Sunday, February 3, 2008

TOPIC AREA 3 - COMMUNITY RADIO

Potential Focus Areas

  • Local radio stations and their relationship with their local community (can include pirate radio
  • Do national radio stations have specific communities that listen to their programming?
  • Can a national radio station meet the needs of a community/communities?
  • How do radio stations form communities?
  • Functions and roles of community radio, including public service broadcasting and local radio (public and/or commercial)
  • The needs of community/community identity
  • Public access
  • Community radio as balance for London-centric broadcasting
  • Impact of digital revolution on radio industry with a focus on one community audience/ one community station

How might I research radio?

  • Internet - radio home pages, message boards, chat rooms & e-mail DJ’s
  • Record shows/ download podcasts - listen to audience participation, is there a sense of community? How is this expressed?
  • Interview listeners - what do they get out of the show? How do they feel like members of a community?
  • Print material - search for articles on the Internet, books, journals or newspapers including industry papers

Examples of potential research titles
Can a national radio station meet the needs of a range of diverse communities in its programming?
OR
How does x dj construct a community through his/her daily show?
OR
How does x local radio station target its local audience?

How do I research this?

  • Choose a national radio station e.g. Radio 1 or a local station eg LGR or a digital station eg 6
  • Music or a particular DJ o a particular audience
  • Examine the schedule and highlight specialist programming
  • Choose a couple of programmes to examine in greater detail.
  • Contact listeners, search for articles, look on the Internet

See your folder for further ideas

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