Late Night Woman's Hour Flashcards
What is LNWH a spin off from?
Woman’s hour
What is some product context of LNWH?
- Broadcast once a month, late at night
- Presented by Lauren Laverne and features a number of female panelists
- On BBC R4
What is significant of each episode of LNWH?
Each episode focuses on a particular theme relevant to its female audience
How does LNWH demonstrate societal shifts?
LNWH features frank and open discussion, it is also unusual for a strictly female panel to feature on a radio show which shows an increase in gender equality
What are the aims of BBC productions?
inform, educate, entertain
What type of company is the BBC?
Public service broadcaster which gets funding from the government and license fees
When was Woman’s Hour first broadcast and why is this significant?
It was first broadcast in the 1940s. There has been significant historical and social shifts since then and this is evident in the LNWH productions through the full female panel and topics discussed in the show
What is funding like for LNWH?
It is a PSB, funding is limited
What are the key features of the LNWH radio episodes?
- Strictly female contributors
- Predominantly unadorned dialogue (without music/sound effects)
- Topics explore are usually intellectual with specialised vocabulary
What could be said about having Lauren Laverne as the host for LNWH?
Lauren Laverne is an interesting host choice as she is most commonly known for her association with alternative music and reputation for being outspoken and irreverent.
How are LNWH broadcasts tailored to the hosts persona?
LNWH broadcasts are tailored to her persona as there is less regulation after the watershed which allows her to be outspoken and controversial.
What is the link between the controversy in LNWH episodes and audience reach?
Target audiences, especially young adult females, are likely to find this aspect of the show appealing. It may also help reach out to a wider range of listeners thus increasing audience share
How are audiences categorised for LNWH?
Audiences are categorised in terms of age, social class and expected levels of education
What keyword could you use to describe the LNWH audience?
Niche
How is LNWH distributed and circulated?
- DAB Radio (BBC R4)
- Podcasts
- Apps on digitally convergent platforms such as computers and smartphones
What is the time slot that LNWH is scheduled to air? How is this significant in terms of audience share?
11pm broadcast time slot. This might have previously limited audience share but now consumers can listen on devices other than radios which means the time a broadcast air live might less significant
What does the broadcasting time slot allow the broadcasters of LNWH to do?
The late night slot after the watershed allows broadcasters freedom to make challenging or controversial content in the knowledge that it can still reach audiences
How might LNWH support Curran and Seaton’s media theory?
It supports the idea that socially diverse patterns of ownership help create conditions for varied and adventurous productions
What is significant about the gender bias amongst the panellists of LNWH?
Radio 4 has a traditional male audience, the content of the show could be explored against the traditional demographic of Radio 4
Why might some of the content of the episodes be purposely controversial?
To invite strong response and polarise audience opinion to raise awareness and create discussion about topics
How might LNWH be compared to other female dominated media texts such as Loose Women? How could this be linked to Stuart Halls’ reception theory?
Loose Women will often have male guests whereas LNWH doesn’t. This might be unsettling or alienating for male listeners; and could also create an oppositional reading in terms of a masculine response to the show.
