It’s 100 years since the BBC began broadcasting in Wales. The Idea Debate: Are You Receiving Me? will look at how communication has changed over the century. Catrin Nye hosts a panel of speakers who will give their own take on the subject in front of a lively audience.

100 year ago those of us who had a “wireless” would sit around and listen to what the BBC, and only the BBC, decided to entertain us with at that particular time. Just a few people occupied that privileged space – telling us what they thought was important, useful or funny. The public’s ability to communicate with each other was limited to face-to-face or using the postal system and the telephone. Today anyone can reach thousands of people on social media within minutes.

This anniversary gives us a chance to reflect on how mass communication has changed our world, and to weigh up the benefits and the damage resulting from that change. We will be looking at the role of social media, as well as traditional media and considering their impact on how we find out about the world and how we express our views. We will also reflect on how language in conversation and online can be exclusive or inclusive of certain groups.

On the panel are social media expert Owen Williams – speaking on truth and lies online, Yvonne Murphy, who runs a project which challenges traditional forms of political communication, and Professor David Turner who discusses the language we use to talk about disability. The audience in the studio will be joining in with the conversation.

The Idea Debate builds on the format and values established in the long-running The Idea series where Catrin Nye meets people with something important to say about our society today. Always seeking to shed light and explore something in-depth, rather than just having an argument, Catrin will be playing a similar role in The Idea Debate.

The Idea Debate is a Bengo Media Production for BBC Radio Wales. Show less