Factual Programming Theory

Concepts impacting on the production of factual programming

Accuracy:

Accuracy is ensuring everything is correct. Accuracy is necessary in factual programming; the audience must completely trust and believe what you say. This is of course relevant most prominently with news programs where all facts are supposed to be 100% true, however even programs such as Location, Location, Location will still be relied on to provide accurate information in the form of house prices and anything else featured on the program.
Keeping things accurate will ensure viewers continuously return to your programme as they will believe in what you say and stay loyal. Of course not everything said on a piece of factual programming will always be accurate, as something such as an eye witness interview on a news report will not of been fact checked and could contain exaggerated or untrue statements.

Balance:
This means ensuring that a piece of factual programming involving a discussion must ensure that both sides of the story are discussed fairly and correctly. Bias cannot be shown, as this is unprofessional and could upset certain viewers, causing complaints and a decline in viewing ratings. It is also important to ensure certain certain opinions and facts aren't glorified over others as this could be providing the audience with false information or forcing certain beliefs onto them.
A break of balance may be considered acceptable if a program, for example discussing alcohol and its pros and cons, stated all opinions in a factual and accurate manner throughout was to then reach the conclusion at the end that alcohol poses a negative effect on the body. As long as this thought is backed up with an adequate amount of evidence and knowledge this should not cause any viewers to be offended.

Impartiality:
This means ensuring that a piece of factual programming involving a discussion must ensure that both sides of the story are discussed fairly and correctly. Bias cannot be shown, as this is unprofessional and could upset certain viewers, causing complaints and a decline in viewing ratings. It is also important to ensure certain certain opinions and facts aren't glorified over others as this could be providing the audience with false information or forcing certain beliefs onto them.
A break of balance may be considered acceptable if a program, for example discussing alcohol and its pros and cons, stated all opinions in a factual and accurate manner throughout was to then reach the conclusion at the end that alcohol poses a negative effect on the body. As long as this thought is backed up with an adequate amount of evidence and knowledge this should not cause any viewers to be offended.

Objectivity:
This means ensuring that a piece of factual programming involving a discussion must ensure that both sides of the story are discussed fairly and correctly. Bias cannot be shown, as this is unprofessional and could upset certain viewers, causing complaints and a decline in viewing ratings. It is also important to ensure certain certain opinions and facts aren't glorified over others as this could be providing the audience with false information or forcing certain beliefs onto them.
A break of balance may be considered acceptable if a program, for example discussing alcohol and its pros and cons, stated all opinions in a factual and accurate manner throughout was to then reach the conclusion at the end that alcohol poses a negative effect on the body. As long as this thought is backed up with an adequate amount of evidence and knowledge this should not cause any viewers to be offended.

Subjectivity:
This is the opposite to objectivity, and is often avoided during most pieces of factual television programming. Being subjective to certain points and arguments can prevent accuracy and will cause bias, however this is sometimes a technique adopted when a programme is trying to manipulate the audience towards a side of an argument. This is acceptable only if whoever is being subjective clearly states that they are doing so to avoid complaints against a certain television channel or station.

Opinion:
Opinions are often used in factual programming to show what the public think about certain matters. When doing so, it is important to show as wide a range of thoughts and feelings as possible, as if all of what is said seems to be geared towards one side of discussion it will make the whole show appear as biassed, and possibly even the whole television station.

Bias:
This means ensuring that a piece of factual programming involving a discussion must ensure that both sides of the story are discussed fairly and correctly. Bias cannot be shown, as this is unprofessional and could upset certain viewers, causing complaints and a decline in viewing ratings. It is also important to ensure certain certain opinions and facts aren't glorified over others as this could be providing the audience with false information or forcing certain beliefs onto them.
A break of balance may be considered acceptable if a program, for example discussing alcohol and its pros and cons, stated all opinions in a factual and accurate manner throughout was to then reach the conclusion at the end that alcohol poses a negative effect on the body. As long as this thought is backed up with an adequate amount of evidence and knowledge this should not cause any viewers to be offended.

Access:
It is important to ensure all permission is granted for anything included in factual programming; this extends to locations used, people filmed, quotes stated and so on. Also necessary is ensuring you have all access to the resources needed for the programme so you are supplied with all information that may be needed.

The codes and conventions of factual television production

Studio news readers:

There is a strict dress code that applies to studio news readers; very formal attire must be worn and the presenters are to be presented in a professional and neat way from their makeup to their hair to their mannerisms. The news readers will always use a direct mode of address to connect with the viewer, and will speak in a clear tone of voice to be understood by all. They will always be based within a studio, sat at a desk.

Field reporters:

As a news reporter who goes out and reports at the location being discussed, there is a dress code however this is less strict than the one that applies to studio news readers. Depending on the location that they are filming in, their clothes will change yet will still keep an air of formality around them. Often, field reporters appear live on air so must keep highly professional. An indirect mode of address can be used here to draw the readers attention to whatever is being discussed. The field reporter will back up certain things stated by the studio news readers, and may also have an eye witness stood with them to interview. Studio links will be used to correspond between both the studio news reader and the field reporters. 

Interviewing:

Interviewing gains the viewer a greater understanding of what is being discussed. By asking somebody questions this backs up anything that has been said by the news reader and acts as further reinforcement for any points that have been made by the reporter. Interviewing also offers a more informal approach to the news, as it features people that the viewers can relate with. With documentaries, an interview could often make up the foundation of the documentary.

Experts and witnesses:

This again will act as reinforcement to what the news reader is saying. An expert opinion can give stats, facts and figures and give an air of professionalism to a discussion. By speaking to an expert, the story instantly becomes more believable and trustworthy, as often a news reader can seem pretentious by constantly talking about all these different things that they couldn't possibly know as much about as they are inferring they do. 

A witness provides the same purpose as an expert, as they are basically an expert on whatever it is they have seen to then discuss. However, a witness' account could become mixed up and exaggerated without the witness themselves realise as they may have been excited or nerved by what it is they have seen. 

Report structure:

This is the prioritising of certain reports, ensuring that important updates will be spoken of first to ensure the audience is updated as soon as possible. This technique also draws an audience in, if the news comes on after a program they have just been watching and a particularly interesting story comes on, people will be more likely to engage in the program and watch it. The less important and interesting stories are saved till the end of the program.

The codes and conventions of documentary:

Documentary formats:

• Poetic documentaries

First came about in the 1920s and appeared as an alternative to the more traditional types of documentary films that were favoured. The use of cut aways showing nature, environment, landscapes and objects were incorporated into the already existing footage to carry the story and develop it, whilst also creating a more visually interesting piece of film. Softer sounds and music such as piano instrumentals would also accompany the documentaries to add a further dimension to the piece of film.

• Expository

This style of documentary exists to expose someones life, and is often carried mainly by a narrator speaking throughout. Included alongside the narration, footage and interviews will also be intercut. This style will be used to depict and/or expose a subject that not many people will know about.

• Observational

This describes a documentary or piece of factual programming focussing on one particular person, however rather than the expository style the subject will be filmed constantly by a camera crew to catch all details of their lives, a good example of this is Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

• Participatory

This differs from the standard professional TV program or documentary as it is planned and made by a group or community and is often made to address certain issues they want to make the public aware of. This allows individuals to represent their own thoughts and feelings on certain issues, and this style of film will always have a very specific audience in mind.

• Reflexive 

This is quite an abstract style of documentary film making, and shows the viewer all the problems they have to overcome as film makers, showing the difficulty and issues they overcome. These styles of documentary have very little editing in them to keep the film truthful and to keep an air of realism.

Realism:

This is where the film contains only real action, nothing is staged or scripted and all action featured is completely natural. These are often accounts of certain people or events, as this is where realism is most readily available. This often makes a really hard hitting piece of film.

Dramatisation:

This is where a script has been changed and edited in a manner to make it more interesting and exciting to the viewer, and is favoured by news programs in order to make everything more interesting. Words such as 'breaking news' and 'exclusive' will be used to entice the viewer and make them pay more attention to what is being said.

Narrativasation:

This is where a story, fact, or situation that is often considered difficult to understand is given a straight forward structure and a narrative to carry and explain the story, making it easier to understand by the masses. The narrator will go into what is being spoken about in depth to make it clear to the viewer.