Unit 27 LO2 Codes and Conventions

 

LO2 Understand codes and conventions of factual programming for television

List and explain all the codes and conventions used in a NEWS product with examples. (Use the key terms)

Challenge Task: Compare and contrast 2 different news products e.g. BBC and Channel 5 or 60 Seconds and BBC News night

A code is a system of sign, which can be decoded to create meaning.
It can create feelings to the audience through effects and techniques- E.g. a woman who wears red in a film makes the audience think that she is dangerous.

A convention is what you would expect to see (stereotype) in a certain genre- E.g. in a crime drama we expect to see dark settings – a hero, a villain and sometimes a policeman

News conventions

Studio newsreaders- a news presenter is a person who presents news when the news programme is on in the format of a TV show or Internet or radio. News presenter’s work in TV studios, radio studios and from remote broadcasting in the field especially weather forecasters.

An example of news reporters is Sian Williams and George alagiah.

They have to look very presentable and professional so that the viewers will take them serious.

Explain and analyse the different DOCUMENTARY FORMATS – explain the codes and conventions used in each and give examples (Use key terms)

Challenge Task: Analyse (in detail) ONE documentary of your choice. Use key terms.

Voiceover- in a documentary is a commentary by the filmmaker, spoken while the camera is filming, or added to the soundtrack during the production. Through this the filmmaker can speak directly to the viewer, offering information, explanations and opinions.

Participatory conventions

This is where the documentary maker and the crew interact with subject. The voice over Is usually done by the documentary also known as ‘the voice of God’. Most Interviews tend to take over this normally takes a while but is normally formal. They use archive material such as stills, footage, news, newspaper, headlines and letters.  They focus on the location where they shoot and record they use handheld cameras. The documentary maker is visible to the audio.

Field reporters;

A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter could be a journalist or commentator, or a general agent who contributes reports to newspaper, or television news or radio or other company types, from distant but remote locations. The benefit of this that the viewers will get a real picture of what’s actually happening at that time and place.

Links to the studio-

This is when televised news shows links to another studio station. This can be found on mainstream news channels, such ads BBC news some American news channels and ITV.

Mode of address-

This is how the reporter delivers the news on the TV to the viewers. BBC and ITV are very precise and formal. Channel 5 however, they are less formal they use more slang words this helps them to connect more with the younger audience.

Experts and witnesses-

Having witnesses or expert’s opinions on a subject gives the audience another opinion. The reporter’s job is to try to get as many witnesses as possible to gather more information. An expert provides reassurance it also gives the audience facts and figures, which will make the audience more likely to believe it

Report structure -

This is the main story in the studio, another location reporter, then an interview, then back to the studio.

Actuality Footage:  This is live footage from the scene that the news channel broadcasts. An example of this is the Twin Tower

Documentaries Documentary Formats:

Expository:

This mode of documentary is more pleasing on the eye for the audience; it doesn’t follow strict conventions of most documentaries.

Observational:

This type of documentary just uses one camera, ‘observing’ the world. ‘Lift’ is a documentary that uses this technique.

Interactive:  

This is when the audience of the documentary have a say in what happens. The audience also contribute to the outcome.

Reflexive:  

Reflexive documentaries reflect on real life. For example, David Attenborough’s ‘Frozen Planet. It reflects on someone’s life.

Per Formative:  

Acknowledges the emotional and subjective aspects of documentary, and presents ideas as part of a context, having different meanings for different people, often autobiographical in nature.

Realism:

This contains all the different basics that make it realistic this includes features such as actuality film. Interviews with witnesses and people with personal information on the subject.

Dramatization:

This is the reconstruction of an occasion, novel, and story in a form suitable for dramatic presentation. They might dramatize an event to make it more interesting and entertaining for the viewers. The story line will still be correct, but they will spice things up abit.

Codes and conventions

archive material - chroma key can be used, also images, video footage as long as it is related to the topic. archive footage allows the audience more information about the topic give.


this is an example of chroma key.

editing- the most commonly way people edit is conventional editing. this is where you can on hear the answers which are being answered by the interviewee. they commonly use cuts, this allows the recording to run smoothly with out any jumps.

this is an example of edditing

mise-en-scene-this always relates to the topic or should do. chroma key sometimes would be used in interviews to make a mise-en-scene.


this is an example of mise-en-scene.

graphics- this is commonly used in interviews, they relate the person to the documentary.

graphics could be the documentary's title, credits of the people who made it and was in it and additional text.

this is an example of graphics

camera work- there are loads of different shots used with documentarys this is to stop the audience getting bored with the same angle and shot.

this is an example of the different camera shots

most documentary use the rule of thirds, this is where the interviewee's eye line is 1/3 down the frame.

this is an example of the rule of the third.

Unit 27 LO1 Factual Programming for Television.

Task: Write about the issues facing producers of factual programming

Factual programmes have to stick to the OFCOM’s broadcasting codes, in order to be fair and ethical towards the viewers and the people taking part in the programmes. Ofcom state that ‘Programmes must be true and accurate. It is the responsibility of programme-makers and broadcasters to ensure that viewers are not misled. Portraying real events, whether in documentary, features, factual entertainment, drama or any other programme, which the viewer is entitled to take at face value, must respect truth and accuracy’ (from the Independent Producer’s handbook). If a programme gives misleading information, misrepresents anyone or causes distress; viewers will complain. Ofcom can fine the programme makers. The programme producers will have to issue a public apology and they will lose credibility.

ACCURACY- is very important in factual programming for the information given, to be correct. The viewers have expectations and assumptions; facts are truths so the viewer will expect them to be correct. However, if they are not accurate, the viewers will be given a false impression. For example Michael Fish (a weather reporter) famously got the weather wrong, which resulted in damage to homes and he lost his job.
I will make sure that the facts in my documentary are accurate by doing lots of research.

BALANCE- in factual programming is showing both sides of an issue. Every story has two sides and Ofcom insist that a fair and balanced view is required. Producers must give a balanced view so that they are not accused of bias. In 2007, Channel 4 broadcasted a programme called ‘The Great Global Warming Swindle’, this showed environmental issues in a negative light and many of the contributors complained that they were misrepresented. The programme makers were forced to re edit the film and remove key interviews. Channel 4 was accused of making controversial programmes just to boost audience figures. I will make sure that my documentary is balanced and that my interviewees are represented in a respectful way.

BIAS- is when an argument or issue is shown from only one side; completely ignoring evidence from the other side. Ofcom state that ‘the unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes should be avoided’; a biased viewpoint will result in unfair treatment. Bias could offend the viewer and cause problems in society, for example the recent murder of a soldier by a radical Muslim could have been reported in a biased way, where the religion could be seen as dangerous and too different to exist in this society. This biased point of view may have caused racial tension and attacks on innocent people. I will not take sides and present a bias documentary.

IMPARTIALITY - Programmes dealing with matters of political or industrial controversy or matters relating to current public policy must be impartial. To be impartial means to not take sides, to be neutral. This is something you need to do otherwise you could cause a big amount of trouble. The News is a very good example of impartial reporting. Millions of adults watch the News and all of them take different views and opinions on life. One fact can have many different responses. I will be impartial by presenting interviews and opinions from all sides of the argument.

OBJECTIVITY- is about being able to show the story, without being biased. It is important to keep an open mind about the subject. Objectivity means getting the point across with an open mind. It is also linked to impartiality. Reporters can not get emotional or show their personal opinions when reporting a fact.

OPINION- giving a balanced view, a subjective belief. It is a view or judgement formed about a issue, not always based on research or facts, but someone's opinion could be biased due to the facts or information they have heard or been told. Documentaries use opinions.

SUBJECTIVITY- it’s a decision biased on someone’s impressions, feeling or opinions rather than facts. It normally gets avoided in the news they try to focus more on the facts. Inputting your thoughts, feelings could lead to it being biased.

REPRESENTATION- stereotyping people, places, events in a certain way can be characterized into groups. Some representations can be negative, depicting social groups in a bad light. It could also be a positive thing; it could make people feel inclined to them.

ACCESS- the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.

PRIVACY-the state of being private; retirement or seclusion

Fairness & Privacy

We must avoid the unfair treatment of individuals or organizations in programmes.

If the programme you are making involves criticizing or making any damaging allegation about any living individual or organization, seek advice from your programme lawyer.

Any significant infringement of privacy of an individual or organisation, in the making or broadcast of a programme, must be warranted by the public interest.

CONTRACT WITH THE VIEWER- A close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind) Contract with the viewer- this means you need to tell the audience what the programme is going to be about, so that means you have made the contract with the viewer and need to show what has been promised in the programme. It must keep the same subject throughout in order for it to be consistent with the audience and not waiver from.