Between One Medium and Another: What the British Press says about British Radio

Abstract

A case study was carried out on one week's coverage of British radio by the British national press. The results offer another medium's snapshot of a sample week of British national radio programming. The proportional allocation of space to radio, terrestrial television, and subscription television respectively, in listings guides and newspaper supplements/sections was analyzed quantitatively. A qualitative enquiry was conducted by interviewing willing listings section editors, radio pre- viewers and radio critics; there were 20 respondents in all. The author, a radio critic and previewer himself, reflects on his own journalistic practice as part of the study. The processes of production of radio pre- views and reviews are described, and the content of these articles discussed comparatively. It is argued that the information British newspapers publish about radio stations and programs is both culturally formulated and market segmented. Radio critics, however, emerge as campaigners for the medium's potential.