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.”