The Message

[Billy O Driscoll]

It was noticeable whilst listening to this weeks edition of The Message, that Ms. Murray didn’t make any reference to the history of it’s own - now defunct - message board. I think I spent the best part of a year posting alone on this board. Yet another example of the disgraceful record of BBC New Media and the failure of R4 to take any active interest in their message boards.

[Crusoe]

I have to admit to never having really been interested in “The Message”. It always struck me as being symptomatic of the problem with so much radio, television and writing: produced by people in the media for people in the media, forgetting that there is an audience to be served. Produce some pointless, tawdry, uninspired nonsense and say you’re being post-modern and ironic. Marvellous.

But to pick up on your point – that in itself is ironic, a programme about the media which does not even consider its own inability to maintain an interactive presence in the new media. Although it makes no sense, it is, sadly, not surprising. As we know the BBC R4 messageboards have always had problems and the service provided has steadily deteriorated over time. I am not quite sure why the BBC has messageboards, which are an interactive medium, when they are clearly not keen on interaction.

[Billy O Driscoll]

webb said:

I have to admit to never having really been interested in “The Message”. It always struck me as being symptomatic of the problem with so much radio, television and writing: produced by people in the media for people in the media, forgetting that there is an audience to be served. Produce some pointless, tawdry, uninspired nonsense and say you’re being post-modern and ironic. Marvellous.

But to pick up on your point – that in itself is ironic, a programme about the media which does not even consider its own inability to maintain an interactive presence in the new media. Although it makes no sense, it is, sadly, not surprising. As we know the BBC R4 messageboards have always had problems and the service provided has steadily deteriorated over time. I am not quite sure why the BBC has messageboards, which are an interactive medium, when they are clearly not keen on interaction.

I understand these comments Crusoe. The Message is a bit of a strange programme and I’ve often wondered why it’s had so many producers (from memory about five or six). I’m not sure if the 1630 slot is deliberately targeted for listeners with media-related interests or someone within R4 decided that R4 had to have a programme that focussed on the media and this was the only free slot.

It isn’t often that I feel compelled to post positively about a radio producer, but I’ve got a great deal of time for the current producer, Ms. Cecile Wright. I heard her speaking on R4 when Manchester was hosting an open day for youngsters with an interest in radio and she sounded extremely genuine and only too keen to speak about radio issues. I also subscribe to her weekly newsletter to which she clearly devotes a great deal of effort in respect of making it interesting. I emailed her with a comment a couple of months ago and she replied almost immediately, with a most friendly response. I think you’ll agree that this makes a pleasant change after the coldness, snootiness and lack of interest shown by R4 in its own message boards!

I’m one of those radio listeners who has to form a close listening bond with the presenter and I’m afraid Ms. Murray has made so many pejorative comments about men on Woman’s Hour over the years that just hearing her voice makes me less interested in the programme. I don’t find a bullying style of broadcasting appealing.

Several editions stand out: the first was the discussion with a group of newspaper editors. The listener expected them to start arguing with each other in respect of ‘my paper is better than yours’, but they spoke most constructively and it was a pleasure to listen to them. I’d like to hear this approach adopted with a group of radio programme controllers – both commercial and BBC. Another edition that stood out was an interview with Gillian Reynolds, but I must admit that I always find her comments interesting. Any edition featuring Chris Dunkley is also worth listening to – he’s not a boot licker and I’ve always respected him for that. I’m not too keen on some of the ‘professors’ of journalism who tend to appear on the programme with monotonous regularity.