Dear Hugh and Jamie,
Greetings to you both - I wanted you to know that I planned to submit a
proposal for your conference, but submitted one to Michele's instead.
Since my work on the BBC and broadcast policies begins in the late 40s,
it seemed more apropos.
Just FYI, here's what I submitted:
Quantifying race: NBC, BBC and Race Relations in the Early 1950s
Hilmes, Miller and others have discussed the relationship between
commercial interests of America’s Network and staunch public service
doctrines of the BBC. As issues related to race relations shaped
programming efforts in the US and UK during 1952, subsequent audience
responses also helped to define separate cultural histories, as
reflected on television screens.
Following criticism from black audiences on representations, NBC amassed
data for a report to organizations concerned with negative stereotypes,
and limited opportunities. These actions were in partial response to
the Coordinating Council of Negro Performers, yet only seemed to
represent a limited commitment toward racial fairness as evidenced by
the failure of the Nat King Cole Show. Meanwhile the BBC, tempered by
Reithian notions of educational onus, redirected programming policies in
an effort to understanding the impact of race upon its audiences,
particularly after the unexpected arrival of the Empire Windrush to
London and its 492 West Indian immigrants.
Continuous audience research for television had already helped to
establish viewing panels, which answered predetermined questions about
program preferences, and subsequently addressed shows about racial
issues. As producer Grace Wydham Goldie made the transition to
television from Sound, she and popular host Christopher Mayhew helped to
develop Scientists look at Race (BBC, 1952) which drew from the
popularity of Mayhew’s International Commentary (BBC 1951-55), but to
mixed reviews from white Britons.
How did audience reactions to these shows shape subsequent policy? How
do these efforts compare to those of NBC following the report on race to
the Television Authority? While NBC and the BBC each drew upon reports
that quantified the appearances of blacks, what value do these have in
regard to racial fairness?
This paper examines documents from the WCFTR, Bournemouth University,
and the BBC Written Archives Centre as they acknowledge two distinct
responses to audience concerns.
I'm waiting to hear if the paper was accepted. If it is, I surely hope
to see you both in Madison.
Darrell M. Newton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mass Media and Cultural Studies
The Department of Communication Arts
Salisbury University
269 Fulton Hall
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 677-5060 Office
(410) 543-6229 Department
homepage: http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~dmnewton/
>>> Hugh Chignell <[log in to unmask]> 02/24/10 3:33 AM >>>
A final reminder of this event! Apologies for cross posting.
As part of the conference to mark the 5oth anniversary of the the
Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, July 6-9 2010,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, there is a symposium on 1930s
broadcasting;
Broadcasting in the 1930s: new media in a time of crisis
A Symposium
Part of the conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Wisconsin
Centre for Theatre and Film Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison
July 6th - 9th, 2010
Call for Papers
Broadcasting history has become an increasingly established field, and
there is by now a considerable body of international work that takes the
programming, policies and audiences of the 1930s as its focus - a decade
that is often represented as the 'golden age' of radio, and that saw the
beginnings of broadcast television. This media history is part of a
tumultuous decade that saw great cultural changes, social and political
cleavages, economic crisis and the onset of war.
This symposium aims to bring scholars of this period together with a
view to exploring the historical experience from perspectives that are
shaped btransnational developments, economic instability, intermedia relations,
interactivity and the representations of crisis.
Abstracts are invited from scholars with a particular interest in the
period. Proposals which address one or more of the following themes
will be particularly welcome, although papers on 1930s broadcasting more
generally will also be considered:
* Interactivity
* Intermediality
* Transnationalism
* Representations of crisis
Abstracts should be approximately 1,000 words in length, and should
include full contact information, including a brief (50 word) biography.
Deadline March 1st 2010.
They should be sent in the first instance to Hugh Chignell at
Bournemouth University
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Organisers: Dr. Jamie Medhurst (University of Aberystwyth), Dr. Hugh
Chignell, in collaboration with Prof. Michele Hilmes (University of
Wisconsin-Madison).
Sessions will run concurrently with the WCFTR "On, Archives!" conference
- see
www.wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu/conference<http://www.wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu/conference>
for more details. Participants are invited to attend all sessions for
both events.
See the attached CFP and apologies for cross-posting.
Best, Hugh
Hugh Chignell
Associate Professor of Broadcasting History,
The Media School,
Bournemouth University
Poole BH12 5BB 01202 965763 Mob. 07799643970
BU - the UK's Number One New University
The Guardian University Guide 2009 & 2010
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