Opportunity to get involved in PhD research exploring digitally excluded adults’ views on public service broadcasting and online futures
The BBC and other public service broadcasters (PSBs), in this country and others, are planning for ‘online-only’ futures in which all content and services would require an internet connection to access. As part of a doctoral research project funded by the EPSRC with support from BBC R&D, researchers at the University of Liverpool are looking to conduct a number of in-person focus groups between September and December this year with digitally excluded adults across the country that will explore the possible implications of this digital transition. Using the BBC as a focal point, each group will explore a number of questions, including:
- What it means for audiences of public service broadcasters (PSBs) to be digitally excluded
- Why PSB audiences might currently find themselves digitally excluded
- What the impacts are of digital exclusion from PSBs
- How PSBs like the BBC should respond to the problem of digital exclusion.
The researchers are interested in conducting focus groups across the nations and regions of the UK, and to reflect, as best as possible, the diversity of the people who receive digital exclusion support across the country. Please note, for ethical reasons, however, that the groups can only involve adults without known vulnerabilities, who have the English proficiency necessary to provide informed consent and participate in the groups without assistance.
If you are an organisation that provides digital inclusion support and think that your service users would like their perspectives to be heard on this issue; and importantly, if you have the capacity to host one of the groups, then please contact Stephen Crone at the following address: s.m.crone@liverpool.ac.uk. Please note that compensation is available to participating venues to cover the costs of hosting a focus group, and that compensation will also be provided to the focus group participants themselves.