Comp 1:Radio

Key terms: The Radio Industry

·         Emerging media- refers to communication through digital technology and new platforms with interactive elements, for example podcasts, social media, etc.

·         Public Service Broadcaster- a radio or television broadcaster that is seen to offer a public service by catering for a range of tastes and audiences. The main public service broadcasters in the UK are the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and S4C.

·         Profile- for radio stations this refers to how they are defined to their target audience through their brand identity, which may be defined by, for example, the presenters or programme style. This includes their aims and their ethos.

·         Cross-platform marketing- where one form in advertised on another media platform. For example, BBC 1 will broadcast promotional advertisements for its radio stations; these will also b on the BBC website.

·         Syndicated output- when radio stations make and sell a programme to other stations, or buy a programme that may be available to other radio stations.

·         Stripping- a technique used in radio and television whereby a certain programme is broadcast at the same time every day. In radio this attracts an audience who associate a particular programme with their daily routine, for example driving home from working.

·         Audio streaming- where listeners can click on a link to play the radio programme instantly. This has increased the global reach of BBC radio, as listeners abroad can tune in to hear the live programme.  

Explore Lauren Laverne’s other broadcasting work

Lauren Laverne is a multi-award-winning broadcaster with twenty years’ experience working in broadcasting and the music industry. She has hosted on every major British television network and on BBC Radios 1,2,3,4,5 Live and 6Music, where she currently hosts the morning show.

Lauren began her career in music. As a teenager a record deal for her band Kenickie brought her to London. Guest spots on shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks brought offers of television work on music shows She then discovered her passion for radio through a highly acclaimed stint as a DJ for leading London radio station XFM. This was followed by a move to BBC 6Music, where she now hosts a daily show with over 1 million listeners. She also presents on BBC Radio 4, both as a documentary maker and as part of the team on the iconic Woman’s Hour.

Laverne’s successful and varied career includes a specialism in presenting live – on radio, at events. She has hosted The Mercury Prize, The Turner Prize and The British Fashion Awards numerous times. She has presented a diverse range of arts and culture shows on television, from BBC 2’s Glastonbury coverage to BBC 1’s Film 2017. She hosted Channel 4 music show Transmission, BBC 2’s The Culture Show and Channel 4’s satirical news programme 10 o’clock Live for several seasons. She is a regular host of world premieres in London’s Leicester Square, working at the London Film Festival for over half a decade.

Consider the extent to which Late Night Woman’s Hour has been designed specifically to suit Laverne’s persona rather than being a broadcast she has been asked to present?

Late Night Woman’s Hour has, to a partial extent, been designed to suit Laverne’s persona and discusses topics that she would be interested in as to legitimise the conversations on the podcast that bring in different women’s views and since Laverne does some of the research behind the programme this means that she most likely would have an interest in the subjects she is choosing for the podcast to talk about.

 Some other radio presenters (often white males) have carried a status that means their personalities dominate broadcasts (Chris Evans, Chris Moyles et al.) might Laverne be considered in the same way?

She has dominated many broadcasts across BBC radio programmes however, she has worked for a shorter amount of time in radio than the two other presenters and they are both known for successful radio shows like “Too much gravy” on Radio 1(Chris Evans) and the Longest Radio 1 show (Chris Moyles) which broke the Guinness world record.

Research Kirsty Young, the female presenter of Desert Island Discs on Radio 4.

Kirsty Young is a Scottish television and radio presenter best known as one of the original newsreaders of 5 News on Channel 5, particularly because of its unique presentation style for the time that featured newsreaders standing up, or sitting on a desk rather than behind it. She presented 5 News from its launch in 1997 until 2007, leaving briefly in 2000 for ITV News before returning in 2002. Since 2006 she has been the main presenter of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs and previously presented Crimewatch on BBC One from 2008-2015.

•       What are the similarities and differences between them?

Similarities- both have worked in television and radio programmes, having their own sense of style that differentiates them from others. Also, they are both prominent figures in radio programmes and are popular among a middle aged to older audience.

Differences- Kirsty Young has been on fewer tv and radio programmes than Lauren Laverne, but Laverne has a shorter media career as she is younger(1994- present). Also, Lauren has worked on a wider variety of networks and radio channels whereas Kirsty has only worker with the BBC, Channel 5 and ITV.

•       Who might appeal to a wider range of listeners? What reasons do you have for your conclusion?

Lauren Laverne will appeal to a wider range of audiences and she already discusses topics that interest older generations but her radio show “Late Night Woman’s Hour” is trying to draw in the millennial audiences due to its later broadcasting. Also, the topics that Laverne proposes are more modern and younger audiences can understand and relate to them.