George's Podcast

• Spoken live for BBC Radio 5 - George the poet
• Each episode is themed to a young, diverse and educated audience
• In 2019, it won the Peabody Award
• Historical Context

  BBC is often accused by its critics of being too white and middle-class. In 2017, an Ofcom report stated that there was too little diversity at the corporation, both on and off-screen. Also reported that young people and ethnic minorities felt particularly alienated from BBC content.
• The podcast format offers several ways to explore recent changes to the radio industry in relation to digital technology such as the

  profound changes that have been brought about by on-demand downloading and streaming.
• George is given complete creative control of the podcast’s content. This means he can mix styles (storytelling, poetry, full radio drama,

  music, etc.) and discuss serious social issues, particularly offering space for marginalised voices.
• Curran and Seaton 


  It could be argued that 'Have You Heard George’s Podcast' challenges the idea that media is controlled by a small number of companies driven by the logic of profit and power.
• Social and Cultural contexts

  Issues of diversity and inclusion have become significant in recent years, especially after the BLM protests of 2020
• 'Have You Heard George’s Podcast' dedicated two episodes in the first chapter to exploring the lives of people in the community and how the disaster affected them

  Other episodes have looked at economic disparity, lack of opportunity and the impact of drug crime on Black, Asian and other minority communities.
• Henry Jenkins: Fandom

  Consider how 'Have You Heard George’s Podcast' encourages audiences to creatively engage with the content. How does some of the content reflect on the importance of entertainment stars and the way they inspire under-privileged communities?
• Van Zoonen: Feminist theory

  To what extent does 'Have You Heard George’s Podcast' achieve Van Zoonen’s suggestion that gender and racial stereotypes in the media can only change if there is more diversity in media institutions and their products. How does the podcast challenge stereotype? What alternative voices does it offer?
• Stuart Hall: reception theory 


  Discuss possible different readings of the podcast. What is the intended meaning? What might be a negotiated meaning (e.g. from a white, middle-class audience member)? What might be an oppositional response (e.g. from a conservative, right-wing or even racist listener)?
• Target audience ranges from 25-45
• He attended Cambridge University, this may draw in education middle to upper class
• Educated audiences will be engaged by the mix of poetry, politics, culture and philosophical ideas
• Within his podcasts, he uses a variety of modern slang including street dialects which would help to engage young audiences
• George the Poet will engage audiences who are also young, black males, interested in spoken word. They may see him as a role model
• He challenges traditional negative stereotypes of young black men, and many listeners would enjoy this unconventional more complex representation
• Episode lengths usually 25 minutes, better for people with short attention spans
• Podcasts are pre-recorded rather than live, there are very few opportunities for active audiences to interact
• BBC Radio 5 has a mostly male, white over 40 audience
• His podcasts often feature his mum, brothers, nephews and wife making him seem relatable to listeners and family friendly
• Will appeal to audiences who often feel black ethnicity is underrepresented in the media
• Left wing (advertised in Guardian)
• Episode 3 - Grenfell

  • A tragedy of social and racial inequality
  • A voice for under-represented or mis-represented groups
  • Exposing intersectional prejudice and inequality
• Made by George Mpanga, born on 14 January 1991 in north-west london
• Young people and ethnic minorities felt alienated from the BBC