Archiving the Referendum

Using the contents of BBC Scotland's television archive pertaining to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign, this book argues that television archive material is a powerful memory tool which shapes how we connect with the past. The referendum was a seismic moment for Scotland and its repercussions are still being felt today. BBC Scotland provided the lion's share of television coverage of the referendum and even became part of the story of the campaign. This book offers a unique insight into the work of the archivists and programme-makers involved with preserving and reusing footage of the campaign held in the broadcaster's archive. Combining textual analysis with interviews with programme-makers and archivists, this book also explores the labour conditions and institutional policy around access to BBC Scotland's television archive which play a crucial role in how material is chosen and used, thus shaping the stories that BBC Scotland tells about the referendum.

Draws on author's experience working in BBC Scotland's Referendum Unit as an archive producer during the campaign Offers a timely intervention to the fields of both television and memory studies Will benefit policy and programme-makers looking towards indyref2

Autorentext

Mhairi Brennan is a Research Associate at Aston University, UK. Her specialism is in television, television archives, and memory. Brennan previously worked for several years as a television archive producer. This book is based on her experience of working as an archive producer in BBC Scotland's Referendum Unit during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign.

Klappentext

Mhairi Brennan writes successfully from a dual perspective: as both a TV professional and as an accomplished research academic. Her study of the coverage of the Scottish independence referendum is exemplary, providing rare insights into how broadcasting functions in practice.

John Ellis, Emeritus Professor, Royal Holloway, University of London

"This important and timely book highlights the role of the archive (of a large public service broadcaster) as a major part of a nation's cultural memory. The authorwho has first-hand experience of researching and producing in broadcast archiveswrites in an accessible and readable manner and as a result, the work will appeal to the informed reader with interests in media and politics as well as to students and academic researchers in the field.

Jamie Medhurst, Professor of Film and Media, Aberystwyth University (Wales)

Using the contents of BBC Scotland's television archive pertaining to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign, this book argues that television archive material is a powerful memory tool which shapes how we connect with the past. The referendum was a seismic moment for Scotland and its repercussions are still being felt today. BBC Scotland provided the lion's share of television coverage of the referendum and even became part of the story of the campaign. This book offers a unique insight into the work of the archivists and programme-makers involved with preserving and reusing footage of the campaign held in the broadcaster's archive. Combining textual analysis with interviews with programme-makers and archivists, this book also explores the labour conditions and institutional policy around access to BBC Scotland's television archive which play a crucial role in how material is chosen and used, thus shaping the stories that BBC Scotland tells about the referendum.

Mhairi Brennan is a Research Associate at Aston University, UK. Her specialism is in television, television archives, and memory. Brennan previously worked for several years as a television archive producer. This book is based on her experience of working as an archive producer in BBC Scotland's Referendum Unit during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign.

Inhalt

Chapter 1 : Introduction.- Chapter 2 : Making Memories: Key concepts around memory, the archive, and history on television.- Chapter 3 : Milestones on the Road to Referendum.- Chapter 4 : The BBC in Scotland.- Chapter 5 : Creating connections with the past in Scotland's Smoking Gun (BBC Two Scotland, 2014).- Chapter 6 : You're always scripting to the pictures': production practices for How the Campaign Was Won (BBC One Scotland, 2014).- Chapter 7 : A pact with the future': archival practices at BBC Scotland .- Chapter 8 : Conclusion.