Who shall save a benighted BBC?

Barwise, T P (2022) Who shall save a benighted BBC? British Journalism Review, 33 (1). pp. 39-42. ISSN 0956-4748

Abstract

The Queen Vic had reigned for three-score years, when there came into the land a wizard, Mar-Koni. And the wizard sent signals through the air, even over great oceans. And all were amazed. And the years passed, and the wizard showed that one signal could be received by great multitudes, if they had the equipment. And in the twelfth year of the reign of George, the son of Edward, the son of Vic, there came companies that made reception equipment for the wizard’s signals. And their leaders said: “Great is the wizard, for now we can flog equipment to everyone so that, wherever they dwell, from the End of the Land even unto John O’Groats, they can receive the signals.” And then they said: “What signals? We must hire a servant to build a company with great transmitters and a studio and someone to play dance music records or something, that the people will purchase our equipment. And the company’s signals shall be scattered across Britain, even as the sower broadcasts seed over the ploughed field. And therefore shall it be called the British Broadcasting Company.”