Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, has spoken on BBC Radio 4’s show Feedback, about BBC Radio 1 shrinking their news bulletins on the Breakfast Show from three minutes to one.
During the show Professor Barnett explains the potential reason for this shift, highlighting that BBC Radio 1’s aim is to engage young listeners and have the freedom to experiment with the length and frequency of bulletins to ensure they do not lose this particular demographic.
The reduction in length has caused frustration among some listeners, and raised questions over whether this experimental shift will become permanent.
Professor Barnett says: “It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks. Are they going to reinstate the original length of the bulletin? Are they going to maybe compromise and do it slightly longer than it is at the moment? Or are they going to maybe put part of the bulletin somewhere else?”
He adds: “The BBC is trying to ride two horses, it always has done. First it does need to be distinctive. It does need to have news bulletins in places where perhaps its competitors don’t but at the same time it does have to be competitive. If the audiences start trickling away it is important that the BBC keeps an eye on that and makes sure that its listeners stick with it while at the same time maintaining their news commitment.”
Listen to the interview on BBC Radio Sounds.
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