Factual
Programme Production Techniques for television
Factual programmes use multiple
controversial topics to provide an effective programme. Factual programmes use
these methods under the influence of facts and figures, to enhance the
evidential knowledge of maintaining their role and purpose, of being honest and
fair.
The certain genre programmes need
to be honest and truthful towards their audiences, with the balance of having
objective methodologies towards subjected issues that must not misinform the
audience.
Factual programmes have the
terminology of being a Broadcast platform which covers the bases of sub-genres;
news, discussion, documentary, review, TV and further sub-genres.
The BBC is one of which that
sustains these certain elements within the media industry. They endeavour to up
hold their objectives which they are to provide and ensure that the material they
produce reaches the standards that they promise to make, by the statement “Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are
independent, impartial and honest.”
Impartiality
Impartiality in broadcasting
journalism is partaken in the journalist’s role. To not take or be part of
either side of a debate, they are to observe and treat both sides equally. The Journalist would need to stay
dispassionate towards either sides prospective, and cannot be prejudice or
biased. They would also need to indicate the positives of both sides.
For broadcaster’s it is important
for them to be impartial, so that they can maintain a balance between the
arguments. This would contribute a final conclusion that would be an accurate
solution to a defined prospective towards a topic in society. With providing a balanced and impartial debate
this would also please the audience and not create controversy.
One fragment that shows the BBC use
these certain methodology of impartiality, is portrayed in one of their
programmes ‘Question Time’, with the BBC Journalist ‘David Dimbleby’ (2009) “Question Time, BNP Nick Griffin.”
David Dimbleby presents this
individual episode with the intended use of impartiality. The presenter first
gives the audience an opportunity to question the panel which includes certain
individuals and at random chooses one in particular member of the panel to
answer the certain question. David Dimbleby would then provide an objective question
for the opposite side of the debate, to give them the opportunity to represent
their point of view on a certain topic, allowing a fair and balanced argument.
During the episode after Nick
Griffin had given an objective answer, one of the audience had claimed to of
shouted out a subjective opinion towards Nick Griffin. David Dimbleby as the
presenter then questioned the certain individual on his opinion with a mature
and respectful approach, making certain that the debate would be maintained in
a respectful and objective manner and resolving the issue of abuse.
Objectivity
Objectivity is a judgemental
approach towards questioning certain individuals on a substantial matter. This
is supposed to involve a certain amount of factual research to be more drawn
towards evidential knowledge, than an opinionated and emotional attachment. Objectivity
does not include any sort of emotions or prejudice opinions, but to present a
fact based argument.
Objectivity can be involved in certain
sub-genres like documentaries or chat shows. Which contain debates/arguments,
it is important to implement an objective debate. So both sides of an argument
can present their own facts towards a topic. That does not include any biased
comments which can provide an opportunity for the audience to make their own
decision and show an understanding.
‘Louis Theroux’ is one of the BBC
journalists that use the methodology of objectivity within his documentaries. For instance one of his episodes (2007) “Louis Theroux: Gambling in Las Vegas”,
Louis Theroux uses an objective approach to every question he asks. Louis
Theroux does not get emotional involved when providing a question towards the
interviewee, he remains in a position of observing.
When Louis Theroux questions the
interviewee he makes sure that they develop and provide their own prospective
and ideas, so that the audience receive both ends of the stick. He expresses
both sides of the interviewee, some of which is the positives and negatives
about their individual self’s.
These are the particular elements
of impartiality and a balanced concept. Louis Theroux uses these aspects
because it is the regulations that the BBC must influence in every product they
produce, from the statement “Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are
independent, impartial and honest.”
Objectivity is used within the
theory of impartiality; it is profound to influence the idea of providing an
enhanced opinion and point of view and to not use the same terminology of
subjectivity. Subjectivity is portraying an opinion that is not under the
influence of evidential facts and statistics. Subjectivity is partial to have
an emotional attachment towards a certain topic and there for can be biased or
prejudice and can cause controversy.
Balance
The Balance between debates is a
significant aspect of a debate. Without having a balance between both sides of
an argument, it is unfair and would be misled. The balance is crucial to a debate; to
maintain a reasonable and equal debate it should be presented in a sufficient
tactic, which should give either side of an argument the equality of having the
opportunity to represent their point of view.
Presenting a balanced debate should
not be favouring one side; they should maintain a level of fairness. In order
to sustain a balance between both sides you must have impartiality.
The BBC uses balance within
programming, here’s an example of one of the programmes ‘Question Time’ with
the BBC Journalist ‘David Dimbleby’ (2009) “Question Time, BNP Nick Griffin.” Again
this exact episode portrays a perfect example of the balance between both sides
of a debate.
Presents the programme in a mature
and respectful manner, ensuring that he contributes towards the BBC’s
statement, “Trust is the foundation of the BBC: we are independent, impartial
and honest.”
During the programme David Dimbleby
balances out the debate through allowing each individual express their views up
on the specific topic. David Dimbleby makes sure that each participant uses the
methodology of objective answers, when indicating that someone is using a
subjective approach. David Dimbleby would announce that the use of subjectivity
is not necessary, which he points out when one individual from the audience
shouts an abusive comment to Nick Griffin.
In order for David Dimbleby to maintain balance between both sides of
the argument, he uses the methodology of impartiality.
Representation
Representation is a form of
presenting a product in the media industry. It is a particular element which
broadcast organisations use, in order to make a balanced result for the
audience to criticize for them self’s.
Representation is used by the media
industry to develop a certain sub-genres, such as documentaries. The media
industry needs to make sure whilst they create these products that they do not
cause any offence towards the certain individuals that are shown with in the
documentary.
During the production of a
documentary they would need to capture the positives and negatives of these
certain individuals in order to provide a balanced result for the audience,
instead of having a one sided prospective.
However if a specific product that
the media industry represent does have a one sided view towards the individuals
in the product, whether it be negative. It can cause an offence, which would be
directed as victimising. For one example of a media product that has been
appealed as a victimising prospective is (2014) “Channel 4 Benefits Street”.
Throughout this programme Channel 4
has represented the individuals who are partaken in this poverty pawn
documentary, as disliked human beings. This shows a concept of channel 4
repenting them in shameful manners, by displaying their personal negativity
throughout the documentary.
This provides the visual effect of
channel 4 not providing a balanced view, there for it can come across as
victimising and offensive towards certain beings.
Although the BBC had produced a
similar product which is a human interest documentary, (2014) “BBC People Like Us”.
Throughout this documentary the BBC represent the individuals in a respectful
and balance manner, which they proceed to follow their obligation “Trust is the
foundation of the BBC: we are independent, impartial and honest.”
The BBC display footage of the
individuals which partake in the product, from implementing the positives and
negatives of them. This can formerly sustain the balance for the audience to
create their own perspective on the certain beings within the documentary.
Bibliography
David Dimbleby (2009) “Question Time, BNP Nick Griffin.”
Louis Theroux (2007) “Louis Theroux: Gambling in Las
Vegas.”
Channel 4 (2014) “Benefits Street.”
BBC (2014) “People Like Us.”
