100 Years of the BBC in the Mass Observation Project
On the 14th of November 2022, the BBC celebrated its landmark centenary. With AM’s Mass Observation Project, we can look into the thoughts and opinions from observers on what is a worldwide, yet brilliantly British institution.
Through this digitised collection, we can observe social commentary on the BBC with the 2004 Spring directive part 2: You and the BBC. This directive documents ‘Observers’ responses to questions on topics such as the radio or TV programmes they remember and the effect on them, topical events involving the BBC, and their watching and listening habits.
2004 Spring directive part 2: You and the BBC - Mass Observation Project (amdigital.co.uk)
In 1922, the first BBC broadcast was made at 6pm from Marconi House, London. Then called the British Broadcast Company, the broadcast (a news bulletin) was read out by Arthur Burrows. Affectionately known as “Uncle Arthur” to his listeners, he could be considered the first name on the BBC’s long list of broadcasters who have had a special relationship with audiences over the one hundred years of its existence.
This affection towards the BBC, its programmes and presenters, continues to this day. Whether it is music, news, drama, radio, TV, or film, the BBC has played a huge part in our everyday lives, entertaining us and, for many, shaping who we are.
At its inception, the BBC was founded on the principle of broadcasting “All that is best in every department of human knowledge, endeavor and achievement…” – according to its Director General, John Reith. Observer A3023’s response (born in the 1950s) reflects Reith’s original mantra. She writes:
“I’ve always regarded the BBC as a picture window, an education in the broadest sense. Enlightening my view of the world. If I meet anyone who doesn’t listen to (BBC) Radio 4 … I feel less inclined to get to know them. Feeling instinctively that they will not have the broad range of taste and interests that listening to those radio stations encourages”.
A3023's response to 2004 Spring directive part 2 - Mass Observation Project (amdigital.co.uk)
In Mass Observation Project, the BBC is consistently praised for its focus on balanced broadcasting and the spreading of knowledge. B1989 states:
“Its breadth of coverage and its impartiality are unique. I have travelled extensively in Europe, in Asia, in America and in Australia, and I have never found anything like it”.
The BBC also played a big part in the lives of the British Public during the Second World War, and this is remembered fondly by many observers. Unsurprisingly, as BBC radio broadcasts were a key source of information and entertainment for families up and down the country while television broadcasts were suspended.
The BBC has a world-renowned reputation for quality programming which has remained a constant throughout its history. Shows like Top Gear, Sherlock, and Blue Planet II have been hugely popular with international audiences whilst Dancing with the Stars (the international version of Strictly Come Dancing) has become a worldwide hit. It’s safe to say that even in today’s financial climate and the pressures it faces, the BBC holds a special place in the hearts for many of its viewers and listeners.
About the author
Stewart Pospischil is an Editorial Assistant at AM
About the collection
2004 Spring directive part 2: You and the BBC and A3023's response to 2004 Spring directive part 2 are available open access for 30 days.
Mass Observation Project is out now.
Recent posts
In preparation for migration to AM Quartex, the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press had to take stock of and rationalise seven distinct digital collections. Learn about how this was overcome in part three of this guest blog series.
From medieval markets to a global powerhouse, London’s evolution between 1450 and 1750 is vividly documented in the records of its livery companies. Central to the city’s economy, these institutions reveal how London navigated challenges like plagues, the Great Fire, and rapid growth, underscoring their vital role in shaping a thriving metropolis.