‘Minorities with a Message’: The Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949–1951) and Wales

Jamie Medhurst

doi:10.1093/tcbh/hwm039

‘Minorities with a Message’: The Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949–1951) and Wales

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‘Minorities with a Message’: The Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949–1951) and Wales. / Medhurst, Jamie.

In: Twentieth Century British History, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2008, p. 217-233.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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@article{fba3da07c2bb482b9aaa2755fba14fb1,

title = "{\textquoteleft}Minorities with a Message{\textquoteright}: The Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949–1951) and Wales",

abstract = "This article explores the significance of the report of the Beveridge Committee on Broadcasting (1949–1951)—which was charged with considering all aspects of post-war broadcasting in Britain at a time of political, social, economic and cultural change—in relation to Wales. It argues that the interaction between the committee and the Welsh political and cultural and groups that submitted evidence to the committee allows for an insight into the cultural politics of Wales during the early post-war period. It also argues that a study of the report throws light onto issues of broadcasting and nationhood, the significance of the Welsh language in defining nationhood and a national consciousness and the relationship between a minority language and the state, at a time of political and cultural change. A study of the Welsh dimension of the committee's report also provides a framework for an understanding of the broadcasting politics of Wales in the 1950s and 1960s. Finally, the article exemplifies the tensions that existed between what media historian James Curran calls the {\textquoteleft}newness and modernity{\textquoteright} of the broadcast media and a political and cultural elite which sought to preserve a {\textquoteleft}traditional{\textquoteright} way of life in the face of the perceived impact of those media.",

author = "Jamie Medhurst",

note = "Medhurst, J. (2008). 'Minorities with a Message': the Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949-51) and Wales. Twentieth Century British History. 19(2), pp.217-233. RAE2008",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1093/tcbh/hwm039",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

pages = "217--233",

journal = "Twentieth Century British History",

issn = "0955-2359",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "2",

}

RIS (suitable for import to EndNote) - Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - ‘Minorities with a Message’: The Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949–1951) and Wales

AU - Medhurst, Jamie

N1 - Medhurst, J. (2008). 'Minorities with a Message': the Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949-51) and Wales. Twentieth Century British History. 19(2), pp.217-233. RAE2008

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - This article explores the significance of the report of the Beveridge Committee on Broadcasting (1949–1951)—which was charged with considering all aspects of post-war broadcasting in Britain at a time of political, social, economic and cultural change—in relation to Wales. It argues that the interaction between the committee and the Welsh political and cultural and groups that submitted evidence to the committee allows for an insight into the cultural politics of Wales during the early post-war period. It also argues that a study of the report throws light onto issues of broadcasting and nationhood, the significance of the Welsh language in defining nationhood and a national consciousness and the relationship between a minority language and the state, at a time of political and cultural change. A study of the Welsh dimension of the committee's report also provides a framework for an understanding of the broadcasting politics of Wales in the 1950s and 1960s. Finally, the article exemplifies the tensions that existed between what media historian James Curran calls the ‘newness and modernity’ of the broadcast media and a political and cultural elite which sought to preserve a ‘traditional’ way of life in the face of the perceived impact of those media.

AB - This article explores the significance of the report of the Beveridge Committee on Broadcasting (1949–1951)—which was charged with considering all aspects of post-war broadcasting in Britain at a time of political, social, economic and cultural change—in relation to Wales. It argues that the interaction between the committee and the Welsh political and cultural and groups that submitted evidence to the committee allows for an insight into the cultural politics of Wales during the early post-war period. It also argues that a study of the report throws light onto issues of broadcasting and nationhood, the significance of the Welsh language in defining nationhood and a national consciousness and the relationship between a minority language and the state, at a time of political and cultural change. A study of the Welsh dimension of the committee's report also provides a framework for an understanding of the broadcasting politics of Wales in the 1950s and 1960s. Finally, the article exemplifies the tensions that existed between what media historian James Curran calls the ‘newness and modernity’ of the broadcast media and a political and cultural elite which sought to preserve a ‘traditional’ way of life in the face of the perceived impact of those media.

U2 - 10.1093/tcbh/hwm039

DO - 10.1093/tcbh/hwm039

M3 - Article

VL - 19

SP - 217

EP - 233

JO - Twentieth Century British History

JF - Twentieth Century British History

SN - 0955-2359

IS - 2

ER -

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