An Introductory History of British Broadcasting is a concise and accessible history of British radio and television. It begins with the birth of radio at the beginning of the twentieth century and discusses key moments in media history, from the first wireless broadcast in 1920 through to recent developments in digital broadcasting and the internet.
Distinguishing broadcasting from other kinds of mass media, and evaluating the way in which audiences have experienced the medium, Andrew Crisell considers the nature and evolution of broadcasting, the growth of broadcasting institutions and the relation of broadcasting to a wider political and social context. This fully updated and expanded second edition includes:
*The latest developments in digital broadcasting and the internet
*Broadcasting in a multimedia era and its prospects for the future
*The concept of public service broadcasting and its changing role in an era of interactivity, multiple channels and pay per view
*An evaluation of recent political pressures on the BBC and ITV duopoly
*A timeline of key broadcasting events and annotated advice on further reading

Since the rise of television, much radio consists of 'capsule' news and music formats which are heard as background to other activities. However the medium offers a great deal more. This collection of essays shows how in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the South Pacific, radio continues to provide distinctive forms of content for the individual listener, yet also enables ethnic and cultural groups to maintain their sense of identity. Ranging from radio among the primordial communities to digital broadcasting and the internet, these essays suggest that the benefits and gratifications which radio confers remain unique and irreplaceable in this multi-media age. Andrew Crisell is Professor of Broadcasting Studies at the University of Sunderland. He is the author of "Understanding Radio" (2nd edition 1994) and "An Introductory History of British Broadcasting" (2nd edition 2002).

This essential text provides a detailed account of the complex character of modern television. Covering issues ranging from television's historical development to its impact on culture and society in general, the text provides an insightful analysis of television's strengths and limitations. The book's scope and clarity make it an ideal text for all media students as well as others interested in the historical, cultural and social contexts of broadcasting.

"The editor freely admits the book is a snapshot, a 'spread of impressions', but the range of approaches and insights are its strength . . . these rich, varied and reflective, if not obviously connected, articles add to fascinating discussion of how we listen, what we got out of it and just what it is that makes radio, radio." - The Radio Journal Since the rise of television, much radio consists of 'capsule' news and music formats which are heard as background to other activities. However the medium offers a great deal more. This collection of essays shows how in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the South Pacific, radio continues to provide distinctive forms of content for the individual listener, yet also enables ethnic and cultural groups to maintain their sense of identity. Ranging from radio among the primordial communities to digital broadcasting and the internet, these essays suggest that the benefits and gratifications which radio confers remain unique and irreplaceable in this multi-media age. Andrew Crisell is Professor of Broadcasting Studies at the University of Sunderland. He is the author of Understanding Radio (2nd edition 1994) and An Introductory History of British Broadcasting (2nd edition 2002).

Contents:
Preface. Part 1. The Phenomenon of Broadcasting 1.The Birth Of Radio 2. The BBC: From Private Company To National Institution 3. Keeping The Sabbath, Waging A War And Building A Pyramid 4. The Golden Age Of Radio And The Rise Of Television 5. Television: The First Years Of Competition Chapter 6. Pilkington And After 7. The Rise And Fall Of Radio 8. Television And Its Social Effects 9. A Growth Of Sights And Sounds Part 2. The Rise Of The Active Audience 10. Cables, Dishes And Deregulation 11. And Now The Nineties Part 3 From Broadcasting To Multimedia Bibliography Index

'... a highly imaginative and often very entertaining book ... which ... probably says more than any other available text about the limitations and possibilities of present forms of radio.' Professor Laurie Taylor on the first edition of Understanding Radio Understanding Radio is a fully revised edition of a key radio textbook. Andrew Crisell explores how radio processes genres such as news, drama and comedy in highly distinctive ways, and how the listener's use of the medium has important implications for audience studies. He explains why the sound medium, even more than television, has played such a crucial role in the development of modern popular culture. The book also introduces students to the broadcasting landscape in a time of great change for national and local radio provision. Understanding Radio will be essential reading both to students of media and to those with a practical involvement in programme production. This new edition includes: a revised history of radio bringing the reader right up to date a brand new chapter on 'talk-and-music' radio, the format adopted by many of the new stations. Andrew Crisell lectures in communication and media studies at the University of Sunderland. He has written widely on radio and co-founded Wear FM, winner of the 1992 Sony 'Radio Station of the Year' award.

'... a highly imaginative and often very entertaining book ... which ... probably says more than any other available text about the limitations and possibilities of present forms of radio.' Professor Laurie Taylor on the first edition of Understanding Radio Understanding Radio is a fully revised edition of a key radio textbook. Andrew Crisell explores how radio processes genres such as news, drama and comedy in highly distinctive ways, and how the listener's use of the medium has important implications for audience studies. He explains why the sound medium, even more than television, has played such a crucial role in the development of modern popular culture. The book also introduces students to the broadcasting landscape in a time of great change for national and local radio provision. Understanding Radio will be essential reading both to students of media and to those with a practical involvement in programme production. This new edition includes: a revised history of radio bringing the reader right up to date a brand new chapter on 'talk-and-music' radio, the format adopted by many of the new stations. Andrew Crisell lectures in communication and media studies at the University of Sunderland. He has written widely on radio and co-founded Wear FM, winner of the 1992 Sony 'Radio Station of the Year' award.

"This is not another turgid guide to digital editing, writing for radio and the structure of a newsroom team. It is an ambitious and accessible study that combines a succinct narrative history of radio journalism with an analysis of its power in the public sphere. It describes the development of British audio broadcasting before locating it in an international context and contemplating the contours of the convergent future. Such ambition is often the prelude to failure. Instead, Starkey and Crisell have written a precious introduction to the theory, practice and purposes of radio journalism that will be very useful to serious students of the subject... This is a very good book." - THE (Times Higher Education) Radio Journalism introduduces key themes in journalism studies to explore what makes radio reporting distinctive and lay out the claims for radio's critical importance in the news landscape. With their extensive experience in radio production and academica, authors Guy Starkey and Andrew Crisell take readers on a tour through the past, present and future of radio broadcasting, from the infancy of the BBC in the 1920s up to the prospect of rolling news delivered to mobile telephones. Grounding each chapter in a survey of scholarly writing on the radio, they explore the connections between politics, policy and practice, inviting critical reflection on who radio professionals are, what they do and why. Putting theory and practice into dialogue, this book is the perfect bridge between unreflective production manuals and generalised media theory texts. Witty and engaging, Radio Journalism provides an essential framework for understanding the continuing relevance of radio journalism as a profession, set of practices and arena for critical debate.

It's a dark day for the failing University of Mixton when vice chancellor Dr Turpin gets an ultimatum from Whitehall: improve massively or face closure. Enter Ed Prendergast, an enforcer bent on axing old degrees and launching trendy new ones in non-academic subjects. But Ed is faced with members of staff who are each pursuing their own, very dodgy, agendas. The ensuing imbroglio of student sit-ins, sex, spying, and sudden death gives rise to some gripping questions. How does the university's finest building get burned to the ground? What are green gorillas? Why are so many of Mixton's residents being burgled? And who is dealing drugs to both students and townsfolk, not to mention the vice chancellor? Will snowballing disaster spell the end of Mixton University? Or will it survive all challenges to show us the future of British higher education?

This essential text provides a detailed account of the complex character of modern television. Covering issues ranging from television's historical development to its impact on culture and society in general, the text provides an insightful analysis of television's strengths and limitations. The book's scope and clarity make it an ideal text for all media students, as well as others, interested in the historical, cultural and social contexts of broadcasting.