Tag: Andrew Graystone

Categories
Reviewer

#EmptyShelf19: September

This month I have read:

Ticking Off Breast CancerTicking Off Breast Cancer by Sara Liyanage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have connected with Sara online over the past couple of years, as she was ahead of me on the ‘breast cancer journey’ (we’re not a fan of that phrase), and had lots of great advice to pass on. I also used her website quite a bit, so really happy to see that she has put all the work together into a book, that’s very easy to read, has helpful lists to help you think through things you may need for (primary) breast cancer… mixed in with a whole lot of gentle humour and insights into everyday life (because, if you’re of working age/a parent, that doesn’t stop for cancer). A really useful book for those who are going through treatment (especially the newly diagnosed and their friends/family who would like to know more).

Too Much Information?: Ten essential questions for digital ChristiansToo Much Information?: Ten essential questions for digital Christians by Andrew Graystone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the interests of openness, I’ve known Andrew for a long-time, and this book was dedicated to me (which I didn’t know about until I received a copy of the book). I’ve had excellent conversations with Andrew over many years on all kinds of topics, including Christianity and digital (as we both work in this area). I read this book in (almost) one sitting on a train journey (and worried Andrew by turning down many page corners). There’s lots I found interesting, lots I recognised from previous conversations, and I think it’s a really accessible set of insights into important material that the church needs to grapple with. In trying to think over the book, I think there’s lots of material that I’d agree with, but Andrew has possibly come out into a slightly different place from me (and we’ve had conversations about this too before – including two years at MediaLit where Andrew felt that I wasn’t really ‘there’ because I was sharing content with Twitter, and the second year said he got what I was doing). A lot of my emphasis is on things are different, not necessarily better/worse, whereas much of Andrew’s emphasis is still on the face-to-face being the ‘best’ form of interaction… and don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t want to have no face-to-face and very much value those conversations! I have yet to sit down and go back through the turn down pages and make notes (the drawbacks of not having read it as an e-book), as I intend to reference this book in future – and I think it will start a great number of conversations that need to be had within the church.
Also see below!

The Affair: An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamourThe Affair: An enthralling story of love and passion and Hollywood glamour by Gill Paul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I enjoyed this book as a charity shop pick-up/beach read. Found the historical detail interesting (outside of my era of expertise) and the characters well rounded… although the drugs story less enticing than the interpersonal intrigues!!

View all my reviews

And as a special extra, this was super special:

Categories
Life(style)

Have you been watching ‘The Nativity’?

Read the following by Andrew Graystone (full article):

“Next week BBC1 will broadcast a four-part drama retelling the story of The Nativity.  It has been written by Tony Jordan, one of the UK’s most gifted TV story-liners.  He was responsible for the narrative of Eastenders for most of its 25 years.  And he’s brought to The Nativity all the same story-telling skills.

Jordan has portrayed the central characters with intense honesty; two young people caught in an impossible situation, struggling to cope with the arrival of an unexpected baby.  Meanwhile there are parallel stories unfolding; three wise men are following what they take to be signs in the sky; farm-hands scratch a living while an uncaring government takes away what little resources they have.  All along you feel that these diverse narratives are destined to crash into each other in some extraordinary event.  What is different about this story is that at several key points the camera zooms out and we see the earth from space.  There is a groaning sound.  Tony Jordan is telling us that in this story something cosmic is happening; something of ultimate significance.

Many people in our generation are attracted to the idea that life is a continuing drama.  Walt Disney’s “circle of life” reassures that that the human narrative need never end. It means we don’t have to clean up our own mess.  If there is a divine story-liner, his job is to keep the narrative permanently open. But a story that is endless is ultimately meaningless.

Christians don’t believe that the human story is a continuing drama. History doesn’t go round in circles like the London Eye.  It is linear and purposeful like the London Marathon.  The human narrative had a beginning in God, a historical middle in which God intervened definitively in the most spectacular and dramatic way, and an end that God will surely bring about.”

See the trailer:

I look forward to seeing the rest of it on iPlayer when I get back from Egypt (looks like it’s on, but I won’t believe it til we’re in the air!)! (And for a change of pace, try ‘The Accidental Farmer‘… so funny, particularly when you come from a farming background!

Categories
Digital Life(style)

Christians on TV (Andrew Graystone) #medialit

  • General
    • Vicar of Dibley
    • Songs of Praise
    • Eastenders
    • Big Brother Contestants
    • Father Ted
    • Ned Flanders
    • Rev. Lovejoy
    • Emmerdale – Ashley Thomas
    • Pentecost Service (Chris Moyles: http://www.eauk.org/fnt/chris-moyles-talks-up-church.cfm) All the things he was expecting to Christians to be – was better – happy, enjoying, good music…)
    • The Manchester Passion (3 years ago)
    • The Liverpool Nativity (2 years ago)
    • The God Channel & that kind of TV
    • Peter Owen-Jones
    • Dermot McCullough
    • C4: The Bible in 8 Parts
    • What do we look like?
      • Sex scandals in the Roman Church
      • Ned Flanders
      • Traditional Songs of Praise
      • Vicar of Soham, Cumbria
      • Father Ted
      • E.g. Tim & Jeremy Vine – not portrayed “as Christians”
      • The Archbishops
      • Vicar of Dibley
      • How do we feel about that? What best represent?
        • Those who were real/flawed is OK?
        • On TV Christians are generally really ‘unattractive’.
        • Mostly make you cringe… caricature
        • Christian men – portrayed – weak willed, effeminate in dramas
        • Dull spoilsports/no engagement with the real world, apart from: http://www.christiansinsport.org.uk/
        • Why no positive ones – tension works for news?
          • “Christians all get on with each other”… ?
          • Church – works if you’re there (works well on radio), but on TV hard to portray on TV – looks dull, or looks odd… so does it work on TV?

Religious Broadcasting: What is it for?

  • Representing a proportion of licence payers (Christians & other religion) – the content tends to be the kind of material that offers discipleship, so what other kind of content is there?
  • Understanding other people’s worldviews? Does it help us understand ourselves as a Christian society?
  • Does it belong in the mainstream (for wide audience)?
  • Does it belong in narrowcasting (interest groups)?
  • Tension – are you servants of the church or the audience?
  • Do we object to atheists making “Christian programmes”? (what is that programme?)
  • Tension – offer entertainment, or whether it’s content that’s more important?

Rev John Mayo – Rector of Whitechapel. Christmas Eve 1922 – first to speak on radio.

  • Sunday – church services, or musics, or talks by religious professionals. Assumed that religious broadcasting was to build the faith of believers, and evangelise to non-believers.
    • Katherine Cordeaux – campaigned for daily act of worship, still continues today – was “New Every Morning”.
    • Ordained ministers saw themselves as Priests on the radio – along came WW2 – did they critique or support the war?
    • http://www.sayers.org.uk/ – The Man Born to Be King – lots of division as to how Jesus should be portrayed (a WASP).
    • C.S. Lewis “Mere Christianity” came out of broadcasts: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/people/cslewis_1.shtml. Church complained as he was a layman, and also because talks were scheduled very late at night.
    • 1948 – BBC seen as continuous teaching mission.
    • 1950s – TV more widely available. Is it OK to watch people praying? Is it OK to record worship? What is the status of a prayer that is pre-recorded?
      • Closed period – Sunday evening, 70% on religion. Home of religion on BBC was seen to be Sunday evening/morning – the one time, when that specific audience is not really available.
  • 1961 – Thought for the Day
  • 1980s – House churches, etc. growing, so led to programmes led by lay people, e.g. “This is the Day”.  V. small audience, and people weren’t participating as the programme assumed… (ring in, etc.).
    • No specific religious matter – against
  • 1990s – Decided to set up Heaven and Earth – religious programming for those who are not religious
  • Now: “The Big Questions”: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007zpll
  • No quota on religious broadcasting, aside from ITV, 52 hours (middle of night). BBC – part of its charter.
  • Watching Programmes:
    • As a Christian working the media, do you feel that you can use the medium to present evangelistic material? No, if wrote songs, wouldn’t only write Christian songs – just produce the best songs that I can…
    • How does the Christian community make itself relevant to the WIDER community?
    • As a Christian working the media, do you feel that you can use the medium to present evangelistic material? No, if wrote songs, wouldn’t only write Christian songs – just produce the best songs that I can…
    • It’s not prejudice against Christians, it’s ignorance!!  They don’t know many Christians, or the Christian faith, and Christians haven’t gone out of their way to make themselves understood, and have developed a lot of niche broadcasting, which has sucked the talent out and away from the mainstream medias. Feeling from some in the church that working in the media is a bit “dodgy” – e.g. Christians working in medical field and teaching, lots of networks and who supports the media – if you need it start it yourself: http://www.themedianet.org/, but not a noticeable engagement with the media from the mainstream church.
      • So what can WE do if we don’t work in the media – with little budget, etc…
      • People still spend more time on TV, and we need to engage with that mass culture.
      • Just because New Media is here doesn’t mean we ignore old media.
      • Offer to be a news outlet to local radio, etc. – not just for the God Slot!
    • What’s happening that we seem to be polarising into new media & old media!!
Categories
Digital Event Life(style)

Being Interviewed: Theory #medialit (Andrew Graystone)

  • How would you get us on the front page?
    • Scandal, dramatic.
    • Buy the newspaper/space on it & put the information on it.
  • The News Agenda = “truth”
    • Topical “It’s happening NOW”
    • Relevant “Relevant to the location, does it matter to the location”
    • Unusual  “Is it out of the ordinary?” 50,000 Christians in Wembley Stadium worshipping – that’s what Christians always do – but if they all give away their possessions.”
    • Tension “Has to be some drama/sense of drama/what happens next?”
    • Human “Only really care about what happens to us. The oil story – not about the oil, but about how it affects people.”
  • What makes news?
    • Michael Jackson spotted in London (but we thought he was dead – is he?)
    • Swine flu arrives in UK (will it affect those we know)
    • Amy Winehouse arrested for drug abuse (not unusual, but celebrity)
    • Obscure Durham band releases new album (new to friends/those in Durham – its not national news, but of interest to others).
    • David Cameron does deal with Taliban (important nationally)
      • Who’s interested in reading/publishing that news? Who has a stake in it?
  • Stages in the news cycle
    • Finding the news
    • Gathering the news
    • Writing the news
    • Editing the news
    • Ordering the news (newsworthiness or audience?)
    • Publishing the news
      • News cycle can repeat within one particular story – e.g. the BP oil spill – new angles are developed to keep it in the news.
      • Can be weekly, daily.. and now with online, it’s pretty much continuous.
      • For papers – 12 hours from print to read, in the meantime, many of those people will have seen more up-to-date news online or TV – how do they respond to this? Move from common news to other stories, or “anticipate”.
  • News Sources
    • Investigative Journalism (goes out and discovers – many see this as normal, but it’s a very small %age)
    • Creative Journalism (10 stories a day for a small paper – wait for stories delivered to you, e.g. press releases, if not that – e.g. see a pothole, ring one councillor, then the other – and create a new story)
    • Churnalism – re-use other news outlets (newspapers, etc.).
    • Press agencies. Collect but don’t publish – sell it to others.
    • Freelance journalists – collect & sell individuals stories. Ethical issues in deciding.
    • Friends, family & contacts
    • User-generated content (UGC).  Most noticeably from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buncefield_fire
    • PR feeds and press releases
      • The lower ones are more productive than the others.
  • Cardiff Uni Dept of Journalism
    • 60% wholly or mainly wire copy or PR material
    • 20% had elements of this that had been added to
    • 8% from unidentifiable sources
    • 12% generated by reporters.
      • Newsworthiness?
      • In the public interest?
      • Who’s wagging the tail?
      • Less & less clear – what is a journalist? Journalistic privilege –e.g. required not to give source? E.g. BBC will only publish a news story if Press Association or x 2 sources. Sky will only use one source – so get news out before the BBC, but have to retract afterwards.
    • Talking about Paul Hucker: http://ow.ly/218I5 #medialit – same story had run in 2002, but the story went global very quickly.  Simon Burgess & Paul Hucker had run similar stories e.g. Halloween, etc..
  • President Reuven Frank “News is what someone wants to suppress. Everything else is advertising.”
    • American News – particularly – need to get their sources right.  What impact did 9/11 have on the way stories are told?
    • Newspapers seen as ‘giving the wide view’ – one of the complaints is that new media – we are too niched and stick to one area – how pre-mediated is this. With Twitter, etc. can self-correct very fast?!
  • Clips
    • What is the interviewer trying to do?
      • Trying to get him to say something controversial
      • Being provocative – not just newsworthy, has to be entertaining (stop people switching off/get his contract renewed).
      • Who? What? When? Where? Why?
        • Needs tension, passion, contradiction.
        • Who has the power? Are they on the make?
        • Is this person telling the truth? What are they trying to hide?
    • What is the interviewee trying to do?
      • Trying to get his point across if interviewer lets him
    • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-152361/The-Red-Cross-bans-Christmas.html, picked up by Radio 4. How much warning would she have got? Would she have been able to say it’s up for review, etc.?
  • Giving an Interview, what would you ask?! Say YES
    • What is the focus of the interview?
    • Who’s going to be listening?
    • Why have they asked you?
    • Is there going to be more than one interviewer/interviewee?
    • How long is it going to be?
    • Is it recorded or is it live? Don’t say anything unless you’re happy to have it broadcast (no control over editing, so be in control of the interview). Live is always better.
      • Takes so long to be interviewed as tape is cheap, getting the crew there in the first place is expensive – so takes 1 hour’s tape, even if only using 60 seconds. Prepare before you go on.  If you’re not happy with something and ask them not to use it, that’s when they become interested and think that’s the best bit to use.
    • What questions are you thinking of asking? No guarantee that’s what they’ll ask.
    • When are you going to do it? Are you available? Guarantee inconvenient time so make yourself available. E.g hard to get Christian vicar to say “the Resurrection happened” as had to preach to own congregations – but the radio congregation = 0.5 million…
    • What’s before/after?
    • Who are THEY? Is this freelance, is it for a particular organisation? What media format is it for?
    • Is it on the phone? On the studio?
    • Ask for a copy afterwards. Tony Benn records his own interview.
  • Be part of the public conversation – which isn’t happening IN the churches.
    • I’ll ring you back in 10 minutes (not tomorrow!) Take time to prepare, or  institutions: Consult your Comms Officer (they usually have an overview)… unless you feel that you want to be a ‘martyr’ for a different cause – but remember you can only be a martyr once.
    • What is YOUR focus? What do you want to say? Never mind what they’re asking you..  Phone a friend and see how it sounds.
      • Is this ethical? Archbishop of Canterbury would ask is it ethical for the media to set the agenda?
      • We assume that ‘the media’ ask ‘the right questions’ – the media told us that.
      • Are there some who should never say yes? Can you pass them onto someone else who could ‘speak better’, don’t leave it hanging! Remember you’re talking to a general audience – you are the expert.
      • Most people say NO which leaves the airwaves bereft of Christian voices.
    • Why is “no comment” such a bad idea? We have been given a gift of communication from God – we are co-creators – so it’s our BUSINESS to communicate with the world – so why would you ever say “no comment”.
      • E.g. Red Cross – why is she not talking about WHAT the Red Cross DOES? This is not about Christmas Trees in shops, it’s about aid to the poorest people… he might not like it, but… !
      • What is your default message? Best way to kill a bad news story is with a good news story.
  • Listen to the programme (what speed do they talk at?)
  • Get the facts before you get there.. what the story is about & what you want to say. Take your facts and turn them into “pictures”. Radio: double-decker bus, the football pitch or Wales!
  • Decide what you want to say before you get there – do you want to sound passionate or?
  • What are the bear traps to look out for in the questions?
  • Be yourself on air, SMILE – as it comes across on the radio (need about 15% more than in real life). 2 people meeting each other. Not your title/expertise that are important, it’s your personality/personal experience that counts. People will listen to the person who has BEEN THERE.
  • Respect the listener  (radio – people usually listen individually) – it’s you and them.
  • Get your main message in FIRST. Don’t wait for the conversation to work round to it. If you want to give the impression that you’re a friendly, jolly vicar… or a web address – get it in!

PRACTICAL SESSION: Prepare for Interview

  • Do miracles happen?
  • Why does church attendance keep on falling?
  • Is it OK if your vicar is gay?
    • If it’s a story that’s your own experience – so can’t be contradicted,  and once you’ve started a story how do you get stopped?
    • Beware of Jargon, sound inclusive.
    • Can you win by personality, rather than by argument?
    • Energy & conflict…
    • Don’t necessarily need to be liked, but need to keep people listening.
    • Sandpaper Jockeys – run people up the wrong way
    • Other DJs – can draw things out of people…
Categories
Digital Event Life(style)

Andrew Graystone, #MediaLit

Work in TV

  • Can you fix my DVD player?
  • Can you get my nephew work experience?
  • How do you work out how many people are watching? http://www.barb.co.uk/ – see http://www.barb.co.uk/about/tvMeasurement .
    • How many are watching at all
    • Record = audience share of those watching anything at all
    • Appreciation index – how much people like the programme.
    • Programme Ratings
      • Reality
      • Participative
      • Make you laugh/relax
      • Fascination for people’s lives/stories (especially “success” – e.g. Susan Boyle)
      • 20th November BBC News – Cumbria Floods.  Question Time = Nick Griffin
      • What is the impact of digital?
      • In annual survey – events, especially entertainment events, at the top – ITV do more of these.
      • Most 7-9pm.
      • Lots of murder mystery/whodunit.
      • Not much that’s obviously children’s programming – if they are, they’re watching adult TV.  (Has been declining for 30 years, rising with girls watching Hollyoaks/Eastenders).
      • How many people watching TV in total in any one time?  Unknown
      • Most watch 2 hours 40 mins per day.
      • WHY do people watch TV – engage, escape/not on their own, inform, etc.  Defining ‘normative’ behaviours?  Idleness? Soap = magnified/distorted version of life? But the normality of what they’re doing/wearing/listening to, etc.
      • Equation – media influence the culture or culture creates the media?
      • Difference of American/British soaps? Teenagers repeat what they see on the soaps, etc. – extremist religion, etc.
      • Why do Christians watch TV? Our previous survey indicated that Christians watch less TV than the general population. Don’t think this is true – watch same/react same way. Only difference – those in Christian leadership watch less & complain about it more. Worrying – if we’re not integrating it into our Christian discipleship.
      • Nick Pollard  & Steve Couch– Get More Like Jesus Whilst Watching TV.
        • To learn about God, as God reveals himself in the world. As an art form, allows us to see God – tell our story – that is part of God’s story.  A theology of communication. Encourage and value Christian creativity/artists, including programme makers, but also challenging them to tell the trust about God, and what is the media telling us about God, ourselves and the world. Media = a mirror to the culture – but a fairground mirror.
        • To understand the culture – a theology of mission. Presents us with a digested view of reality. Tells us what kind of behaviour is good/valued, etc. People assess the importance of world events in relation to TV appearances on the media… or reference Hollyoaks/Neighbours, etc. – won’t necessarily copy the behaviour there, but it’s a reference point. Even those who don’t see TV understand the cultural references to it.
          • The Church now provides the liturgical calendar for the year – frames the year as the church calendar used to.
          • To be effective in mission need to understand not only what you believe, but how others believe!
      • To take time out. Have mind distracted. Frank Lloyd-Wright “Chewing Gum for the Eyes” – Theology of Entertainment – God takes joy in our leisure, etc. God created rest – it’s legitimate. Pollard wants us to watch with our guards aware…
      • To indulge our fantasies – including monetary fantasies or BabeStation!
  • Advice for a Christian getting a TV for the first time…
    • Buy a decent TV!
      • With a TV – it’s all online, so why do you want a TV?
      • Community viewing via Twitter, etc..
      • Be selective/intentional.
      • Be critical – reflect on things
      • Watch it with your kids
      • Are there any decent Christian characters on TV?
      • Be aware for  #watercooler conversation
      • Danger: think it’s real life “I saw it on TV, so it must be true”
  • 8 October 1961, Andrew Graystone & Songs of Praise were born at the same time.
    • Accidental ended up in TV. Wanted a job in the North-West. TV researcher “how hard can that be?”.
    • A real shock from theology to the BBC. Long hours, lots of travel. All the numbers are big (budgets, audiences, etc.) whereas church all the numbers were small. Put Charlotte Church on TV at 12. Spent 1.5 days with Stephen Hawking talking about God, etc… Chaotic industry. Wants those who work in churches to understand more.
  • 10 things that TV has taught Andrew Graystone
    • TV is made by ordinary people, including the “celebrities” on screen. (Avg age BBC employee – 27, most on v short contracts/insecure, powerful cultural influences held by the young, e.g. marriage not held in high regard on TV as many of those had not much or poor experiences. )
    • TV is powerful. E.g. When Delia Smith used a brand of frying pan sold out the next day; Jamie Oliver using real vanilla – those in African villages were killing each other for that; Princess Diana’s funeral still the most watched; Baywatch still biggest global programme; Only Fools & Horses sold to Nepal)
    • TV has a major impact on children. Majority have TVs in their bedroom including 1/3 pre-school age. 50% of under 2 year olds watch 3 hours  a day – because neighbourhood is “unsafe” – so TV a ‘safe environment’.
    • Older people watch more TV than younger people.  About 5 hours per day, more than national average (2 hours 40 per day). So if average viewer is 56… producer = 27?! Making TV for our parents.
    • TV doesn’t always tell the truth. “Stars in Their Eyes”…  (come in with their “ordinary clothes” (just bought by Wardrobe!), 3 seconds later through the door (transformed)…  first bit = Tuesday, re-record Thursday (different audience, but the smoke = a trick!).  We’re sophisticated in grammar on TV so we can spot/forgive it.  Have to turn 40 hours of filming, turn it into a 59 minute programmes – could have told ANY NUMBER of stories that would have worked for the audience – making choices – not trying to record 1 hour of events! Had chosen the “random” people to be good characters. The integrity of the programme maker is REALLY important. Those who are watching it’s important not to just watch uncritically. Whilst editing – could have got some juicy stuff re: Melvyn Bragg – could get some good coverage in the news, etc. but decided not relevant to who he is, so left it out. Glenn Hoddle – actively asked to leave out ‘believe in reincarnation’ – should you leave it in or out? Real dilemmas faced whenever in the edit suite – put it in because it was clear that he believed in it – important to tell the truth.
    • Audiences are all-important. All programmes are commissioned to the audience (not just ‘a great idea’ – guidelines ,e.g.  want 1.5 million/female/over 50 audience, find a programme that will give me that).  If more people watched = great, if less = have an ‘inquest’. More proactive than you think…  Don’t assume that the first priority is to tell the truth – it’s to entertain. (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/724175/Ant-and-Dec-Saturday-Night-Takeway-Jiggy-bank.html) – why were they not sent to the tower – people were entertained so they voted.  In purely commercial TV – it’s about selling the advertising. BBC as a PBS – not purely commercially driven.
    • TV is competitive. (800 people applied for his job, 799 were still waiting!). For every slot on TV there are 100 ideas submitted.
    • TV is changing very fast. Digital has transformed everything in TV… we’re only at the start. In 5 years look VERY different
    • All TV is trying to sell you something. Children watch 18000 TV adverts per year.  They are not public service announcements.
    • TV creates the framework for our culture/lives.  What do we do with it?
  • Is all TV the same? What difference has digitisation made (e.g. being able to watch at any time?). What about access to e.g. God Channel, Al Jazeera. Hole in the Wall – sold to many countries. What about massive brands  -e.g. “X –Got-Talent” – many voices round the edge (digitally), but the central homogonisation!
  • Mass Culture – YouTube, etc. Will see more of the ‘Rage Against the Machine’ type thing…  Will people get bored with Simon Cowell? Yes, but they’ll be another one waiting in the wings…  YouTube – very “normalness” – we’d never escape from that.
    • Rage Against the Machine – originally written as a protest song, but became a piece of consumerism – difficult to break out of the circle.
  • Analysing world view of culture (crude tool)
    • Watch a programme on TV
      • Surface: describe what you’re seeing there.
      • Can then identify the values of that culture/programme – what is approved/disapproved of? What is rewarded/encouraged?
      • What are the core beliefs driving that culture/programme.
      • Example: The Weakest Link…
        • Dark, brooding, colours, etc.
        • Coming first is valued, being fast enough, rewarded by money, it’s OK to be rude to people, etc.  Is a competitive environment.
        • Essentially Darwinist – the survival of the fittest – adapt to an environment? Or is it survival of the luckiest? Dishonesty is built into it – I can’t own to being the weakest link.  Usually the Godlike figure is the production community – e.g. The Dealer on ‘Deal or No Deal’.
      • Example: Deal or No Deal
        • Noel Edmonds – has-been celebrity. Money, boxes, old-fashioned telephone, banker. No skill required.  Randomly distributed boxes. Audience (interactive). Sense of community.
        • Values: Approved of: Risk, Community ‘we want the best for each person’ – the banker is the enemy.  Wants to give as little money away as possible. Noel Edmunds = “a priest”. Language has a religion around it.. “positive thinking = it’ll be a blue”. Liturgy – do you have a pattern or not? Chanting together?! Audience are called ‘pilgrims’. People give reasons for why which numbers, although it’s completely random… Re-edited to give a ‘superstitious’ choice. Rituals about the ‘newbies’.
        • Core Beliefs: Noel Edmonds believes in Cosmic Ordering. More money you have = the better your life will be “life-changing amount”. Positive community. Gambling is OK. You can change “what’s in the box”. Negotiation access – have limited power to make decisions – but in the end not fundamentally in control.
      • Superficially similar programmes, but have very different formats.
  • Important we begin to try and understand what is driving the TV programme.