Readers will recall that one of my campaigning objectives is to reduce the amount of extraneous noise, sometimes called 'music,' on BBC radio programmes. I restrict myself mainly to Radio 4 and 5. This is because I do not see television (I have visual difficulties).
I know there is widespread dismay at the practice of the BBC inflicting this noise on us. I do hope that others will complain directly to the broadcasters as I've reason to believe that this has some effect.
Recently I've noticed that programmes like Radio 4's PM apologise when there is background noise!
Here is my letter of complaint to the BBC dated 1July 2014:
There was an interview concerning the DWP and employment at this time. I can't be more specific because I couldn't hear!
The item seemed to comprise an interview while there were noisy bus motor noises playing. It was virtually impossible to understand what was going on. I have defective hearing but two young people with perfect hearing have told me they have difficulty in understanding the dialogue.
Some words of the interrogator could be understood but nothing of the recipients. I think this is very shoddy and amateurish. It also shows disrespect to the listener.
It seems to me that the main function of a radio broadcast is to convey aural intelligence. If the presumably youthful producer wanted to convey the background noise as indicating busyness, s/he could have played a few seconds of motor noise at the beginning and end.
It is increasingly common for the BBC to drown out spoken words with background noise, the purpose of which is usually unknown. Please stop this!
Thank you.Yours faithfully, Colin Bennett
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And now here is the reply I received on 6 July 2014:
Dear Mr Bennett
Reference CAS-2788975-8TDXB3
Thank you for contacting us regarding the 'Today' programme broadcast on 30 June.
I understand that you were left unable to hear an item by Michael Buchanan due to the background noise of bus.
Although I appreciate your feelings, the aim of the piece was to replicate Iain Duncan Smith's suggestion that people living in Merthyr Tydfil who were struggling to find work should take the bus to Cardiff.
The BBC's social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan took up the challenge and took the bus from Merthyr to Cardiff, speaking to the unemployed who were trying to find work. We're sorry to read that you found the item difficult to listen to, however, this was recorded on a busy morning with passengers on their way to work.
We appreciate your feedback on this and can assure you all complaints are sent to senior management and programme makers every morning and we have made sure to include your points in this overnight report. These reports are among the most widely read sources of feedback in the BBC and ensures that your complaint has been seen by the right people quickly. This helps inform their decisions about current and future programmes.
Thanks again for taking the trouble to share your views with us
Kind Regards, Richard Carey, BBC Complaints
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It seems to me that the BBC is not dealing with the essence of my complaint. I feel that the number one purpose of a radio news item is to permit the listener to hear the dialogue. In this case I was not able to do that.
Any 'frills' such as background noise must be subsidiary. This is the yardstick: does the item make sense without the background noise? I think yes. Does the item make sense with the background noise in and the dialogue inaudible? I think no.
Remember we are talking about the whole range of listeners' ages and hearing ability, not just for young people with perfect hearing.