Airwaves to Algorithms

Airwaves to Algorithms

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Manchester Lit&Phil in association with Salford University presented Airwaves to Algorithms: How broadcasting and media is changing in Manchester.

Greater Manchester has long been home to some of the most famous broadcasters and programmes in the country, from the birth of commercial television at Granada Studios, to the BBC’s first regional television and radio site being based in Rusholme. Now, Salford hosts MediaCity, one of the largest hubs for the creative and broadcast industries in Europe.

So many of the most iconic and influential television and radio programmes in the world have Manchester running through their DNA – and the media and creative industries have long run through Manchester’s DNA too.

Now, though, things are changing. Viewing and listening habits have shifted, the media ecosystem has fragmented, traditional platforms have given way to, or been forced to join, an array of new and thriving digital platforms.

In a world where everyone is a content creator, and everyone is a publisher, where does this leave Manchester and its creative industries? What role does the region play in this new world order? And is traditional broadcast media as we knew it… dead?

The Panel

Ian Cameron – Manchester Lit&Phil – Chair
Seamus Simpson – Prof Media Policy, Salford University
Stuart Morgan – Founder of Audio Always
Matty White – TV & Radio Producer/Presenter

Seamus Simpson

Seamus Simpson is Professor of Media Policy in the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology at the University of Salford, UK. He has written extensively on European and global media governance including the volumes: Regulation, Governance and Convergence in the Media (2018, Edward Elgar) with Peter Humphreys; and Global Standard Setting in Internet Governance (2020, Oxford University Press) with Alison Harcourt and George Christou. His research has been funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, the European Union and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). He is a past Chair of the International Communication Association Communication Law and Policy Division and was one of the founding editors of the Oxford Research Encyclopaedia of Communication (Oxford University Press). He is a member of the ESRC Peer Review College and is University of Salford Institutional Lead on the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council North West Consortium Doctoral Training partnership.

Stuart Morgan

Stuart Morgan is the Founder and Managing Director at Audio Always. Stuart worked in the commercial radio sector before launching Audio Always at Media City in 2012. It has grown to be one of the biggest independent production companies in the UK, working across radio, podcasts and audiobooks with bases in Salford, Birmingham and London. Audio Always delivers more hours of BBC radio content than any other indie, with a focus on shows out of London and entertainment content. This includes daily, weekly and one-off programmes Radio 1, Radio 2, 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network. In addition, Audio Always has a growing network of original podcasts that reach more than six million listeners a week. Titles include Help I Sexted My Boss, The Girls Bathroom, Get A Grip with Angela Scanlon and Vicky Pattison, UK True Crime and the newly launched Fact Up with Joe Thomas and James Buckley.

Matty White

Matty White is a Manchester-based presenter, producer, and broadcaster with over two decades of experience in the media industry. He is known for his work in radio, TV, and as a food and drink critic. His career began at BBC Radio Manchester, and he later ran his own radio station, XS Manchester. He has also been a regular presenter on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch and a contributor on BBC Radio 5 Live, and a producer/ music news reporter on BBC Radio 6 Music. He’s been a DJ in the city for over 20 years. He is the founder of the food and drink podcast, “Fodder,” and is a regular host at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards. He is also the Manchester’s Finest, a website and social media platform highlighting the city’s culture. In his YouTube series, he interviews restaurant owners by reading them bad reviews from TripAdvisor. In 2024, he became an ambassador for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity after sharing his experience of being homeless as a teenager.

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