Radio: The Surgery & Life Hacks
Analysis
Listen to the extracts from The Surgery and Life Hacks above and answer the following questions:
1) What do the titles The Surgery and Life Hacks suggest?
The title 'the surgery' suggests that the topics discussed on the broadcast are designed with the aim of healing or piecing people back together, like surgery would heal a sick person.
'Life hacks' suggests something similar; you can find tips and tricks on this broadcast around general life.
The title 'the surgery' suggests that the topics discussed on the broadcast are designed with the aim of healing or piecing people back together, like surgery would heal a sick person.
'Life hacks' suggests something similar; you can find tips and tricks on this broadcast around general life.
2) How are the programmes constructed to appeal to a youth audience?
- Youth language is used casually, so they expect the audience to know what these mean (e.g. FOMO - fear of missing out)
- They discuss youth issues (school, fitting in, anxiety, etc)
Friendly atmosphere created with the informal conversation at the beginning of The Surgery broadcast (pizza and banter) - The music/songs used in the ad breaks are mainstream artists that a youth audience would be aware of (e.g Alessia Cara and Nick Jonas)
3) What does the choice of the presenter (e.g. Katie Thistleton) and Dr Modgil suggest about the BBC’s approach to diversity and representation?
Katie Thistleton is from Manchester and Dr Modgil is half-Indian. BBC have deliberately chosen a diverse pair as to show the audience that they respect all cultures and applaud diversity. It is also the fact that the UK, London especially, contains a very diverse population so they are clearly trying to seek out their target audience and allow them to identify with or form personal relationships (Blumler & Katz) with the presenters.
Katie Thistleton is from Manchester and Dr Modgil is half-Indian. BBC have deliberately chosen a diverse pair as to show the audience that they respect all cultures and applaud diversity. It is also the fact that the UK, London especially, contains a very diverse population so they are clearly trying to seek out their target audience and allow them to identify with or form personal relationships (Blumler & Katz) with the presenters.
4) Look at this promotional graphic produced by BBC for The Surgery. How does it construct a representation of a youth audience?
The graphic above uses sans-serif fonts and bright, fun colours. Furthermore, they have included emojis which a youth audience would be very familiar with. The question asked relates to social media so a youth audience would be quite drawn to this.
The graphic above uses sans-serif fonts and bright, fun colours. Furthermore, they have included emojis which a youth audience would be very familiar with. The question asked relates to social media so a youth audience would be quite drawn to this.
5) Now look at the graphic from a digital media perspective: how does it suggest audiences are listening to and interacting with BBC broadcasts in the digital media landscape?
It suggests that audiences are listening to and interacting with BBC broadcasters through their phone. This could be via social media or through the BBC radio app.
It suggests that audiences are listening to and interacting with BBC broadcasters through their phone. This could be via social media or through the BBC radio app.
Audience
1) What is the target audience for BBC Radio 1?
15-29 year olds because they broadcast a distinctive mix of new music and entertainment plus news, documentaries and advice for young adults.
15-29 year olds because they broadcast a distinctive mix of new music and entertainment plus news, documentaries and advice for young adults.
2) Who is the actual audience for BBC Radio 1?
The actual audience for BBC radio 1 is much higher: 30 years and over. 30% of 35-44 year olds think it is aimed at them. (https://www.radiocentre.org/files/appendix_a___bdrc_bbc_r1_r2_audience_research_website.pdf)
3) What audience pleasures are offered by The Surgery and Life Hacks? Apply Blumler and Katz’s Uses and Gratifications theory.
Personal identity - listeners can identify with the issues discussed and benefit from the advice given
Personal relationships - audiences can develop a liking to the presenters (Katie and Radha) due to their friendly nature
Diversion - Listeners can enjoy the music played and listen to people they are fans of (e.g. Stormzy)
Surveillance - Listeners can learn how to deal and cope with certain life issues
Personal identity - listeners can identify with the issues discussed and benefit from the advice given
Personal relationships - audiences can develop a liking to the presenters (Katie and Radha) due to their friendly nature
Diversion - Listeners can enjoy the music played and listen to people they are fans of (e.g. Stormzy)
Surveillance - Listeners can learn how to deal and cope with certain life issues
4) Read these Guardian reviews of The Surgery and Life Hacks. What do the reviews praise the programmes for?
- Encouraging the young audience to not only get in touch with the programme but to talk to the right support agencies, and, indeed, to friends and family about any problems they might have.
- The Surgery has done well on educating their audience about rape and consent during sex.
- The broadcast does well to educate young people on the gap between priveleged white people and BAME groups. They have made it clear that there is a big gap due to discrimination and many young people were unaware of this.
5) Read this NME feature on Radio 1 listener figures. What are the key statistics to take from this article regarding the decline in Radio 1 audience ratings?
- Radio 1 has lost 200,000 weekly listeners since May, when they attracted 9.4 million listeners a week.
- There was better news for Radio 1 in terms of its digital audience, with the station now posting a record 16 million YouTube views a week.
- The station is also still the top choice for listeners aged 15 to 24 in the UK.
Industries
1) How does The Surgery and Life Hacks meet the BBC mission statement to Educate, Inform and Entertain?
They educate their audience by providing them with advice regarding youth related issues. They inform them on current news and popular stories. They entertain them with music.
They educate their audience by providing them with advice regarding youth related issues. They inform them on current news and popular stories. They entertain them with music.
2) Read the first five pages of this Ofcom document laying out its regulation of the BBC. Pick out three key points in the summary section.
- The BBC is the UK’s most widely-used media organisation, providing programming on television and radio and content online and the public has exceptionally high expectations of the BBC.
- The BBC must deliver the mission and public purposes set out in its new Royal Charter (the Charter). For the first time, the BBC will be robustly held to account for doing so by an independent, external regulator.
- It is Ofcom's job to scrutinise, measure and report on the BBC’s performance.
3) Now read what the license framework will seek to do (letters a-h). Which of these points relate to BBC Radio 1 and The Surgery / Life Hacks?
1) Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. We are requiring Radio 1 to offer a minimum number of major social action campaigns each year. Providing information and raising awareness of social issues affecting young people and giving them a platform to engage with is one of the key ways Radio 1 can set itself apart from other radio stations
2) Support a wide range of valued genres. The BBC must support a wide range of genres across its channels and services, such as drama, comedy, factual programmes and different types of music. 2 Ofcom expects the BBC to support valued genres, particularly those that have seen declining investment. We also expect the BBC to continue producing programmes on a broad range of established themes and interests – including but not exclusively programmes covering politics, business, consumer issues, rural affairs, health, disability and social action
3) Require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population. We are requiring the BBC to put in place a new commissioning Code of Practice for Diversity, approved by us, by April 2018. This will ensure that on- and off-screen diversity considerations are embedded in the commissioning process. We will also ensure the BBC is publicly accountable for achieving its workforce diversity targets.
1) Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. We are requiring Radio 1 to offer a minimum number of major social action campaigns each year. Providing information and raising awareness of social issues affecting young people and giving them a platform to engage with is one of the key ways Radio 1 can set itself apart from other radio stations
2) Support a wide range of valued genres. The BBC must support a wide range of genres across its channels and services, such as drama, comedy, factual programmes and different types of music. 2 Ofcom expects the BBC to support valued genres, particularly those that have seen declining investment. We also expect the BBC to continue producing programmes on a broad range of established themes and interests – including but not exclusively programmes covering politics, business, consumer issues, rural affairs, health, disability and social action
3) Require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population. We are requiring the BBC to put in place a new commissioning Code of Practice for Diversity, approved by us, by April 2018. This will ensure that on- and off-screen diversity considerations are embedded in the commissioning process. We will also ensure the BBC is publicly accountable for achieving its workforce diversity targets.
4) What do you think are the three most important aspects in the a-h list? Why?
I think the three most important aspects are: Strengthen news and current affairs to ensure the public is kept informed on important issues. Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. Raise awareness of social issues affecting young people so that young people have a platform to engage with. Require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population so that no discrimination is taking place on the BBC and it is a fair working environment.
I think the three most important aspects are: Strengthen news and current affairs to ensure the public is kept informed on important issues. Support social action campaigns on BBC radio. Raise awareness of social issues affecting young people so that young people have a platform to engage with. Require the BBC to reflect the full diversity of the UK population so that no discrimination is taking place on the BBC and it is a fair working environment.
5) Read point 1.9: What do Ofcom plan to review in terms of diversity and audience?
They plan to examine the on-screen diversity of the BBC’s programming, including in its popular peak time shows. The review will ask what audiences expect from the BBC to understand whether it reflects and portrays the lives of all people across the whole of the UK, ranging from younger and older audiences to diverse communities.
They plan to examine the on-screen diversity of the BBC’s programming, including in its popular peak time shows. The review will ask what audiences expect from the BBC to understand whether it reflects and portrays the lives of all people across the whole of the UK, ranging from younger and older audiences to diverse communities.
Read this Guardian interview with BBC 1 Controller Ben Cooper.
6) What is Ben Cooper trying to do with Radio 1?
He is trying to make Radio 1 like a Netflix for radio. “My focus is to bring new audiences and new ways to the BBC,” he says.
7) How does he argue that Radio 1 is doing better with younger audiences than the statistics suggest?
He suggests that the way the statistics are calculated is incorrect which is why the average is older than it seems. He reckons the most common age of a Radio 1 listener is 18. And for its YouTube channel, it is 12- to 17-year-old females.
8) Why does he suggest Radio 1 is distinctive from commercial radio?
“Are we distinctive from commercial radio? Yes we are,” he says. “We will play something like 4,000 different tracks a month, commercial radio plays about 400.
9) Why is Radio 1 increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms?
They are increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms because these are the platforms most young people engage with and are interested in. If they focus on these, they can generate a larger audience from them.
6) What is Ben Cooper trying to do with Radio 1?
He is trying to make Radio 1 like a Netflix for radio. “My focus is to bring new audiences and new ways to the BBC,” he says.
7) How does he argue that Radio 1 is doing better with younger audiences than the statistics suggest?
He suggests that the way the statistics are calculated is incorrect which is why the average is older than it seems. He reckons the most common age of a Radio 1 listener is 18. And for its YouTube channel, it is 12- to 17-year-old females.
8) Why does he suggest Radio 1 is distinctive from commercial radio?
“Are we distinctive from commercial radio? Yes we are,” he says. “We will play something like 4,000 different tracks a month, commercial radio plays about 400.
9) Why is Radio 1 increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms?
They are increasingly focusing on YouTube views and digital platforms because these are the platforms most young people engage with and are interested in. If they focus on these, they can generate a larger audience from them.
10) In your opinion, should the BBC’s remit include targeting young audiences via Radio 1 or should this content be left to commercial broadcasters? Explain your answer.
Yes, I think their remit should include targeting a young audience via Radio 1. This is because they have the responsility of 'informing, educating and entertaining' the British public so this includes all ages. If the job is left to commercial broadcasters, they won't do as good a job because they only care about making profit.
Yes, I think their remit should include targeting a young audience via Radio 1. This is because they have the responsility of 'informing, educating and entertaining' the British public so this includes all ages. If the job is left to commercial broadcasters, they won't do as good a job because they only care about making profit.
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