Call for Papers

Deadline for submission: February 1, 2023

On 18 October 1922 the British Broadcasting Company was formed in order to make use of the new technology of radio broadcasting for domestic use. The company started regular radio broadcasts on 14 November and in January 1927 it was formed into the British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC radio has continued to be a significant force in the cultural, entertainment and information sectors of the United Kingdom’s national, regional and local services and globally via the BBC World Service. It has often been considered world leading in broadcasting technological developments and has a consummate reputation for legitimacy, accuracy and impartiality. In 2022, a 100 years after its first broadcast, BBC radio retains a 50% live radio audience share in the UK, about 34 million listeners a week (RAJAR 1:2022). Its overseas services command weekly audiences of almost half a billion listeners globally (BBC Media Centre, November 2021). This tends to grow even higher during times of strife, conflict or disaster. This symposium edition seeks to celebrate BBC radio’s centenary and to examine BBC radio’s future in terms of reach, purpose and technologies.

The MeCCSA Radio Studies Network is inviting papers which may – though not necessarily – touch on some of the following issues:

The significance of 2022 as a watershed year in radio history
The impact of BBC radio news BBC World Services BBC local radio, on-line and digital services BBC Sounds
The role of BBC radio as a training ground for broadcasters
BBC School Radio and Bite Size
BBC radio’s impact on cultural forms, music, drama and the arts
BBC radio’s financial future
Broadcaster and audience diversity and inclusivity
The concepts of global, national, regional and local radio
The development of new production and broadcast practices, skills and technologies
The impact of technological developments on radio and its future
Digital technologies the changing nature of ‘audiences’
Appealing to new audiences, children, youth and young adults

Submitting a proposal Submissions for this JRAM Symposium Edition are due by February 1, 2023. Expressions of interest prior to submission are appreciated but not required (janey.gordon@beds.ac.uk) subject line “JRAM BBC Radio 1922-2022”.

Submitted manuscripts undergo a blind peer review. Manuscripts should be submitted through Manuscript Central link on https://www.beaweb.org/wp/?page_id=571 or https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/hjrs Documents prepared in Microsoft Word are preferred and should be APA for style and citation. Manuscripts should not exceed 6500 words and should include an abstract of no more than 100 words. In addition to the manuscript bearing no reference to the author(s), the author(s) should include a separate attachment with contact information. Please fill in the manuscript information as directed on the site.

For more information on the Journal of Radio & Audio Media, click here. Please direct any questions in advance of your submission to the symposium editor: Janey Gordon (janey.gordon@beds.ac.uk), subject line: JRAM BBC Radio 1922-2022.