Blog Posts

Making a noise… on the radio…

In this month’s article I’ll be mostly thinking about the noise that transmitters make (“hum”), the sound of journalists harrumphing (“tut tut”), and the agitation of local radio football commentators (“rising like a salmon to save the ball…”**). Do read this book if football culture interests you. Early radio was, of course, analogue. Although at … Continue reading Making a noise… on the radio… →

Radio listeners, TV trailers, voice-overs and book reviews…

In which I offer some useful readings about the art and practice of journalism and why it matters. I’ll ask about whether small-scale radio stations can get an idea of how many people are listening without having to shell out a shed-load of cash to an audience research company. I’ll consider whether voice-over artists have … Continue reading Radio listeners, TV trailers, voice-overs and book reviews… →

Radio: What’s Another Year?

In which I reflect on the events of 2023, consider some of the challenges ahead in the UK radio industry, and listen to a song and watch a TV sitcom about the wireless. To start with, here’s an excellent summary of 2023, the Beeb’s latest annus horribilis. https://bylinetimes.com/2023/12/13/ministers-accused-of-waging-culture-war-on-bbc-amid-licence-review-and-more-cuts/ Meanwhile, a view from Rhodri Talfan Davies, … Continue reading Radio: What’s Another Year? →

Radio on the telly (and the movies too…)

Last month I wrote about some of my favourite radio moments on TV and in the movies. I'd now like to share some more. Also, I'll provide an update on the changes to the BBC's Local Radio services in the autumn/winter of 2023, I’ll have some memories of working in England's smallest county, and I’ll … Continue reading Radio on the telly (and the movies too…) →

When they put radio on the TV and movie screens…

I am a journalist and radio presenter by trade, an academic historian by training, and a writer by vocation. All together they just about pay the rent and put food on the table. They also feed my passion for broadcasting. But I’ve spent the summer and autumn of 2023 sharing the sadness of the BBC’s … Continue reading When they put radio on the TV and movie screens… →

BBC Local Radio: “Digital First” news – October 2023

This is the latest of three pieces. You can read the others here and here. In this edition there’s a critique of recent emergency flood reporting at one local station, I’ll share news of continuing concerns from MPs, and we’ll hear echoes from one hundred years ago – when once again the Beeb was tinkering … Continue reading BBC Local Radio: “Digital First” news – October 2023 →

BBC Local Radio: “Digital First” Autumn 2023 updates…

I’m writing this in the middle of September, and I'm not the bearer of particularly good news I'm afraid. In this piece I’ll hear claims about BBC long-term policy mis-decisions, and how the planned changes are "ageist and abelist" (but the presenter who said that, found her comments had been cut from the BBC Sounds … Continue reading BBC Local Radio: “Digital First” Autumn 2023 updates… →