My given assignment was to look into three radio station, investigate
how they each approach different news stories in order to appeal to their specific
target audience. The radio programmes I have evaluated highlighted; BBC radio
1, BBC Radio 5 Live and Key 103. The main focus were to analyse two news stories which have
been in the headlines recently, these were; Pepe Gurardiola becoming the new
manager of Manchester City and Isis Mother sentenced to 6 years in jail.
Radio 1 Newsbeat
The first thing I found out about the station is the fact
that the duration of their news programme is 15/18 minutes long. The News story
on Pepe Guardiola’s lasted for 3 minutes long. Listening through the programme I
could identify that the main formats used through that particular story were;
elements of wrap, a cue from the presenter before the story is spoken on in
more details, as well as two ways. Throughout the programme there was a
combination of audio, along with experts and fans opinions which shows balanced
to the story as they all share different views, allowing the audience to
gain a more broad understanding on the subject. The mode of address used was extremely
conversational drawing the audience more further to the story which fits
perfectly well with their young target audience. The informal language used can
be detected in some words that the presenter uses such as saying “Man City” instead
of its full name “Manchester City”, this is done as the audience are also most
likely used to say the name of the football team in such way. By the station
putting that into consideration, enables the audience to connect more to the news story.
The presenter is also another way to connect the audience as heard from their
voices, that they most likely to be quite young, early 30s which in terms of
radio presenting can be seen as slightly younger than the average presenters.
The way the presenter speaks sounds a lot friendly and how she announces the
news with her south London accent, and tone of voice helps the audience to
easily understand and immediately attracts them to continue listening to the
programme as it reflects the way most young people speak as well. The story was
national news when it was first broadcast, which meant it was slotted as one of
the stations main stories of day, rather than usually where it would have been
put on the sport section. With the fact that the target audience is 15-29,
means that sports is a very huge part of their lives, and a story such as this
will make the audience eager to listen more in depth about it, by the station
having the story as one of their main stories will most definitely attract a
large amount of their target audience. Instrumental up to beat music bed is used throughout, which again reinforces the appeal of the target audience. In comparison to BBC Radio 4 in which
their presenter use a more formal approach to their news story language wise as
well as tone wise, which a young audience may find it difficult to understand
and grasp the meaning of the story.
Moving on to the next story also featured in the programme;
the ISIS mother sentenced to 6 years in prison. This particular story was spoken
on in greater depth as it concerns everyone in the country, the nation is fully
aware of the danger the group mentioned can bring to the country. The presenter
gives an overview, adding on with facts and interviews with people relevant to
the story, for example there was an audio clip on what the women accused had to
say about the matter. The format beings with wraps to introduce the piece of
audio. This audio is a useful tools as maintains the audience interest/
attention in the story and also show actuality. BBC Radio one was the only
station that spoke about the story to a certain extent, providing the audience
with more insight information on the matter, so the audience could full
understand the entire story. This was done as their audio is a much young than
the other stations, and the other stations decided to approach the story by
putting the story as a bulletin rather than a show.
5 Live
The story of Pepe Gurardiola is presented as a headline, the
story straight goes to an audio clip of the present manager confirm his
departure in a few months and being replaced by Pepe Gurardiola. This the progressed
with the presenter sharing a bit more facts on the story. The duration for this
story was 1 minute and a few seconds long. This is less time than BBC one had
covered about the story, 5live only briefs the audience about the story with
going id further details. Through listening to the programme I could identify
the format used which were; a wrap, the presenter is heard at the beginning of
the news presenting the story and finally at the end to wrap to the story and
moving on to the next one. The story is also a two way, this can be recognised as
the presenter cuts to the stations senior football reporter who speaks more one
the subject. The language used is slightly formal, with words used such as “speculations”
which a younger audience may not use in their everyday vocabulary, subjecting that
they may not pay attention to the news more than an older audience would do and
understand more clearly on what the audience. The presenter has a hint of a
welsh accent which again will probably appeal to an older audience than a
younger audience as they will be able to establish that fact, compared to a
younger audience who will most likely be confused and disinterested to continue
listening. The clips within the news programme are much longer, with less of
the presenter speaking, this can attract the attention of the audience as it
provides them with evidence and facts of stories which is more entertaining
than a presenter just peaking for the full hour. The target audience for 5 live
35+ male, which means the news coverage is presented less upbeat, compared to
BBC1 newsbeat who makes sure to have upbeat music within their packages as it appeals
to their young audience (15-29). Within the news coverage of Pepe Gurardiola, 5
live had no music bed underneath, the news is presented in more slow paced
giving time for the listeners to understand and hear clearly what is being
said. Overall the headline is sports related which means this fits perfectly
with the target audience criteria as middles age men are big footballer fans
and sports in general.
The next story was on the ISIS mother sentenced to 6 years in
prison. The coverage of this story was
only for 17 seconds, which is not sufficient as it does not provide the
listeners with in depth information on the story, in comparison to the way BBC1 Newsbeat did for the same news story. The story is presented as a bulletin being the main news of
the day, considering the fact this is story is national and affects the
majority of people in the country. The target audience of Radio 5 Live will
most likely be attracted to this story as they older and have a better upstanding
on what affect this could have of the country, some listeners could have even
been ex-soldier so they will more aware of the gravity of this story, compared
to a young person who may take the issue as serious as they want be connected
to the story as much considering the fact that the women spoken is a mother,
which a young audience will not have any emotional affect an older audience
will have on the story. The format of this
story is copy only, as the presenter does not include any audio, she briefly
speaks on the subject and moves on.
Key 103
The Pepe Guardiola story is a national story so therefore it
will be broadcasted on every station. Although the target audience for Key 103
is mainly for women, this story will also grabs the audience attention as this
a big news concern a very well know football team, which is located in
Manchester where the station target audience mostly live and where the station
is also located.
The news story of the ISIS mother who has recently been
sentenced to 6 years in prison. The fact the stations target audience is aimed
at women age 25-40, already highlights the fact that this story is going to be a
headline, the target of the stations will most likely be draw to this story as it can reflect to them in some way, considering the fact that the
person accused of the crime is a woman and also a mother, which some listeners
are most likely to be around that target age range. Many women/ mother will have a strong opinion on the
matter, especially with the fact that a child is involved. An emotional respond
will come out from the listeners as the thought of an innocent child being
dragged to this issue could sound quite disturbing.
