Issues relating to factual programming- Essay
There are lots of different types of factual programmes for example; chat shows, magazine shows, cooking shows, reality TV, and TV news. For example Jeremy Kyle and BBC News at 10 -although they are very different- are both factual programmes.
They are also broadcast and consumed in a number of different ways. They can be shown on TV, on the internet, at the cinema and on DVD. For example new releases are firstly broadcast in the cinema and then on DVD. The internet also broadcast factual programmes via websites such as youtube.
TV News Programmes need to have certain codes and conventions, for example; TV news bulletins are designed to inform and explain the audience on current affairs. Therefore the programme must be factual. The audience have to install their trust into the bulletin, this is why it must be accurate. Field reporters and specialists/ raw footage also add credibility to the programme. TV news bulletins must be subjective and unbiased, therefore allowing the audience to determine their own decisions.
TV Documentaries use facts to persuade the audience of the filmmakers point of view. They are split into different types of documentary, These are called modes of documentary:
- Expository- This type exposes the subject to the audience, for example a historical documentary- where facts are exposed. The voiceover directly addresses to audience. It may be seen and not heard (voice of God) for example Big Brother or a voice of authority where the voiceover is being seen as well as heard for example Brian Cox.
- Observational- This type of documentary is in its purest form. It is filmed in a non staged manner. The subject being filmed often does not know it is being filmed. There are usually no interviews. An example of an observational documentary is in the category of nature. For example Frozen Planet.
- Interactive- This is where the filmmaker is shown in the documentary as well as narrating the voiceover. It often differs from a more traditional documentary and is similar to a web documentary. An example of this is Louis Theroux Most Hated Family in America.
These types all present facts to audiences differently, they do of course, all aim to present a 'realistic' film/programme, but also like a fictional film/programmes create narrative, with a beginning, middle and end, to tell a story to the audience.
There are a number of issues we need to consider when watching and making factual programmes- these include:
Some documentaries show a bias opinion on subject matter. For example Fahrenheit 911 shows a bias opinion portrayed about George Bush.
There are also issues with technical elements, for example weather permits some filming and footage, especially in outdoor nature documentaries.
Accuracy-
Factual programmes should be accurate and truthful because they portray facts not opinions. It is important to add credibility to the documentary because it installs trust into the audience.
For example, backing up facts with figures, examples, and even eye witnesses will help the audience to believe the subject: The documentary supersize me contains specialists in the field and the documentary has facts and figures.
Accuracy in TV News Programmes is very important as the material has to be truthful and accurate. This is because they are informing the audience of current affairs and events. Documentaries, however, sometimes can portray some bias opinions which can defer from accuracy. Both documentaries and TV News Programmes need to be accurate. This is in order to present factual information to the audience. Facts and figures must be correct. This is why both factual programmes and documentaries often contain specialists.
Objective, Impartiality, Balanced-
The audience expect factual programmes to be objective, impartial and balanced because they expect an accurate portrayal of the subject matter. The audience want to be able to make up their own mind when it comes to a news story. This is why the factual programme must be balanced and therefore unbiased.
Documentaries are expected to be objective. This is to tell a story without taking an obvious position of showing bias. For example, Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine allows air time for both sides of the story which makes this documentary an example of an objective programme. However, documentaries often try to show both sides of the subject issue, but even objective documentaries are often shaped by the interests of the filmmaker.
Documentaries are persuasive in order to make the audience think a certain way. For example Supersize me portrays negative material against McDonalds. Whereas TV News Broadcasts only portray facts whether that is negative material or positive about a subject. It is never unbalanced.
Subjective, Bias, Opinion-
All Factual Programmes are subjective as they are expressing the opinion of the filmmaker. Although documentaries try to be objective and show all sides of the story, the filmmaker will shape the story to his/her beliefs in order to persuade the audience to agree. The evidence of this is in nearly all documentaries however it is clearly shown in Fahrenheit 911 which shows almost no positive material upon George W Bush. The filmmaker uses clever voiceovers in footage as well as editing in order to persuade the audience. This documentary is a good example of subjectivity, bias, and opinion which are all expressed throughout. The filmmaker uses interviews and actuality footage in order to provoke an emotional response from the audience.
TV News Programmes are mainly objective, impartial and balanced and do not show any opinions of bias. However, there are elements of bias in some of todays news content. For example, in news stories which report deaths caused by war, the TV News Broadcast will contain elements of subjectivity. The News Programme will present the sad news without comparing or contrasting with the death toll of the opposition. This is an example of when the news is slightly subjective by not showing more than one side of the story.
Different TV News Programmes represent the news differently. For example, News at 10, BBC3 60 Seconds and Newsround all take different approaches when broadcasting the news. Each of the three bulletins have a different target audience, type of news covered, and formality.
Newsround- This programme is targeted to the younger audience, mainly being primary school age. This is because it is broadcasted on CBBC which is a children's TV channel. The content of the news also represents the news to be suitable for children, none of the news presented in the bulletin was hard hitting. The presenter is dressed very casually, and speaks slowly with easy to understand language. The genre of news covered in the Newsround was mainly sport. The graphics in the programme used the colours green and blue. This made the news seem more targeted towards young males.
BBC News at 10- The target audience for BBC News at 10 is middle aged males. The bulletin has a formal style and the presenter is smartly dressed with a formal style of language. The contents of the programme include hard hitting news stories and politics. The graphic style of the bulletin is very plain using the colours white and red. This is very simple and formal with a masculine element. This is the longest of all three news programmes which will also appeal to the adult audience.
BBC3 60 Seconds- The target audience of this broadcast is teenagers to young adults. The bulletin is only 60 seconds long which appeals to the younger audience. The content also contained light news about celebrity gossip. The graphics used in the bulletin used the colour pink, this gives the bulletin a feminine feel. However, the channel BBC3 is generally unisex so both genders would watch this broadcast as late night BBC3 broadcasts programmes such as Eastenders and Family Guy, which together appeal to both genders. The presenter directly addressed the camera and talked fast paced which suits the teenage audience as the bulletin is only 60 seconds.
The Most Hated Family In America has an interactive mode of documentary. This is because Louis Theroux is seen interacting with the family throughout, as well as narrating with a voiceover. Louis balances the documentary well by showing both sides of the story. The documentary shows impartiality, balance and subjectivity. Theroux does not express his opinion to the family even though he disagrees with their beliefs. One part of the documentary the filmmaker is seen 'enjoying himself' with the children in the family, this is to show the audience that they are ordinary human beings. He tries to get close to the family with his small crew to catch them in their purest form. The documentary has natural light and sound. This adds technicality of realism.
Whereas Fahrenheit 911 shows subjectivity, opinion and bias. Although the documentary contains accuracy with facts and figures to back up points, the filmmaker is bias and only displays one side of the story. Michael Moore shapes his opinion into the documentary with persuasive techniques in order to get the audience to agree with the points he is making. For example, the documentary is edited with a witty and sarcastic voiceover mocking Bush. The documentary contains contradicting music overlaying the footage. For example, the footage shown is of President Bush dealing with the terrorist attack and the editing contains bubbly music. In fact , all the footage in the documentary is shown to persuade the audience to have negative views on the former President. Michael Moore uses actuality footage of war zones and families of lost soldiers. This is to provoke an emotional response from the audience.
Supersize me is a similar style of documentary targeting McDonalds restaurants. However, not as dramatic as Fahrenheit 911, The documentary presents subjectivity, opinion and bias. Morgan Spurlock's work is similar to that of Michael Moore's, he balances the documentary with information, shock and humour in order to make the documentary entertaining. Both documentaries are very one sided. Supersize me does not target fast food as a whole, instead he targets McDonalds. This makes the documentary unbalanced. The documentary is interactive. Morgon Spurlock is seen in the documentary as well as narrating with a voiceover, this is a similar style to Most Hated Family In America. The documentary uses specialists to add accuracy. He also narrates the documentary with facts and figures about the fat and calories in the food. The sound and lighting in the documentary is natural, this is in order to add an element of realism. The amateur style of film allows the audience to believe that it is actuality footage. The filmmaker uses clever editing in order to persuade the audience to agree with him. Spurlock narrates the documentary in a witty and sarcastic style similar to Michael Moore. The editing displays shocking pictures of McDonalds trademarks whilst sarcastically mocking the McDonalds slogan "i'm loving it'. The only element of the documentary which allows a slight input of balance is when the filmmaker interacts with a man who spends his life eating Big Mac burgers. However, this is just a technique to persuade the audience that the fast food chain is dangerously addictive.
TV News are almost always objective and documentaries are almost always subjective. Although both should be accurate and impartial, it is more important that the news is accurate and impartial in order for the audience to believe it.
A documentary is written and made by a filmmaker therefore it is almost impossible for the documentary to remain unbiased. Whereas TV News is merely presented from a reliable source of News and presenter must stick to a strict script and remain objective. Theroux's documentary is the least subjective of the interviews. Moore and Spurlock use sarcasm and mocking humour in order to persuade the audience. Whereas Theroux allows the audience to determine for themselves by showing both sides of the story. Although, Louis does not express his opinion throughout the documentary, it is clear that the purpose of the documentary is not only to inform and entertain, but to provoke an emotional response of anger. He does this by slyly allowing the family to act naturally around him and shock the audience with the behaviour of the family.
Fahrenheit 911 is a documentary targeted towards adults. This is because the documentary contains themes of politics and the 911 event which happened in 2001. The purpose of the documentary is to shock the audience and provoke emotional responses. This is in order to persuade the audience. After watching the documentary, the audience generally agree with Moore and share the same opinions.
Supersize me does not have a clear target audience. The purpose of the documentary is similar to Fahrenheit 911. Spurlock tries to shock the audience in order to convince to audience to agree with his points. Both documentaries use accuracy to demonstrate their points with facts and figures. The audience expect to be shocked by the documentary. Generally the audience will end up agreeing with the points made by Spurlock.
Most Hated Family In America is the most objective style of documentary of the three. The audience most definitely have their own opinions on the family. This is because of the shocking footage that Theroux uses to shape the documentary. However, the aim of the documentary is not to make the audience agree. The purpose is to shock and entertain the audience and provoke emotional responses.
Whereas Fahrenheit 911 shows subjectivity, opinion and bias. Although the documentary contains accuracy with facts and figures to back up points, the filmmaker is bias and only displays one side of the story. Michael Moore shapes his opinion into the documentary with persuasive techniques in order to get the audience to agree with the points he is making. For example, the documentary is edited with a witty and sarcastic voiceover mocking Bush. The documentary contains contradicting music overlaying the footage. For example, the footage shown is of President Bush dealing with the terrorist attack and the editing contains bubbly music. In fact , all the footage in the documentary is shown to persuade the audience to have negative views on the former President. Michael Moore uses actuality footage of war zones and families of lost soldiers. This is to provoke an emotional response from the audience.
Supersize me is a similar style of documentary targeting McDonalds restaurants. However, not as dramatic as Fahrenheit 911, The documentary presents subjectivity, opinion and bias. Morgan Spurlock's work is similar to that of Michael Moore's, he balances the documentary with information, shock and humour in order to make the documentary entertaining. Both documentaries are very one sided. Supersize me does not target fast food as a whole, instead he targets McDonalds. This makes the documentary unbalanced. The documentary is interactive. Morgon Spurlock is seen in the documentary as well as narrating with a voiceover, this is a similar style to Most Hated Family In America. The documentary uses specialists to add accuracy. He also narrates the documentary with facts and figures about the fat and calories in the food. The sound and lighting in the documentary is natural, this is in order to add an element of realism. The amateur style of film allows the audience to believe that it is actuality footage. The filmmaker uses clever editing in order to persuade the audience to agree with him. Spurlock narrates the documentary in a witty and sarcastic style similar to Michael Moore. The editing displays shocking pictures of McDonalds trademarks whilst sarcastically mocking the McDonalds slogan "i'm loving it'. The only element of the documentary which allows a slight input of balance is when the filmmaker interacts with a man who spends his life eating Big Mac burgers. However, this is just a technique to persuade the audience that the fast food chain is dangerously addictive.
TV News are almost always objective and documentaries are almost always subjective. Although both should be accurate and impartial, it is more important that the news is accurate and impartial in order for the audience to believe it.
A documentary is written and made by a filmmaker therefore it is almost impossible for the documentary to remain unbiased. Whereas TV News is merely presented from a reliable source of News and presenter must stick to a strict script and remain objective. Theroux's documentary is the least subjective of the interviews. Moore and Spurlock use sarcasm and mocking humour in order to persuade the audience. Whereas Theroux allows the audience to determine for themselves by showing both sides of the story. Although, Louis does not express his opinion throughout the documentary, it is clear that the purpose of the documentary is not only to inform and entertain, but to provoke an emotional response of anger. He does this by slyly allowing the family to act naturally around him and shock the audience with the behaviour of the family.
Fahrenheit 911 is a documentary targeted towards adults. This is because the documentary contains themes of politics and the 911 event which happened in 2001. The purpose of the documentary is to shock the audience and provoke emotional responses. This is in order to persuade the audience. After watching the documentary, the audience generally agree with Moore and share the same opinions.
Supersize me does not have a clear target audience. The purpose of the documentary is similar to Fahrenheit 911. Spurlock tries to shock the audience in order to convince to audience to agree with his points. Both documentaries use accuracy to demonstrate their points with facts and figures. The audience expect to be shocked by the documentary. Generally the audience will end up agreeing with the points made by Spurlock.
Most Hated Family In America is the most objective style of documentary of the three. The audience most definitely have their own opinions on the family. This is because of the shocking footage that Theroux uses to shape the documentary. However, the aim of the documentary is not to make the audience agree. The purpose is to shock and entertain the audience and provoke emotional responses.
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