What was the impact of mass media expansion?

LO: To explain how the expansion of television, radio and the press contributed to social changesA

Sixties Social Revolution? British Society, 1959-1975

Lesson 8

““““With the assistance of the great expansion in mass communicationWith the assistance of the great expansion in mass communicationWith the assistance of the great expansion in mass communicationWith the assistance of the great expansion in mass communications, s, s, s, particularly in television, the sixties was very much an age of particularly in television, the sixties was very much an age of particularly in television, the sixties was very much an age of particularly in television, the sixties was very much an age of ‘‘‘‘spectaclespectaclespectaclespectacle‘‘‘‘. . . . ““““Arthur MarwickArthur MarwickArthur MarwickArthur Marwick

17,701,00013,253,00010,470,0004,504,000344,000

19751965196019551950

Television licenses

Activity 1.

In pairs, make a list of the effects that might have resulted from increased TV ownership

Source Analysis

How far do the views of source 3 differ from those in source 2?

The aim of the BBC must be to The aim of the BBC must be to The aim of the BBC must be to The aim of the BBC must be to conserve and strengthen serious conserve and strengthen serious conserve and strengthen serious conserve and strengthen serious listening. While satisfying the listening. While satisfying the listening. While satisfying the listening. While satisfying the legitimate public demand for legitimate public demand for legitimate public demand for legitimate public demand for recreation and entertainment, the recreation and entertainment, the recreation and entertainment, the recreation and entertainment, the BBC must never lose sight of its BBC must never lose sight of its BBC must never lose sight of its BBC must never lose sight of its cultural mission. The BBC is a cultural mission. The BBC is a cultural mission. The BBC is a cultural mission. The BBC is a single instrument and must see single instrument and must see single instrument and must see single instrument and must see that the nation derives the best that the nation derives the best that the nation derives the best that the nation derives the best advantage from this fact.advantage from this fact.advantage from this fact.advantage from this fact.

I believe we have a duty to take I believe we have a duty to take I believe we have a duty to take I believe we have a duty to take

account of the changes in society, account of the changes in society, account of the changes in society, account of the changes in society,

to be ahead of public opinion , to be ahead of public opinion , to be ahead of public opinion , to be ahead of public opinion ,

rather than always to wait upon rather than always to wait upon rather than always to wait upon rather than always to wait upon

it. I believe that great it. I believe that great it. I believe that great it. I believe that great

broadcasting organisations, with broadcasting organisations, with broadcasting organisations, with broadcasting organisations, with

their immense powers of patronage their immense powers of patronage their immense powers of patronage their immense powers of patronage

for writers and artists, should not for writers and artists, should not for writers and artists, should not for writers and artists, should not

neglect to cultivate young writers neglect to cultivate young writers neglect to cultivate young writers neglect to cultivate young writers

who may, by many, be considered who may, by many, be considered who may, by many, be considered who may, by many, be considered

‘‘‘‘too advancedtoo advancedtoo advancedtoo advanced’’’’ or shocking.or shocking.or shocking.or shocking.

Hugh Greene, Director- General, 1965 Sir William Haley, Director- General of the BBC, Policy Statement 1949

Activity 2.

1. Copy the timeline from Page 44 showing the key chronology of the changing press

2. Add in the key dates for changes in Television and Radio Activity 3.

Activity 3.

3. Why do you think visual images and advertisements became more important in newspapers in the 1960s

Changes in the Press and print

The growth of TV ownership

Changes to Radio broadcasting

The spread of advertising

Explanation of impact on society

Detailed description of the change

Change

Which of these changes do you think had the biggest impact on society?

Explain your answer in a paragraph

Activity 4.

Thinking Point

• Modern MannersIt seems inconceivable that when we first wrote this book the It seems inconceivable that when we first wrote this book the It seems inconceivable that when we first wrote this book the It seems inconceivable that when we first wrote this book the

use of the word use of the word use of the word use of the word ’’’’bloodybloodybloodybloody’’’’ on television caused a public furore. on television caused a public furore. on television caused a public furore. on television caused a public furore.

One of the significant changes in manners over the last few One of the significant changes in manners over the last few One of the significant changes in manners over the last few One of the significant changes in manners over the last few

years has been the liberalisation of attitudes towards what years has been the liberalisation of attitudes towards what years has been the liberalisation of attitudes towards what years has been the liberalisation of attitudes towards what

can be said in mixed company. Candour, frankness and can be said in mixed company. Candour, frankness and can be said in mixed company. Candour, frankness and can be said in mixed company. Candour, frankness and

honesty in conversation have become admired attitudes. honesty in conversation have become admired attitudes. honesty in conversation have become admired attitudes. honesty in conversation have become admired attitudes.

Television, film, certain newspapers and weekly magazines, Television, film, certain newspapers and weekly magazines, Television, film, certain newspapers and weekly magazines, Television, film, certain newspapers and weekly magazines,

novels and plays and autobiographies have for many people novels and plays and autobiographies have for many people novels and plays and autobiographies have for many people novels and plays and autobiographies have for many people

broken down the taboos on what can be discussed in public. broken down the taboos on what can be discussed in public. broken down the taboos on what can be discussed in public. broken down the taboos on what can be discussed in public.

This relates particularly to the old This relates particularly to the old This relates particularly to the old This relates particularly to the old inadmissiblesinadmissiblesinadmissiblesinadmissibles, intimate , intimate , intimate , intimate

sexual experiences, detailed descriptions of violence and sexual experiences, detailed descriptions of violence and sexual experiences, detailed descriptions of violence and sexual experiences, detailed descriptions of violence and

every kind of physical expression and emotionevery kind of physical expression and emotionevery kind of physical expression and emotionevery kind of physical expression and emotion

How far did developments in the media promote cultural change?

A Guide to Modern Manners, 1969 (First ed. 1956)

The advent, as a consequence in particular of the almost The advent, as a consequence in particular of the almost The advent, as a consequence in particular of the almost The advent, as a consequence in particular of the almost universal presence of television, of `spectacle' as an integral universal presence of television, of `spectacle' as an integral universal presence of television, of `spectacle' as an integral universal presence of television, of `spectacle' as an integral part part part part of the interface between life and leisure. The most rebellious of the interface between life and leisure. The most rebellious of the interface between life and leisure. The most rebellious of the interface between life and leisure. The most rebellious action, the most obscure theories, the wildest cultural extremisaction, the most obscure theories, the wildest cultural extremisaction, the most obscure theories, the wildest cultural extremisaction, the most obscure theories, the wildest cultural extremism, m, m, m, the very `underground' itself: all operated as publicly as the very `underground' itself: all operated as publicly as the very `underground' itself: all operated as publicly as the very `underground' itself: all operated as publicly as possible, and all, thanks to the complex interaction with possible, and all, thanks to the complex interaction with possible, and all, thanks to the complex interaction with possible, and all, thanks to the complex interaction with commercial interests and the media, attracted the maximum commercial interests and the media, attracted the maximum commercial interests and the media, attracted the maximum commercial interests and the media, attracted the maximum publicity. Thus one extreme gesture, accelerated into the next. publicity. Thus one extreme gesture, accelerated into the next. publicity. Thus one extreme gesture, accelerated into the next. publicity. Thus one extreme gesture, accelerated into the next. Each spectacle had to be more extreme than the previous one.Each spectacle had to be more extreme than the previous one.Each spectacle had to be more extreme than the previous one.Each spectacle had to be more extreme than the previous one.

Arthur Marwick, The SixtiesArthur Marwick, The SixtiesArthur Marwick, The SixtiesArthur Marwick, The Sixties