4. for personal identity, to compare their life
   experiences with those of the characters.

Question 29

who are the audiences of the archers?

Answer 29

…