Audience Council for Northern Ireland

A key part of the Audience Council’s role involves listening directly to audiences to understand what they want from the BBC and identify any particular issues and concerns.  

In recent months we have met with specific groups – ranging from business leaders to disability organisations – as well as the general public. Our activities took us to Omagh, Newry, Ballycastle and the Balmoral Show in Belfast.

We welcome feedback on any aspect of the BBC’s performance, which informs our advice to the Trust.  Areas of particular interest this year have been:

1. Business coverage
2. Portrayal - how the diversity of life in NI is reflected in BBC content
   
   

BBC Business Coverage

The current economic climate has highlighted the importance of media coverage of business and economic matters.  We asked people involved in business and industry in Belfast, Omagh and Ballycastle for their views on BBC business coverage. 

A number of key themes emerged which have also found some resonance in meetings with other sections of the audience.  There was wide support for additional programming outside new bulletins to enable more in depth analysis and the exploration of broader themes. 

It was felt that the BBC could do more to inform and engage the general audience in issues of public importance, and in particular to provide information and inspiration for young people starting out on their careers.

Contributors considered that there was more scope for creative and relevant formats which would connect with the audience.

We will be producing a report of the key themes in the autumn.

Portrayal

One of the areas of particular interest for the Trust and Audience Council this year relates to the portrayal of different communities, interests and ways of life across the UK.  Through a series of events in recent months, we asked audiences how well they feel that the rich diversity of life in Northern Ireland is explored and reflected, and whether there are any particular issues about how different communities (whether cultural, geographic or relating to common interests) are portrayed.

In May we met with a group of international students from Queen’s University and the University of Ulster whose discussion embraced all platforms and many of the BBC services at home and abroad. We hosted discussions with organisations working with people with disabilities, with representatives of ethnic minority and migrant communities, and members of the LGBT community to understand how well they feel served by the BBC.

The Audience Councils (for Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales) met with the Trust on 14 October to present audiences’ views on this particular aspect of BBC services to help the Trust and Councils develop an informed understanding of the key issues relating to portrayal which need to be addressed.   The Trust will consider these views in coming weeks and work with the Audience Councils to identify how best to address the issues raised by audiences across the UK.

 

Engaging with the public

Newry:
In May we met with audiences from the Newry and Mourne area at an open meeting in Ballybot House.  We were joined by the Vice-Chairman of the Trust, Chitra Bharucha.  The audience raised a variety of themes including problems accessing digital television and radio, service provision for the visually impaired and coverage of gaelic sports. Some members of the audience expressed concerns about editorial standards such as bad language and the portrayal of alcohol on television. Contributors also called for more coverage of local events and better ways to access BBC Northern Ireland to draw attention to these.

Balmoral Show:
This year, for the first time, we attended the Balmoral Show. We were delighted to have the opportunity to talk informally with visitors from all over Northern Ireland.  Many people told us that the licence fee was generally good value for money – but felt that there were areas where the BBC could do better. There was interest in more programmes featuring local areas and stories as well as more light entertainment.  Some people expressed concerns about editorial standards including violence and language and others had problems with reception and access to digital services.

Tall Ships:
At the Tall Ships, on Friday 14, we heard a range of views from visitors to the event. Many people praised BBC dramas, documentaries and news coverage, though some concerns were raised about standards in broadcasting and impartiality in reporting.
A number of people complained there are simply too many repeats on television.

It was clear from feedback at this event that audiences enjoy local programmes and would like to see more of them. They would also like to see the BBC do more to raise awareness of Northern Ireland and local events at a national level.

Get Involved

If you have a view on any of these subjects or would like to raise any other issues which you feel should inform the Audience Council’s understanding of audience needs then please get in touch.