Routledge Library Editions: Radio – serie

In four volumes, this set analyses some key aspects of radio broadcasting. From the earliest days of radio and the impact of religious broadcasting, to the development of audience research, from the cultural importance of radio, to the modern strategies evolved for radio programming, the works collected here form a remarkable research tool into the analysis of radio.

This book, first published in 1968, describes the development of religion by radio, and its influences on people both inside and outside the Church. It tells of experiment and practice, of acceptance and rejection, of inspiration and comfort in peace and war, and assesses the great contribution made by religion to British broadcasting over the decades since the first religious broadcast, on Christmas Eve of 1922.

This book, first published in 1968, describes the development of religion by radio, and its influences on people both inside and outside the Church. It tells of experiment and practice, of acceptance and rejection, of inspiration and comfort in peace and war, and assesses the great contribution made by religion to British broadcasting over the decades since the first religious broadcast, on Christmas Eve of 1922.

Images of the golden age of wireless and family life before the age of television have widespread currency. Their dominance raises fundamental questions about the extent to which people’s memories of early radio and everyday pre-war life are shaped and mediated by these public histories. For geographical reasons radio has played an unusually important part in twentieth-century Australian life and culture. Australian radio must therefore stand as a major example in the study of the medium. This book, first published in 1988, examines the early history of Australian radio, looking at the beginnings of radio itself and at the ways in which cultural tasks were determined for it. This is a detailed analysis of radio discourse and the construction of audiences, drawing on a range of theoretical material to examine questions about the production and dynamics of popular culture, the relationship between politics and everyday life, and the changes brought about in women’s lives.

Images of the golden age of wireless and family life before the age of television have widespread currency. Their dominance raises fundamental questions about the extent to which people’s memories of early radio and everyday pre-war life are shaped and mediated by these public histories. For geographical reasons radio has played an unusually important part in twentieth-century Australian life and culture. Australian radio must therefore stand as a major example in the study of the medium. This book, first published in 1988, examines the early history of Australian radio, looking at the beginnings of radio itself and at the ways in which cultural tasks were determined for it. This is a detailed analysis of radio discourse and the construction of audiences, drawing on a range of theoretical material to examine questions about the production and dynamics of popular culture, the relationship between politics and everyday life, and the changes brought about in women’s lives.

This book, first published in 1974, is the story of BBC Audience Research, a behind-the-scenes activity that has always been the subject of some curiosity. It describes the early, tentative experiments, designed both to develop ways of applying the techniques of social research to broadcasting and to win the confidence of BBC staff. The way World War II, which deprived programme planners of many of their familiar landmarks, acted as a fillip to audience research, which emerged at the end of the war as an established and accepted adjunct to broadcasting, is described in detail.

This book, first published in 1990, offers an in-depth analysis of the ‘fundamental beliefs’ of radio. This refers to the common understanding of what the radio enterprise is – and should be – about: entertainment and information. A major thrust of this book is to arrive at a set of fundamental beliefs about the values and the realities of the radio business in regard to entertainment programming – a set of beliefs that may or may not be right, or forever, but that might at least provide a basis for developing programming strategies. Most other books on radio programming describe the formats and programming that already exist. This one starts with a clean sheet of paper and the question ‘What do listeners really want from radio?’

This book, first published in 1990, offers an in-depth analysis of the ‘fundamental beliefs’ of radio. This refers to the common understanding of what the radio enterprise is – and should be – about: entertainment and information. A major thrust of this book is to arrive at a set of fundamental beliefs about the values and the realities of the radio business in regard to entertainment programming – a set of beliefs that may or may not be right, or forever, but that might at least provide a basis for developing programming strategies. Most other books on radio programming describe the formats and programming that already exist. This one starts with a clean sheet of paper and the question ‘What do listeners really want from radio?’