David’s Substack

Weekly commentary about the BBC, media history, wartime propaganda, writing, and other stuff that matters (and sometimes doesn't)

The hottest Substack posts of David’s Substack

And their main takeaways

Why I'm starting a Substack

239 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Public Debate Broadcasting Psychological Warfare Writing process
  1. Writing a book can take a long time, sometimes years between ideas and publication. This writer wants a quicker way to share thoughts.
  2. The Substack will focus on the writer's interests in media history, the BBC, and wartime propaganda. Readers can expect a mix of topics.
  3. Posts will come out weekly, but the schedule may change depending on life. Feedback from readers is encouraged to improve the content.

Humanising History

79 implied HN points • 16 May 24
💾 History Cultural History Broadcasting World War II
  1. The BBC has a huge oral history collection with over 400 interviews. These recordings give personal stories from people who worked there and help us understand the social and cultural history of the 20th century.
  2. Oral histories can reveal details about historical events that official records don't show. They provide a deeper emotional connection to the past by sharing feelings and experiences of those who lived through it.
  3. Researching history using both written documents and oral histories allows for a fuller understanding of events. By combining facts with personal stories, we can see the human side of history and why people acted the way they did.

Three Thinking

79 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Media Broadcasting Philosophy Music Radio
  1. Radio programming is changing to fit listener habits and tastes. Shows are moving between channels to stay fresh and relevant.
  2. Key presenters are being used for multiple shows, making it easier for listeners to connect with familiar voices. This aims to create a comforting and consistent listening experience.
  3. The BBC wants to shift towards an audience-controlled model. This means people will choose what they want to hear without worrying about which station it's on.

3 Name Problem

59 implied HN points • 25 Apr 24
💾 History Intelligence Identity Names
  1. To understand a group's history, it's often complicated by their changing names and identities, especially in secretive environments like wartime propaganda.
  2. Different organizations used various cover names, making it hard to track who was working for whom and what they were actually doing.
  3. The identities of individuals, especially those in wartime roles, often shifted significantly, complicating research and understanding their true contributions.

Bronowski Beat

2 HN points • 16 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Media Television History Science Politics
  1. Jacob Bronowski's series 'The Ascent of Man' aimed to connect science and the arts, showing how they shape our understanding over time. It offers a unique view that blends human culture with scientific progress.
  2. One famous episode, 'Knowledge or Certainty?', features Bronowski at Auschwitz, where he emphasizes the dangers of absolute certainty in knowledge. This moment highlights the importance of humility and diverse viewpoints.
  3. Bronowski faced challenges in his broadcasting career due to MI5 surveillance and political misunderstandings. This interference almost ended his role in significant projects like a TV series on atomic power, making his later success even more remarkable.
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Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Art Literature Fashion Music Philosophy
  1. A new newsletter is launching soon on Substack. It's a way for readers to get updates and interesting content.
  2. You can subscribe to stay informed about future posts and topics.
  3. There are options to share the newsletter on social media or via email with others.