Ms Warrington

 BBC - Impartiality:

1.  The BBC is supposed to be impartial. Has it ever been accused of being biased? When and why?

Criticism of the BBC's Middle East coverage from supporters of both Israel and Palestine led the BBC to commission an investigation and report from a senior broadcast journalist Malcolm Balen [the Balen Report].
The BBC's refusal to release the report under the ‘Freedom of Information Act 2000’ resulted in a long running legal case which continues. This led to speculation that the report was offensive, as well as hypocritical as the BBC frequently made use itself of Freedom of Information Act requests when researching news stories.
The BBCs "Independent Panel Report" claimed "apart from individual lapses, there was little to suggest deliberate or systematic bias" in the BBC's reporting of the middle east. However it can be argued their coverage had been "inconsistent," "not always providing a complete picture" and "misleading". It suggested that in fact BBC coverage implicitly favoured the Israeli side

2.    Do you think it is important for the BBC to be impartial?

The reason why the BBC should be impartial is because it is funded by the public, via TV license fee, this goes straight to the BBC. Therefore it would not be unjust to distribute one side of the story as they are funded by different types of people [multi-cultural, religion etc]

3.    Do you think it is POSSIBLE for a media institution to be impartial?

I don’t believe it is possible for any Media Institution to be impartial as I think that they are all in favour of one party. I think that the Government always has a way to influence decisions and they can manipulate the truth to make it out like facts to suit their opinions.

4.    What are the advantages and disadvantages of trying to be impartial, for a media institution?

Advantages
-          You will not receive any complaints of being biased
-          Both sides of the story will be told
-          Viewers will be satisfied as all points are being put across
-          Different views and opinions from different audiences.
-          More reliable

Disadvantages
-          If not all sides are put across then it will look like you are in favour of one side
-          People have their own opinions so they will judge the story whether they are in favour of their views or not. This will then result in their opinions of the Institution.
-     Raise up issues/debates about what people think is right and wrong
-     Almost impossible for complete impartiality as not everyone thinks alike and to show the views of millions is difficult

5.      Advantages and disadvantages for PBS and Commercial Radio Station:

Public Service Broadcasting
Advantages
-          No advertising
-          Not to be biased
-          Have no say in public affairs other then the news
Disadvantages
-          Need to cover all stories
-          May not have enough air time to cover all opinions of the consumers
Commercial Radio Stations
Advantages
-          Audience may benefit from the adverts
-          Intervals between shows
-          Ability to advertise their own things on the radio
Disadvantages
-          They can be biased
-          They can choose what to say on air
-          The company may be run by their own belief, no consideration of others except the target audience.

 

 

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Radio Programme Research

The Radio Station: BBC Radio One

Name of show: Vernon Kay

When show airs: Saturdays – 10am-1pm

About the Presenter: Successful modelling career to stardom by Channel 4. Also won Model Of The Week on The Big Breakfast. He’s a successful part of the T4 team on Channel 4 [Hosts live events like T In The Park and the Saturday night TV show Boys And Girls]

Appearance of Website: Website background is orange and it has images of himself and typical ‘ practical joke’ objects. For example, chatter teeth’s, arrows, bow ties, slingies. This implies that the show is aimed at the younger generation, probably children in their teens.

Convergence: His website has links to Videos, Pictures, Webcam, quizzes, listening to Live Shows. It also has contact links including a Phone Number, Email Address and a link to his Twitter and BBC Radio Ones Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Target Audience: Possibly teenagers.

To find out more: Follow him up on Twitter or contact him using his shows Number and Email Address

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006ww2c


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 Radio Research

1. Who invented radio and when?

Guglielmo Marcon [Italian inventor] invented the radio in 1895. He was recognized for his development of a radio telegraph system.

 

2. When was the BBC formed?

The BBC [British Broadcasting Co-operation] was formed in 18 October 1922.

3. What was the vision of the first general manager for the BBC's purpose - and what was his name?

The founder of The BBC was John Reith, his vision was to inform, educate and entertain the nation. He tried his best to ensure politicians did not influence the BBC.

4. What does it mean that the BBC is 'independent' or 'impartial' and why is this important?

The BBC must ensure they are impartial [unbiased] when informing people because the viewers pay them, via T.V Licence, therefore The BBC must make sure that they do not mislead the audience and also entertain all of them by putting on a variety of shows.

5. In what decade was TV invented?

The idea [designs] of TV was first introduced in the 1880’s. However the actual T.V was invented in 1880’s.

6. How did the BBC change during World War II?
During the war The BBC had to change to broadcasting using the Radio rather than the T.V, this was done to inform war victims of what was happening
 

7. What new radio stations started up on the BBC in the 1960s?

BBC Radio 1

8. Why did the BBC quarrel with the government in the 1980s?

They argued over ‘editorial independence’, this was the fight for the BBC right to publish anything they desire without the intervention from the government.

9. What major technological development saw the BBC change the way they broadcast radio in the 1990s?

Digital technology - The internet had taken over the way BBC had broadcasted [Analogue]. The BBC started developing a variety of digital broadcasting and internet services

10. How have the ways the BBC reaches it audiences developed since 2000?

BBC ensured that viewers were able to access them everywhere they went. This was done by making it available on the Radio, T.V, Internet and also Phone.  A recent development they added was the use of ‘BBC iPlayer’, this allows viewers to watch shows that were given on T.V, and listen to podcasts, the radio. Gives people links to blogs and lets them download videos

11. How the arrival of digital broadcasting affect BBC radio (name some of the new stations that were created)?

More radio stations were made and broadcasted to the viewers in a variety of methods. For example, radio, internet etc.

Some stations created: BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5, BBC Radio 6, BBC Radio 7.