Task 4- Codes & Conventions of TV News Broadcasts

Task 4- The codes and conventions of a TV broadcast

Codes and conventions are generally the accepted and expected ways of doing something for example a smartly dressed reporter, this is a conventions. It also relates to what equipment is used to tell a story for example camera work, this is the technical codes. Television news broadcast are designed to inform and explain current affairs. A smartly dressed presenter make the news broadcast feel more professional and trustworthy to the audience. 

Studio news readers are the main presenters shown in the broadcast. They conduct their own research and write their own scripts. They conduct interviews and provide briefings to crew etc. Presenters have to stick to the visual codes and conventions in order to communicate professionalism to the audience. For example, a neat haircut, cleanly shaven and a smart suit. 

Links to studio is similar to this where there are cuts to another presenter. This adds interest. When the presenter is live at the scene and there are links to studio, this makes it more believable as the audience can see the live scene. Footage live at the scene and actuality footage helps to add realism and credibility to the broadcast.   

Actuality footage is when clips of real footage is included. This is added to add an impact and perhaps shock the audience. For example scenes of war and suffering. This helps to provoke an emotional response more than words alone would. Actuality footage also helps to add interest and credibility. 

Mode of address links to how the audience is addressed in the News Broadcast. Personal speech is often used for example 'hello, welcome and thankyou' this makes the audience feel personally linked to the news broadcast in a friendly way. The shots filmed by camera also links to mode of address. The most common camera shot for a TV news broadcast is usually a bust shot or a close up. This allows the presenter to make good personal eye contact with the camera. News broadcasts also often contain panning shots of the studio. This is in order to show the professionalism of the studio and therefore broadcast. All the factors involved in mode of address helps to link the importance of the TV news broadcast.

Contributors add to the news broadcast. They are often experts of professionals in the chosen field of broadcast. They can also give first hand accounts or witness accounts in order to add to the realism of the broadcast. This makes the audience believe the story more than they would if there was no contributor. Contributors play a key part in credibility of a TV news broadcast. Members of the public can also be used as a contributor. This is when vox pops are used and mainly to show the general opinion of the topic from the people of the public. 

News broadcasts also contain contributors, for example, experts, members of the public (vox pops) and witnesses. Contributors are important in TV News Broadcasts.Contributors are used to make the broadcast more credible, interesting and believable to the audience. 

Reports are usually filmed with similar structures and techniques. There is a wide range of cut aways, vox pops, voiceovers, graphics, interviews and direct addresses. 
Field reporters are usually specialist reporters who are live on the scene. The news reporter will cut away to the field reporter for further and more in depth information live on the scene, this helps to improve credibility and interest to the viewers.  



These facts are backed up in this BBC example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvQoE1aGlzY

Field reporter to add credibility and interest.

Smart presenter with smart posture and dress.