news programmes:
What are codes?
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What are conventions?
- Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.
- Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
- For example, the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense – an integral part of any horror movie.
- Studio news readers
A studio news reader happens to be better known to be either the news presenter, news anchor or newscaster. These people are the ones who presents the news during a news programme on the TV or radio. They are the studio news readers as they present and deliver the main parts of the news within the main studio. Studio news readers for an audience of young people and children would have different codes and conventions to those who have an audience of older viewing. An example of his would be how NewsRound likes to use words that kids could understand, they like to stand up with no desk in order to make it less formal, have a more casual outfit and quite a friendly and engaging facial expression.
Studio news readers on BBC and ITV news like to target adults as their audience. Examples of studio news readers are as followed:
- Fiona Bruce
- Huw Edwards
- George Alagiah
- Mark Austin
- Sophie Long
- Field reports
A field reporter is also known to be either a correspondent or on-the-scene reporter. These people are known to be journalists who aren't based on one specific location like a 'studio news reader'. Their main role is to get up and close to a story by reporting about it from the location where the story has taken place. Usually, they try to find eye witnesses or people so that the viewers can view and hear the story from different perspectives. This type of report is more better for a news story as the audience can see a clearer image on what's actually happening. They usually like to dress more casual or suitable for the specific location they are in.
- Links to studio
A links to studio is used when a field reporter reports from a location out of the general news area and links whatever is filmed back to the main studio where the programme is presented. Sometimes this can be shown through a field reporter talking to the news reader in the studio when events are happening or unfolding such as a political agreement for instance. Another example you may consider is when a main news programme links to a localised programme. When I say this, I mean when the main new is broadcasted across the country and is then linked with local news. This provides news particular to specific locations effectively all based on the audience's regional identity.
- Mode of address to viewers
To viewers, the mode of address would be the style which the news reporter presents the news directly to the viewers. For example, news programmes like Sky news and BBC news tend to be rather formal and punctual in the way that they deliver and structure the news. If we compare this to other TV channels such as E! news and Channel 5, they are presented to be more casual and informal, allowing them to engage with the younger audience. This type of laid back vibe would allow us to most likely witness someone sitting on the edge of the desk instead of behind one and potentially be presented with a more upbeat friendly tone and facial expression to accompany it.
- Interviewing experts and witnesses
An interview happens to be a conversation which is usually between two or more people. In this interview, questions are asked by the interviewer to find out facts and/or statements directly from the interviewee. When referring to news programmes, interviews usually involve asking people things which may build a bigger picture for the audience. Interviews can be carried out between members of the public and field reporters. If not this, then they can also be carried out with guests in the studio. If that is the case, then an interviewee would usually be one of the studio news readers as they are recognised by the general public who watch the show.
- Report structure actuality footage
Report structures tend to be quite important when creating a factual programme just like the news. This has been designed to make it more effective to the audience as it balances and lays out different stories and bulletins in the right way, allowing the audience to gain all the information they need whilst ensuring that the news piece is effective. An example would be then they open the news with headlines and include the most important news first. When the main information has been addressed, it then follows up with other structural features like interviews or a cut away to develop the information further. When including actuality footage, this tends to be unscripted footage which shows and records real people in real life and not by any type of actors/actresses. Actuality is the action and interaction which is unfolding in front of the camera lens at the time. The footage wouldn't be simply scripted or planned as it simply shows footage just as it is captured. Almost all the footage used for news programs tend to be actuality footage as news cannot be scripted.
Documentary programmes:
- Documentary formats (expository, observational, interactive, reflexive, performative)
In documentaries, modes help to determine concepts and themes found from different styles of documentary's. The modes progress chronologically in orders of appearance in practice and they often return to their themes and devises found before. The six different types of documentary modes are:
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Poetic Documentary
A 'Poetic Documentary' is known to be one of the most bias types of documentaries which is why its considered a 'subjective interpretation of the subject'. Usually, the mode and tone is set to help the viewers intake more information however, they usually leave out key information. An example of this would be key events or descriptions of characters making the video overall from a bias view point.
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Good Points: Audience members who favor the subjects are more likely to instantly agreeing with your point of view if you use poetic documentary methods rather than other methods creating an auto-acceptance.
Bad Points: If the audience members are already not in favor of the subject in the first place, they would not be interested in how bias the documentary actually is as there isn't any counter arguments or knowledge added to it meaning it doesn't represent the full views of everyone.
Bad Points: If the audience members are already not in favor of the subject in the first place, they would not be interested in how bias the documentary actually is as there isn't any counter arguments or knowledge added to it meaning it doesn't represent the full views of everyone.
Expository Documentary
A 'Expository Documentary' is when there is direct communication from a documenter such as voice overs or subtitles in order to create a powerful argument. Usually, documenters would also like to include images to emphasize their points while adding pictorial evidence to support their facts. This creates a direct message towards the audience who will end up thinking about what they visually saw.
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Good Points: If the narrator of the video is well spoken and knows their 'facts' while still including elements such as charisma when presenting, people will most likely react positively towards your Expository Documentation.
Bad Points: Some people might classify these type of documentaries as boring due to the amount of talking taking place in these videos while there is a lack of visual elements which means unless you don't mind hearing someone talk for some time, you would not be interested.
Bad Points: Some people might classify these type of documentaries as boring due to the amount of talking taking place in these videos while there is a lack of visual elements which means unless you don't mind hearing someone talk for some time, you would not be interested.
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Observational Documentary
A 'Observational Documentary' is an unbiased method of filming day-to-day lifestyles without directly interfering with them. This means they are usually captured during the event or scenarios around it that were witnessed. This creates a connection from the audience to the visuals as they are witnessing real life events which makes this a passive way of obtaining any form of facts.
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Good Points: These type of videos generally are more emotional. As a result, this means the more sensitive your audience is, the bigger impact it will have towards them. Also, to the less connected audience, if there is a realism effect such as real footage, this might impact them as well.
Bad Points: There might be a sense of weakness found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
Bad Points: There might be a sense of weakness found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
Participatory Documentary
A 'Participatory Documentary' is believed to have some level of influence on different types of facts and the same goes for the footage. As a result, they can only use a specific amount of footage which show what is effective in the specific event the documenter is trying to capture. This means these documentaries are completely bias as those events might be artificial to make a strong argument.
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Good Points: There is a high chance that the audience of the video would make a lot of renown or expectations from what they expect to see next in the video.
Bad Points: Similar to observational documentaries, there are senses of lack of control found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
Bad Points: Similar to observational documentaries, there are senses of lack of control found in the entire video due to the footage taken which usually is quite un-biased meaning people wouldn't be too over interested due to the lack of structure.
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Reflexive Documentary
A 'Reflexive Documentary' is when specific footage or information is used in a bias way to get the viewers to side with their opinion of what event they are trying to capture. It usually is used to highlight different types of scenarios whilst removing the sense of realism only to emphasis the point of the video in the first place. It is usually used in extreme events and work for unaware users due to the specific viewpoint.
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Good Points: Unlike what we usually see in videos, these videos show the full extents of truths making it stand out as it doesn't match the general normality however, this automatically creates stronger sensitive emotions towards different events increasing its severity.
Bad Points: Factual points are not portrayed as strongly here which means that audience members who watch this video makes informed decisions out of the matter.
Bad Points: Factual points are not portrayed as strongly here which means that audience members who watch this video makes informed decisions out of the matter.
Performative Documentary
A 'Performative Documentary' is often very similar to participatory documentaries however instead of only telling the story, it also brings out factual points during the entire process. It usually focuses on different types of experiences film makers went though which makes it quite personal. These videos are best suited for people who would like to tell the stories of some event that occurred in their life.
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Good Points: The documenters are free to experiment as much with different shots, camera angles and movements as much as they would like in order to match what was originally set in their mindset which would be directly showcased to the audience without much difficulty.
Bad Points: Not everyone would like this sort of 'self view' found in the video as this means its more focused on the wanting of the documenter. By this I mean, not everyone would be interested in his point of view and would prefer to see the video from a different angle or point of view etc.
Bad Points: Not everyone would like this sort of 'self view' found in the video as this means its more focused on the wanting of the documenter. By this I mean, not everyone would be interested in his point of view and would prefer to see the video from a different angle or point of view etc.
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Realism tends to contain all the different basics which makes them realistic. This may include, but not limit to features such as actuality footage which is film taken directly from a real scene or event. This type of footage can also be accumilated through interviews with witnesses, experts and/or any type of related people who may have something to do with the subject, documents, recorded phone discussions and photos.
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- Dramatization
This would be the reconstruction of an actual event in a form suitable to be classified as a dramatic presentation. Documentaries might dramatise an event in order to make it more interesting for an audience to view and engage with. This mainly tends to occur when watching a documentary which was created in order to show and portray historical events. This trends started because in most cases when creating a documentary based on something that has occured in the past, there may not be
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enough or any material such as actuality footage, photos, interviews etc to make it into a realism documentary. So the only way to reconstruct whats been know and identified is by using dramatisation and sometimes include aspects of fiction.
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This happens to be a narrated documentary which tells the story as it occurs on the screen. Giving an event some type of structure or a narrative to follow would allow the audience to develop an understandable type of meaning of what they see taking place. The narrator tries to make the events and situations easier to understand. This is done by describing whats going on in depth to the audience.
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