David Hendy on BBC Radio 4 and Morality - an interview

What has BBC Radio 4 got to do with morality?

David Hendy, author of a recent book on the history of BBC Radio 4 - Life on Air: a History of Radio 4 (described by Stefan Collini as 'this endlessly engrossing book  ' in his Guardian review) discusses this question in a podcast audio interview made specially for virtual philosopher.

Hendy discusses the Reithian vision of the early days of the radio station from its beginnings in 1967 (dispelling  some myths about Lord Reith's alleged elitism in the process). He goes on to illuminate difficult route it plotted for itself in the 70s, 80s and 90s, at one point steering between the unlikely Scylla and Chaybdis of Mary Whitehouse and Stuart Hall.

Listen to mp3 of David Hendy discussing Radio 4 and morality (18'28")