Industry And Audience Flashcards
Where is Woman’s Hour broadcasted?
BBC Radio 4
What sort of radio show is it?
A daily “magazine” programme.
Name two features of this specific sort of issues?
They have presenters and guests, who talk about specific issues.
When did Woman’s Hour first begin?
October 7th 1946
What was the name of the first presenter of Woman’s Hour?
Alan Ivimey
Why was he chose to be the presenter?
As he was supposedly a specialist “in writing for and talking to women”.
Who was the target audience when the show first began? and why?
Female housewives, so they could listen to the show whilst they did chores to prevent boredom.
Why is it likely the reason they had a male presenter?
Because men tended to be the ones producing the media at the time.
Name two of the sort of topics they would’ve discussed when the show first originally broadcasted.
“mother’s midday meal” and “how to hang your husbands suit”
What time is it broadcast now?
It is now broadcasted at 10am daily.
What is the time and purpose for the omnibus on Saturday’s?
It starts at 4 pm so audiences can catch up with missed episodes.
How does the omnibus reflect changing behaviours?
It may reflect the changing behaviours as many women will now be busy/ at work on week days.
Why is the daily 10 am slot suggests about the audience?
It suggests that they have an older, retired audience (aged 55+), or wealthier more traditional women who can afford to stay at home.
How is a modern audience reflected?
They have more online technology eg being available online via their website, the app and BBC sounds.
Is the BBC apart of a conglomerate?
No, they are a very large global organisation.
What does it mean for them to be a public service broadcaster?
It is funded by the licence fee (instead of adverts)
Why does this mean they don’t have to make mainstream content to attract a larger audience?
Because they can make more niche content like Woman’s Hour which is funded by the listeners.
What is the BBC’s remit?
To “inform, educate and entertain”
How can we see Woman’s Hour adhering to that remit?
The chat based format, with presenters and guests joking around and laughing, as well as some of their controversial content, will be entertaining for some audiences.
How is it informative and educational?
They tackle a range of issues and educate the audiences on them. Whilst remaining neutral
What might some of these topics be?
IVF, The menopause, abortion ect, lots of women’s issues.
Why is it fortunate that Woman’s Hour is l ow cost show to produce?
Because the BBC has undergone a series of budget cuts recently.
Who are the shows current presenters?
Emma Barnett and Anita Rani
Why do some people think that the choice of having Anita Rani as one of the presenters fulfils the BBC’s remit?
As it includes ethnic diversity in their programme. - intersectionalism Bell Hooks
How does the fact that there are now two female presenters target a modern audience?
It targets modern audiences and reflects the changes in the media industry and the inclusion of more women in radio production.
Helps build a parasocial relationship - uses and gratification (identification)
What else could the change to two female presenters reflect?
It could reflect modern contextual issues such as the rise in feminism, the hashtag me too movement, fights for equal pay ect.
Third wave of feminsim women are actively using their voices to raise awareness of sexism
What other examples are there of the show including diverse representations? What might this also reflect?
Ethnicity, sexuality, gender and disability, perhaps reflecting the BBC’s diversity remit.
What sort of issues do they tackle?
Some which are rarely discuses and are often thought of as taboo content.
What does their range of content target?
It targets their audiences age group of 55+
Do they have interactive content available, and where is this most often seen?
They do have interactive content offers, especially media.
Will every audience take on the “preferred reading” of the the show?
No.
Why do some men think that this show is sexist?
Because it is only aimed at women and focuses on their issues.
It’s a niche show; which the BBC can do
What are some women’s options on the show?
Focuses too much on domestic life and superficiality e.g. talking about body hair in bridgerton and not more hard hitting topics
What is the regulatory board responsible for the radio industry in the UK?
Ofcom
What does the term “Watershed” mean and how is it applied to Woman’s Hour?
It is the time slot which is pre-watershed (anything pre 9pm) where content is more ahead to be child friendly.
What does the 10 am time slot reflect about the content?
That the content is kept relatively family friendly.
What is the name of the spin off shoe of Woman’s Hour?
Late Night Woman’s Hour
Why did they make this?
They made it in attempt to target slightly younger women aged 35-55 who prefer more adult content.
What is happening to the radio listenership? And what is the reason for this?
It is declining in general, as many younger audiences prefer other forms of media.
What is the average age of a Woman’s Hour listener?
55+, many being over 65 years of age.
What is another reason for them making their spin off “Late Night Women’s Hour”?
Due to the younger audience age of LNWH, thy are trying to use an existing successful format to broaden the audience and attract future listeners for normal Women’s Hour.
What happened in 2021 which made Ofcom receive 564 complaints about presenter Emma Barnett?
Audiences complained that Emma Barnett had been hostile and potentially Islamaphobic towards a Muslim guest.
What did the BBC do about this?
The BBC self regulated that content by removing that episode from their webs and catch up.
