Erstellt am: 28. 6. 2011 - 13:02 Uhr
Today's Webtip: The Reith Lectures
It might be hard to believe, but radio and television was once associated with nearly the same degree of idealism as the early days of the web. And, as with the web, commercial interests have slowly edged in on the dreams of improving the common good through mass communications. But there are still a few examples of broadcasting companies that try to do the right thing.
One of those experiments was the Reith Lectures. Named after the BBC's first director Sir John Reith, they were a practical expression of his belief that broadcasting should help enrich the cultural and intellectual life of a nation. The series began in 1948 with a talk by Bertrand Russel and continues to this day featuring lectures that were devised to examine contemporary issues beyond the soundbite.
Now the BBC has put their collection online as a series of podcasts, streaming files and transcripts. They have also added to the content by creating a podcast featuring shows relevant to the theme of democracy and dissent.
It's a rich collection and an excellent example of what can be done when a broadcaster makes a serious commitment to public service and the internet.