Unit 27: Factual Programme Production Documentary - Task 1B - FINAL

For this part of the assignment, I will be analysing different type of documentary mode in a range of documentary. For an example, ‘Top Gear’ which was a TV series about cars and the other factual programming that I will be also looking at is ‘Making a murderer’ which is a documentary about a man who had served 18 years in prison for the wrong conviction. Finally, I will be analysing a famous documentary named ‘Plant Earth: The Complete Collection’, which is a nature documentary.

Expository – This mode also known as ‘The Voice of God’ is a technique used in documentary to narrate the factual programming. It also allows to address directly to the audience while explaining the act in the programming. As an example, this documentary beginnings with a voice-over by David Attenborough “A hundred years ago, there were one- and – a half billion people Earth.” I believe that expository documentaries are seen to be arguing point or focusing the narrative around worldwide issues like nature, or even politics. The Voice of God allows the audience to understand what they are seeing visually and it allows to add effect on them. For an example, in ‘Plant Earth’ when an animal is about to be killed the voiceover inform the audience what’s going to happen. This adds emotion for the audience from the narrator. This main code and convention for expository documentaries is rhetorical question, facts, opinion, and persuasive techniques, which makes this documentary an expository documentary.  In this expository documentary, narrativisation is used as it address to the primary audience and telling the narrative in the documentary, which is always seen or heard in factual programming.

Observational- Observational documentaries is often when the filmmaker is following the presenter around to witness the events that is happening. This normally including having hand-held cameras and doesn’t the behind the scene crews, which also mean there isn’t interviews and voiceover. However, ‘Top Gear’ is an observational documentary as the crew follows the three presenters around the world reviewing different types of cars. They mostly use GoPro when they’re in the cars, but they do some interviews in the studio and sometimes includes voiceover in the purest form.  In this observational documentary, dramatisation narrative is as the presenters only inform the audience with their own opinion about the cars and it is normally seen in documentary that are bias and prejudge, which can see as an exaggeration that increases the built up within the factual programming. Sometimes it is known to be negative as it presents to be strong toward a particular opinion and being over exaggerated about it. This factual programming has long takes of the reviews of the cars, which is a code and convention for observational mode. The editing technique used is having a range of different cuts to keep the audience entertained throughout the programme.

Performative- A performative documentary mode contains the emotional and subjective feature of documentary. One the codes and conventions are that the makers would comment on the process of the making of the programme such as the camera shot and movements used. I believe this type of documentary address the audience in a clear direct and emotional course, which allows to have a connection between the audience and the documentary.

Interactive & Reflexive- An interactive documentary is a production that uses a range of different forms of video, audio, photography to explaining narrative or even an event. This interactive programme allows to provide a unique way to create non-linear production for the audience. For an example, in the ‘Making a Murderer’ they use most of these techniques to present a clear factual programming. As an example, one of the ways they represented a flashback was by using old audio or photography for the audience to understand what happened. When Steven Avery was on a trail they used photography and video to present the situation at that time. For this reason, ‘Making a Murderer’ is an interactive documentary. Reflexive documentary (awareness of the process) is when the audience engages with the content of the factual programming as it happens. This often includes the recognise of realism and the representation. For an example, in this documentary we as the audience recognise is ‘real’ on screen by the flashbacks and from the actually narrative as many of the audience can relate to it, which allows to add more emotion and thoughts to the documentary. This mode allow acknowledges the constructed nature of the documentary so the viewer see how it is made throughout the production. Louis Theroux is filmmaker who often creates reflexive documentary and he has a controversial method as he stands in centre of the camera and have casual interviewer. This mode usually uses re-enactment in the factual programming to explain the narrative, but also includes dramatic music to create tension for the audience.

Unit 27: Factual Programme Production Techniques for Television & News - Task 1 A FINAL

The factual programme that I’m analysing is ‘Stacey on the Frontline: Girls, Guns and Isis’, which is about the Kurdish fighters struggles with Isis and the news broadcast is about secondary schools and their involved in religion on ‘BBC News at Ten’. I will be explaining the journalism elements such as ethical and legal issues for the documentary and broadcast.

Ethical Issues

Accuracy – The meaning of accuracy in Journalism is recording and reporting the right information to the audience. It has been and always will be the journalism values and priorities in Journalism, however you cannot always guarantee the ‘truth’, but it’s about collecting the facts right. For an example, when writing an article or creating a documentary the journalist such as Stacey Dooley in ‘Stacey on the Frontline: Girls, Guns and Isis’, she must had got the correct names, places, date of birth and quotes of the people who were filmed in the documentary. This allows to represents inaccuracies as they informing the audience with most important information. For an example, if they didn’t give these simple information the audience would more likely not trust the source of journalism.  In the documentary the presenter, which is also the journalist discovered the impact of Isis on Kurdish fighters. This included the victims who was kidnapped by Isis, and showed one to one interviews with some of the girls that was involved, which it was mostly based on experience so the information that is given to the audience cannot be proven to be correct.  However, the news broadcast about the schools has been through court cases, which in other words means the evidence is proven to be correct. Accuracy allows the audience to have trust in your story.

Balance – Balance and fairness is properly the most used keyword in journalism. In any kind of journalism, stories and events must be shown in a balanced layout which means attempting to present all sides of a story since fairness is striving for accuracy and truth in the process of broadcasting. For an example, as a journalist you should understand both sides of the story to present a balanced piece of journalism for the audience. An example, in the News broadcast (3:56) about the secondary school the journalist takes the opinions from the teachers and the students, which makes it a balance story as they have both side of the issue. This allows to give a balanced journalism for the audience, which is important as it will affect the audience opinion towards it. For an example, if it wasn’t balanced the audience would be influenced by the presenter’s opinion which isn’t real journalism. For instance, in the factual programming Stacey Dooley only focuses the attention on the Kurdish female fighter, which makes the programme unbalance as she didn’t have the other side (Isis) views. However, as it is a life and death situation so it’s understandable. This also links to the representation and how different people are portrayed.

Impartiality-  Impartiality in news is often about carrying facts that have been sourced and proven, which makes it essential for bold news coverage and not about being easy and bland. It is also known to be comparable to balance and bias. In both case study they are not allowed to support or in favour with any side, which is basically reporting the news or the events the way it is. For an example, the Stacey Dooley cannot favour with Isis more than the Kurdish fighters because it makes the factual programme unfair. However, she does favour the Kurdish fighters more than Isis as they are an extreme terrorist group, but this is still wrong as she shouldn’t be favouring one side more in any kind of circumstances. The aftermath of this is that the audience isn’t inform in the correct matters. For an example, if Stacey Dooley explain why ISIS think they are right it will allow the audience to make their own decide. 

Objectivity & Subjectivity – Objectivity is basically judging the situation based on fact and figures, which means not letting your own emotions or prejudices affect you.  The aftermath of this allows to strip out any personal content from the journalist and allowing the audience to make their own conclusion. This includes a wide range of opinions, exploring conflicting views, avoiding any personal preference over the issues and most importantly they must make sure that no relevant perspective is ignored. For an example, in the news broadcast the presenter simply just report the new without her opinion or views because in the factual programming Stacey Dooley explains how upset she is by the events so this allows to the audience to feel sorry for her. However, this represents the subjectivity side of the documentary which is the opposite of objectivity. Subjectivity is making a judgement that is mainly based on your personal emotions and thoughts and you can see in ‘Stacey on the Frontline: Girls, Guns and Isis’. Dooley often referee's back to her emotion and how it made her feel, which present her being subjectivity. Often news broadcast is objectivity and factual programme is subjectivity, and we can see this as the BBC news just simply reporting the news without any express of opinion. However, Stacey Dooley openly talks about her opinion and her feeling about Isis as the events affect her judgement on the organisation, but also one of the ways this affect her is by one to one interviews that she carries out. By asking personal questions to the victims the journalist becomes more sad and upset by the stories that she hears.    

                                                         

Opinion- An opinion is an ethical and the core feature that is used in Journalism especially in factual programming. It is based on suggestions and views as a result it cannot be proven to be correct, but means its bias. For an example, in the factual programming Stacey quotes “I think it’s crazy I don’t know how these girls do it”, this represents her opinion about the issue. I believe this technique is used the most as it allows the journalists to share their own person opinion as they can see it in real where the audience can only imagines. It adds an emotional touch to the documentary, since in the new broadcast it is only reporting the stories so it’s rare to hear the presenter’s opinion. For an example, the presenter on the BBC News only shares the events without her judgement, but sometimes depending on the stories some do such as mass shooting which can affect them.

Contract with viewer:  Contract with viewer is basically a commitment to the audience to give them what they have been told. For an example, in Stacey Dooley documentary it is promised to share the Kurdish victim’s experiences with Isis and this is what the audience gets. However, if the documentary is simply about Isis the contract is failed or in others words broken with the audience, which gives the producers and the presenter a bad reputation. The result of misleading the audience will have a negative impact on the documentary even if it’s good. This is, because they haven’t given what they have promise to the audience, which will have a negative effect on them.

Legal Issues:

Representation - I believe the factual programming represented everyone in a true way, but unfair way. For an example, Isis was represented as evil (not by word) by explaining how they beheaded people and etc. even though some might argue with it. In the other hand, the Kurdish army was represented to be the heroes and strong people. This allows the audience judgement ready-made for them so the use of representation isn’t used in an effect way. In my opinion this is correct, but I believe the producers could have shown both sides fairly and equally to be more professional. By doing this the producers would allow the audience to see both sides evenly and to make their own choices. However, as Isis is an extreme terrorist group it is understandable why it is unfair.                                                                                 

Access - The meaning of access is simply having the permission and the right to film or write about the topic. This often includes signing contracts and release forms of where and who you can shoot and not shoot, but you will need to do this before gaining access. For an example, in the news broadcast they must have signed papers and forms as they were filming at a private school. This allow to save a lot of time if there’s a problem after the publication. For an example, if one of the interview say I didn’t want my footage to be use, the release forms and the access will allows to support it.  This also means that they will need to plan out the questions to the students and teachers, and check if they can ask them, which will be included in the contract. As an example one of the question they asked the student were “Do you feel like it is Muslim school?” which is a closed question and not conversation. However, in the factual programming the questions were more open and based on opinions. For an example, she could have asked to one of the victims “Do you feel sad about the issue?” instead Stacey said “How do you feel about the issue?” which is more technical and formal.

 Privacy – Privacy is very important in factual programming and often can be a concern for producers as there is a thin line about what can be reported. As a fact everyone has a right to their own privacy especially in TV, which is debated in the media industry that they should be allowed to report on anything in the public interest. Privacy includes names, ages, location and many more. As an example if you’re under the age of 16 you will need a parent or a guardian parental consent form signed. This will give the journalist the right to report their information wherever that is needed. So for the news broadcast they would have a consent form signed to use the footage of the students as they will under 16 years old. Locations like private property or even a single picture will need to be signed as the person might not want it used by anyone. An example of privacy is used in the factual programming as one of the victim didn’t want her face to seen show so they censored her out.  It hidden her identity. This could have been for many reasons, but I think in her case it was matter of her safety.

 Bias – Bias is leaning to be in favour of one side than the other. Often producers and creators will try to avoid being bias such as BBC News on ten, but sometimes they can use their bias opinions to influence the audience views on it, which is not professional. I believe the factual programming was biased, because they paid more attention on the Kurdish Army than Isis. Even though Isis is a terrorist organisation, I think the audience would have like to see their lifestyle to understand the situation and the Kurdish army more. However, this documentary had gained positive feedback from their audience as they paid more attention on the Army and not Isis. - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p04f26sh/stacey-on-the-frontline-girls-guns-and-isis?suggid=p04f26sh  (Factual Programme)

For this assignment I will be analysing four different types of factual programming and discussing the different techniques applied on them, but also clarifying how it targets their audience. The news broadcast that I’m analysing is an extract from “BBC News at Ten”, which covers different types of stories. One of the factual programming that I’ll will be evaluating is “Top Gear”, which was a TV series about cars and the other factual programming that I will be also looking at is “Making a murderer” which is a documentary about a man who had served 18 years in prison for the wrong conviction. Finally, I will be analysing a famous documentary named “Plant Earth: The Complete Collection”.

Studio News Reader – Firstly, a studio news reader, also known as the presenter, often has the role of conducting detailed research and emerging news stories of importance. The key elements of a studio news reader is having great communication and interpersonal skills as it will allows them to be clear to the audience. As in the BBC news extract, we can tell that the presenter has a large understanding of the legal and ethical issues as she presents the stories in a clear unbiased structure. One way that you can earn trust from the audience as a studio news reader is by the visual codes, which is the way you present yourself to the audience. For an example, if the presenter come onto the news with tracksuits and unprofessional clothing it is more likely that the audience won’t believe in stories. In the BBC News at Ten the studio news reader is dressed in a professional matter which allows her audience to have trust in her and her news. This also allows the audience to trust their studio news readers and believe in the stories that they present. For an example, the reader came in tracksuits the audience is more likely to think that they have false and fake stories.One of the code and conventions in news broadcast is having the presenter placed in the centre of the frame, which allows the audience to fully focus their attention on them and not on the background.

Field Reporters & Links to studio – A field reporter is known as a side-line reporter, which basically someone reporting additional coverage outside of the studio as an example an interview that is based on the main stories that is discussed in the studio. This could be collected by expert’s opinion, witnesses or even member of the public (Vox pops).  For an example, in the BBC news the first story was about religion and how it involved in secondary school student’s life and the field reporter went on location to recorded teachers and students views on it. These clips are often pre-recorded, but sometime depending on the events it could be live stream to the audience.  For an example, in this new broadcast there is a live stream element to it. Links to studio is where a TV news programme would links with another studio which is often connection by a live stream to debate or discuss the events together. For an example, BBC time and again connect with American news channels discussing worldwide issues. The extract that I’m analysing does link to studio as they connect to another presenter in Rio de Janeiro. This is an important code and convention that most news channels use as it addresses significant issues around the world, which also allows the audience see different expert opinions. However, the most allows to add a different elements to the news story and it is one way to keep the audience in engages whiles receiving different opinions.

Mode of address to viewer- Modes of address to viewer is properly the most important element to the programme, which is how the news is delivered to the audience. The body language, facial expression and language of the presenter played a part in this. For an example, the body language of the studio news reader on BBC news at Ten is formal and professional which is expected from BBC where MTV news or even E! News has a more causal and informal approach. Normally the presenter will introduce themselves, which will allows to connect directly to the audience that allows to make them feel engaged. The code and convention of the facial expression will be normal and maintaining eye contact with the audience, which she does. For an example, in the BBC News the studio new reader has a formal body language and actually language, which allows the audience to understand the professional matter to the news. This allows to invites the audience to a serious environment and atmosphere.  

Interviews, Experts & Witnesses – Interviewing is when someone is being asked a range of questions that is relevant to a certain topic, which allows to understand the events more clear or simply seeing a different side to the story. The questions can be open or closed depending on the issues, as an example one of the question asked in the extract were “What is your view on the having a religious  school?”. This is an open question allowing the people to express their opinion without any influence from the presenter. As far I know anyone can be interviewed as long as it is something that a lot of people would have interest in it. The reason why this is done is, because it proposals a more informative, casual approach to the news and allows it to be more personal to the audience. Witnesses is important for the news, but can be see bias as they only share their opinion about the story so an Expert will allows to balance the story so it doesn’t seen as bias. They are often seen in certain case like murder or abuse has been taken in place. In the extract that I’m analysing experts and witnesses isn’t seen, but it is often used.

Report Structure & Actuality Footage – Reporting Structure is a great way to not waste the audience time especially they are waiting to hear about certain topic. It is all about the structure of the news and the importance. As in the extract, BBC news always presents the importance news first and leaving least popular to the end to be reported. I think is a good way of keeping the audience engaged as they will see the main intense news at the start, which will allow them to carry on watching. Actuality footage is the footage that you will see as an audience on every single news. It is a footage that relates to the topic that the studio news reader is discussing about. For an example, when the presenter in BBC news is talking about the rapes in Africa there are clips of victims. I believe this allows the audience to a vision of the story and to give them a better understanding of the story and the impact of it. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt_uvf9Xq3M   (News boardcast)