Radio
Imperfections
Maureen Owen
Accused by Radio Northampton of wilful ignorance on the subject of what the BBC are doing for the unemployed, I sat glued to local radio for an average of two and a half hours a day for four con- secutive days. Since I do not listen to Radio Northampton for the same reason that I do not listen to Radio Monte Carlo — I cannot receive it on my wireless set — I made do with my local radio station, Radio Solent.
Given that the unemployed, like anyone else, may have to leave the room for various short intervals, I can confirm that I only heard two `job opportunities' throughout the entire four-day session. One was for a `lift fitter', the other for a `brake fitter'. Once again, if squeaky little LBC can pro- vide an effective job information service, why can't the BBC?
Although I doubtless missed a lot of
good stuff in this precious time, at 'Ott something was gained. Perhaps the spectacular contribution to local radio 11; recent months has been the introduction °1 `A' level student David Stewart, who Pre: duces racing tips each day on Raelif Cleveland by means of a computer. So cessful have his predictions been that theY are now syndicated to five other radio gas; tions and enabled me to achieve a mode
win on the St Leger. nle
There are reasons to suppose that PO, who listen to BBC radio on a Saturcto. night may be rather lonely, or perhaPs 11 or in some way isolated. Possibly poverished as well. They might also be On, or under house arrest. They may of cr)ufs,Li be shift workers or very tired; too tired cee'l to read a book. In any case one 01111,, assume that for one reason or another have ruled out television, Whatever reason, I think they are entitled to belle, programmes than they at present receive °h1i Radio 4, I tuned in late one Saturday rlig to hear a programme on breast and boviee cancer followed by another prograg11110 about a couple who have brought 11P I mongol child for 25 years. The latter Os', think, intended to be an uplifting PPd r'le gramme as we were told that the cou concerned considered the handicaPPec child to be a gift from God and that anY°111 who thought otherwise was morallY t1,11„1 spiritually ignorant. We were also told hv's the child must be referred to as a qVgAlls Syndrome' child, rather than a mongol. with so many BBC programmes devoted lus affliction, the high moral tone came over ° bossy and critical.' On Medicine Now, a programme 0'1;11119 more dispassionate attitude, also relaY4 a Saturday, I learned that althoughIlvie transplants are now technically P°ssib t they are extremely expensive at ah°bIje £50,000 a go, and are only likely t° awarded to people who lead decent, sell; ble lives. There are now so many prograingl devoted to different forms of mental anu physical disability that one wonders if tIle,:r are of any actual use to the incapacitated v whether they are mere vehicles for the 11.g; gressive and querulous views of the soeilie worker element who take part in them. title of the Radio 4 programme Does Pe Take Sugar? is in itself an implied reba.le meaning that the crass majority of us arelfci sensitive to the feelings of blind and in.lorm'e people. The last edition of the progran?"-to (another Saturday offering) launched a corruscating attack on the advertising dustry for not employing people, Is wheelchairs to take part in TV commercalthe This was followed by criticisms of :e0 footwear trade for not including soeffrA boots in their fashion advertisements'he repellent jingle has also been devised at e behest of Marlene Pease, the progral%. editor, camping up an advertisement Ito padded pvc wheelchairs. In the studt° comment on these weird suggestions vidi advertising mogul Peter Marsh. Mr Mahr'ai was obliged to explain in brutal terms ty °11.1Y 1.7 per cent of the population are disabled and to state the various reasons ,whY a breakfast cereal commercial portray- Ing People in wheelchairs or wearing surgical boots would not be practical. u , Meanwhile, the long awaited religious v !..ecumentary programme, Signs and 'ontiers, Radio 4, proved that a new type °f religious mania is taking root and that 1..he chief line of communication is the BBC. faith Wright looked at the re-emergence of he aith healing, now known as 'charismatic
ating as an alternative to orthodox Medicine. The Deaconess Una Kroll ap- P.eared, to describe her method of laying on Me hands at her rural retreat in Kent.
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