Conventions of Factual Programmes & DocumentariesJonathan Vianello

What is a factual programme?

Factual television is a genre of non-fiction television

Documents actual events and people Educates/informs or explores a topic/issue or

situation Contains the use of FACTS or OPINION to

justify and support arguments/information

Factual programme conventions

Anchor/Newsreader or Studio Reader Is the person who reads out the news Is also involved in the researching and writing of the

news (not just a pretty face) Will use specific language and should always appear

impartial Keep eye contact with the camera and appear

professional at all times

Field Reporters

Report from a location outside of the main studio Usually called a Correspondent Will provide more detail on the story they are

reporting Spend their time living in the location or close to it in

order to be able to present back to the studio Are qualified journalists Are sometimes involved in dangerous situations

Links to Studio Cutting to another TV News studio or location for more information More frequent in high end, important stories Special witness accounts Live interviews

Mode of Address to the Viewer How is the information communicated to the audience Unbiased and impartial Tone of voice Language used Speed of delivery Construction of show (Overview of headlines,

greeting, progress into each story, sign off) Hard news then soft news Domestic vs International Local news branch after national news

BBC News at 10pm 09/06/14https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt_uvf9Xq3M

Interviews with Experts & Witnesses Help support a point or comment in a story Allows the story to become more real/serious Important to allow stories to have justification

and standing Allows different sides of the story to be

presented Can explain difficult issues or topics

Actuality footage

Allows viewers ‘to see’ what's happening Makes stories seem more real Can allow specific elements of a story to be

understood Is sometimes the only way to explain a story Engages the viewer more

Documentary Programme Conventions

Hand Held Camera Realism and truth Shaky cam Very common in documentaries Heighten tension Allows access to areas/situation and

people easier

Narrative Voice Over

Acts as a guide/lead to the documentary Is sometimes a character from within the

documentary or a known celebrity Allows certain pieces of information to be

explained Thoughts and feelings can be expressed Sometimes required in order to help documentary

story progress

Louis Theroux in Vegashttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNAqNwD8BJ4

Vox Pops & Interviews Quick insights into peoples’ opinions Help gather a range of opinions or outlooks Common among community based issues/topics. Also known as ‘Talking Heads’

Archive Footage & Still Images Some documentaries rely on archive footage as the issue/subject/topic

is in the past Often brings new light onto evets/people Needs permission to be used https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGsczwEKnOI

Editing

Editing is vital to the delivery of a documentary The collision of shots (editing) can change the

meaning of information Tend to be more creative as technology develops Cutting can be rough and not so clean, to add

impact It’s what creates the story

Excerpt from ‘Bowling for Columbine’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYApo2d8o_A

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Consider all the previous slides when discussing the convention of factual programmes.

You may use the examples in this presentation within your discussion

Try and locate your own examples as well To achieve distinction you must explain

COMPREHENSIVELY the convention within factual programmes.