I'm an Intellectual: Get Me Out of Here
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A one-day conference held by the Cultural and Creative Industries Programme, King's College London, and the Radio Academy, 2 November 2007.
Radio and the universities already share a commitment to education. Although their immediate audiences are different, they have traditionally shared common ground when they work together in factual programming, united in the belief that a better-informed population makes for a better democracy. They also share a perhaps unfashionable belief in the intrinsic value of knowledge.
But today both universities and radio find themselves on the horns of a dilemma: accusations of “élitism” from some quarters, yet of “dumbing down” from others. The problems faced by radio have been well chronicled (exacerbated by the race for ratings, increased “choice”, new digital platforms, “narrowcasting” versus broadcasting, to say nothing of pressures from government, etcetera). But universities, too, have become increasingly susceptible to demands that they descend from the so-called ivory tower and become much more involved in training (as opposed to education) and responsive to the far more instrumental demands of both government and industry.
Where does that lead us both? Where does that leave the “public intellectual”, education beyond the college walls, and the intrinsic value of knowledge? How might radio be uniquely positioned to embrace both the academy and the media to the public good? Is this the sole provenance of the BBC? Do these changing times present a threat or an opportunity? How will this be affected by changes in both technology and the shape of the industry? And would the typical university don know a good news story if it hit him or her over the head?
These issues constitute the foundation of “I’m an Intellectual: Get Me Out of Here”: A Conference on Radio, Research and the Universities, held jointly by King’s College, London and the Radio Academy on Friday, November 2nd 2007. The conference was attended by speakers and delegates from radio and the universities, together with interested members of the public. The venue was the BBC Conference Room, Marylebone High Street, in central London. Speakers included Mark Damazer, Controller of BBC Radio 4, Mark Kermode, broadcaster and film critic, Hugh Dennis, actor and comedian, and Professor Frank Furedi, media don and author of Where Have all the Intellectuals Gone?
The event was structured in a way that accommodates both academics and radio people. Formats will include keynote addresses, provocations, structured interviews and moderated, round table discussions.
Contacts:
Richard Howells, Director, Cultural and Creative Industries, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, telephone 0207 848 1357, e-mail richard.howells@kcl.ac.uk; Trevor Dann, The Radio Academy, 5 Market Place, London, W1W 8AE telephone 020 7255 2010, e-mail trevor@radioacademy.org
FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ATTACHED BELOW
Radio and the universities already share a commitment to education. Although their immediate audiences are different, they have traditionally shared common ground when they work together in factual programming, united in the belief that a better-informed population makes for a better democracy. They also share a perhaps unfashionable belief in the intrinsic value of knowledge.
But today both universities and radio find themselves on the horns of a dilemma: accusations of “élitism” from some quarters, yet of “dumbing down” from others. The problems faced by radio have been well chronicled (exacerbated by the race for ratings, increased “choice”, new digital platforms, “narrowcasting” versus broadcasting, to say nothing of pressures from government, etcetera). But universities, too, have become increasingly susceptible to demands that they descend from the so-called ivory tower and become much more involved in training (as opposed to education) and responsive to the far more instrumental demands of both government and industry.
Where does that lead us both? Where does that leave the “public intellectual”, education beyond the college walls, and the intrinsic value of knowledge? How might radio be uniquely positioned to embrace both the academy and the media to the public good? Is this the sole provenance of the BBC? Do these changing times present a threat or an opportunity? How will this be affected by changes in both technology and the shape of the industry? And would the typical university don know a good news story if it hit him or her over the head?
These issues constitute the foundation of “I’m an Intellectual: Get Me Out of Here”: A Conference on Radio, Research and the Universities, held jointly by King’s College, London and the Radio Academy on Friday, November 2nd 2007. The conference was attended by speakers and delegates from radio and the universities, together with interested members of the public. The venue was the BBC Conference Room, Marylebone High Street, in central London. Speakers included Mark Damazer, Controller of BBC Radio 4, Mark Kermode, broadcaster and film critic, Hugh Dennis, actor and comedian, and Professor Frank Furedi, media don and author of Where Have all the Intellectuals Gone?
The event was structured in a way that accommodates both academics and radio people. Formats will include keynote addresses, provocations, structured interviews and moderated, round table discussions.
Contacts:
Richard Howells, Director, Cultural and Creative Industries, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, telephone 0207 848 1357, e-mail richard.howells@kcl.ac.uk; Trevor Dann, The Radio Academy, 5 Market Place, London, W1W 8AE telephone 020 7255 2010, e-mail trevor@radioacademy.org
FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ATTACHED BELOW
Attached files