Call for Papers
Reaching out: the past, present and future of BBC Local Radio Audiences
A De Montfort University and MeCCSA Radio Studies Network event: Leicester, Weds 8th Nov 2017
The BBC’s new Royal Charter and Agreement published at the end of 2016 has set in motion significant institutional changes for the corporation. As 2017 draws to a close what differences, if any, will audiences notice in output? This year, 2017, also marks 50 years since the BBC’s Local Radio ‘experiment’ began in Leicester on November 8th. This is a good opportunity, now that its operations fall under the auspices of Ofcom, to assess the BBC’s commitment – past, present and future - to its local radio audiences, and vice versa.
How well has BBC Local Radio lived up to Frank Gillard’s dream of establishing stations that would carry out ‘modern radio journalism’ geared to the interests of the ‘local community’ in every city? Five decades on, what does the future hold for the 39 BBC Local Radio stations in England? This one-day conference at De Montfort University aims to celebrate the history of Local Radio but also examine the current situation and look ahead to the future. How is encouraging local BBC radio stations to work in partnership with other local news media benefitting local communities? Do initiatives such as the BBC’s Women in Radio scheme encourage more participation and engagement, and - perhaps more importantly - boost listenership? What impact will Ofcom’s audience consultation on the BBC’s performance have on the provision of local services?
Proposals for 15-minute papers or presentations are invited which focus on, but are not limited to, the following areas:
• BBC Local Radio and its relationship with its audience(s).
• The practicalities of creating a sense of a community – how does BBC Local Radio contribute to achieving a sense of belonging, or responsibility to, a specific region or area?
• Case studies illustrating how the BBC has appealed or is appealing to new audiences (young, BAME or those underserved by the BBC).
• Local News and the ethics of the Fourth Estate; coverage of public services and institutions, including the creation of Local democracy reporters for the benefit of all audiences.
• The concept of ‘local’ and how BBC Radio addresses and reaches out to communities within their patch.
• The role BBC Local Radio plays in the representation of minority communities in their locality, the development of specific non-English programmes.
• The role of BBC Local Radio as a training ground – how well are trainee journalists and newly-recruited producers and presenters equipped with innovative production practices or skills and for what ends? How well do access schemes targeting young, BAME or people with disabilities work?
• Digital technologies and the changing nature of ‘audiences’; BBC Radio’s future in light of fragmenting audiences.
We welcome proposals from independent researchers, archivists, postgraduate students, academics, and broadcast professionals. We are happy to receive papers submitted together, but reserve the right to organise panels as we think best. Please use the following format for proposals, on one side of an A4 document:
• Name, contact details
• Title of paper or presentation
• 250-word summary or abstract
• 100-word biography
• Send proposals as a Word doc or PDF attachment by email to Gurvinder Gaujla-Sidhu at [log in to unmask]
• Deadline: 16 June 2017
Details of Keynote Speakers and ticketing information will be published in due course.
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