Late Night Womens hour booklet notes Product context

Late Night Women’s hour booklet notes

Product context and historical context • It’s a spin off from Radio 4’s long running magazine program Women’s hour • It airs once a month late at night • It focuses on women's topics • It began in 2015 • The original women's hour broadcasted in the 1940 s • It was one our a week set aside for women suggesting all other programs were heavily male orientated • It’s a very frank and open discussion which talks about gender equality and how genders aren’t quite equal just yet

• Public Service Broadcasting is intended to benefit the public rather then commercial interests • Niche is a small, specific and specialised part of the population and denoting their interests and beliefs. • The BBC raises their funds by a licence fee currently at £ 147 per year • Since 1922 its been the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain • It could be argued people with a more commercial motive could see LNWH as too specialised • They are females speaking with an advanced vocabulary which represents women as intelligent • However, the BBC have to produce a wide range of products which could suggest the LNWH is expected of the BBC

Scheduling • Scheduling, Late Night Woman’s Hour has an 11 p. m. broadcast timeslot however people can catch up on other devices (which they didn’t have in earlier years) • 21. 00 watershed the time which more ‘adult’ themes can be aired on TV and radio, such as violence or language and still be heard at any given time though downloadable content which makes it less significant •

Theoretical approaches • Challenges the idea that the media is run purely for economic profit and power and not having the purpose of benefiting society • Late Night Woman’s Hour can also be used to support Curran and Seaton’s idea that socially diverse patterns of ownership help create conditions for varied and adventurous productions which suit a wider TA making their brand more suiting to many types of people • The podcasts are available to a wider global audience which makes the audience larger

Audiences • How audiences are grouped and categorised by media industries, including by age, gender and social class. Women were seen as ‘housewife’ and their freedom has grown as time goes on. • A stereotypical Radio 4 listener is likely to be highly educated often to degree level, upper-middle class, aware of current affairs as they are interested. Also, most likely male. • They challenge things like gender bias • Lauren Laverne should be considered in view of her background, she was once a member of an indie-rock band, Kenickie, in the 1990 s. This would make her an untypical and unexpected Radio 4 presenter as she's not a typical middle class person. • Males may feel unsettled listening to the female aimed and the female take on subjects. • The podcast would draw in a younger audience compared to the typical radio 4 audience as the makeup of the podcast and the people who feature in it. (possibly early 30 s).

Feminist theory • Radio for women about women by women to make it relatable for the female TA. • The series provides women with a place to discuss constructs and representations of gender • The set product programme ‘Home’ sets up a diverse and challenging discussion on the subject and the changing place of women within that environment which is a niche and specific topic.

Key media terms referenced • • • AUDIENCE – target, global, positioning, categorising, profile Reception Analysis PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING THE BBC’S MISSION – inform, educate, and entertain NICHE MARKET DIGITAL CONVERGENT PLATFORMS IDEOLOGY – linked to representation and of the BBC SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS DEMOGRAPHICS – link to Audience PSYCHOGRAPHICS – link to Audience