Representation of Gender in Radio

AS Media Studies

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Introduction to Radio• The BBC first started broadcasting in 1922

( and they are still the largest radio institution.)

• Pirate radio started in 1964 with Radio Caroline broadcasting from a ship in the English Channel.

• It was so successful that the BBC launched Radio 1, 2,3 and 4 in 1967 to rival them.

• Commercial radio stations were allowed to begin broadcasting locally in 1973 and nationally in 1992 with Classic FM.

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Digital Radio Stations• You may be given a digital radio station programme to

analyse.

• DAB is increasing the number of stations broadcasting as well as improving the quality of reception - computer or DAB Radio

• Most are now free to air - many cater to a niche audience and specialisein certain types of music.

• Some of the biggest are: Radio 1extra, BBC Radio 6, Absolute Radio.

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The Codes of Radio

• The medium of radio is known as an ‘intimate’ medium.

• It broadcasts directly to you rather than the mass audience.

• We often listen to the radio in the background while we are doing other things.

• So radio stations need a clear identity that is established within seconds of listening to it.

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The Codes of Radio

• As an audience we listen to it quickly to determine the genre and content of the station and whether we want to listen to it or not.

• Local radio can be very narrowcast in terms of audience - broadcasting to a very specific local audience e.g. BBC Radio Lancashire.

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The Codes of Radio• Radio has 4 main codes:

• Words• Sounds• Music• Silence

Radio can only communicate by using sound or lack of sound.

We can deconstruct a radio programme by identifying the combination of these 4 codes used.

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Genres of Radio Programme

• Music shows• Drama - e.g. The Archers (Soap Opera)• Comedy - The League of Gentlemen,

Little Britain etc…• Panel programmes - Give Us A Clue

etc…• Documentary• Current Affairs

Deconstructing Radio Programmes

• You need to consider…

• Who has made the programme? ( Different institutions offer Different ideologies and have different target audiences.)

• Who is presenting the programme? ( How has the DJ/ presenter established their image?)

• How is the programme constructed? ( jingles, commercials, travel, news, weather?)

Analysis of a Programme

• The Archers is a daily radio Soap Opera.

• Broadcast on BBC Radio 4 since 1950.

• It is the worlds longest running radio Soap.

• 5 million listeners.• The Archers is set in the fictional village of Ambridge in

the midlands.• Many of the storylines concern the title family, the

middle-class Archers who own and manage Brookfield Farm.

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Task

• Analyse the representation of gender in the following 5 minute extract of The Archers.