Women’s Hour (I&A) Flashcards
When was the first edition of women’s hour broadcasted?
1946
Who originally presented Women’s Hour?
Alan Ivimey
What were the early episodes of WH like?
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’
What did WH evolve into?
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.
Notable guests on WH
Oprah, Angelina Jolie and Hillary Clinton
When did the BBC start a regular public television broadcasting service in the UK?
1932
Where is WH broadcasted?
BBC Radio 4
When is WH broadcasted?
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
What is Radio 4’s mission statement?
“The service should appeal to listeners seeking intelligent programmes in many genres which inform, educate and entertain.”
What is the most-used brand in the UK for media?
BBC
What is interactive radio?
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.
How does Woman’s Hour reflect tokenism?
It is a show set aside for women which may imply that other radio content was oriented towards men.
What is tokenism?
the practice of doing something only to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being treated fairly
How is the BBC funded?
Licence fee
Importance of BBC funding
It allows them to continue being an independent, impartial broadcaster that is not under pressure to appeal to advertisers
What is the BBC considered to be by many?
A pillar of British life and a reliable and trustworthy source
What is the Royal Charter?
The constitutional basis for the BBC. It sets out public purposes of the BBC and guarantees its independence.
What is the BBC’s mission?
To enrich people’s lives with programmes and services that inform, educate and entertain.
Who would Radio 4 appeal to?
Anyone interested in intelligent speech as its schedule is packed with insightful journalism, witty comedy and fascinating features.
Is Radio 4 niche or mainstream?
Niche
How does the Radio market itself?
- 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.
How are radio schedules created?
- based on research to maximise the target audience
- created in relation to what people would be doing
When was BBC Sounds launched?
2018
What is the BBC Sounds slogan?
‘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.
Stats of UK plays for BBC Sounds (2020-21)
1.3 billion
Who are the current presenters of Women’s Hour?
Emma Barnett and Anita Rani
Who is Emma Barnett?
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
Who is Anita Rani?
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.’
What topics are discussed on WH?
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.
Curran and Seaton’s Profit and Power Theory- WH
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.
Livingstone and Lunt’s Regulation Theory - WH
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.
Who regulates BBC?
Ofcom
Role of Ofcom
Ensures that services are high quality and appealing to a wide audience and protect audiences from offensive/harmful material.
Regulation of BBC as PSB
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’.
How many listeners did the BBC have each week in 2021?
Over 34 million
How many listeners did Radio 4 have each week in 2021?
Over 10 million
Percentage of male to female listeners for BBC Radio 4
Men - 51%
Women - 49%
What is the age bracket who listens to Radio 4 the most?
65+ as speech-led stations tend to be targeted at an older demographic.
What is the social grade who listens to BBC Radio 4 the most?
AB
Conventions of Woman’s Hour
- Presenter
- Discussions
- Contributors
What would a male response be to WH?
May be unsettling or alienating for male listeners.
What would a female response be to WH?
It may appeal to them as they feel their concerns are underrepresented.
Interaction within WH
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.
How does WH reflect the needs of a specialised audience?
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
Hall’s Reception Theory - WH
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))
bell hooks Feminist Theory - WH
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.
Shirky’s End of Audience Theory - WH
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.
