Understand issues relating to
factual programming for television
Legal and ethical considerations of the news:
http://zahraunit27factualprogramme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/understanding-issues-relating-to.html
Factual programmes use a range of issues in order to produce
an effective program. Factual programmes base their knowledge on giving facts
and statistics on a specific subject. With factual programming, the audience
are alert of what they are watching. The viewers know that they are being
presented facts and statistics within the factual programmes, this is known as
‘contrast the viewer’. There is an organisation called Ofcom which regulates
and broadcasts to the public through radio and television. , the organisation
benefits the public and not for the purpose of commercial. This also protects
the public from scams and stops them from being misled.
Accuracy:
This is where the audience needs to trust the news company,
this means that there must be appropriate content to output to the target
audience, this needs to take into account the nature of the news; the
expectations of the audience will be influenced. There will be: drama,
entertainment and comedy, there will not normally be any factual content. The requirements will tend to have a
different from others in the genre, tends to have factual entertainment,
historic documentaries and current
affairs in the news.
Accuracy is not simple due to having to get the facts
correct. If some issues can be controversial, relevant opinions as well as many
facts that should be considered when there is a necessary. Most relevant
content should have truth to it. Appropriate
to output should be: gather material using first hand sources wherever
possible, check and cross check facts, validate the authenticity of documentary
evidence and digital material, corroborate claims and allegations made by
contributors wherever possible.
All output as relevant to the subject, must been sourced intensively
that, based in good evidence and tested to be presented clearly, needs accurate
language. It needs to be open and honest to the audience about what we don’t know and avoid any
speculations- claims, allegations, material facts and content that cannot be corroborated should attributed. We
shouldn’t not mislead the audience, distort facts and need to present content
as facts so we don’t weaken the trust between with us and the audience.
Balance:
Balance is when topics are the same within factual
programming. Factual programmes argue that it is meant to be kept balanced, both
sides of an argument must be shown; on the other hand should not present one
side better than the other. A story should be told from each side of the story
and try not to be biased. This is so order is maintain through the balanced stories
and it needs to be impartial.
Impartiality:
This is where the public because it needs to be committed to
the target audience. It applies all of the output and other services- to radio,
television, online media and international services, also there can be
commercial magazines that can be focused upon.
They must be inclusive when considering the broad perspective and ensuring
the existence of a range of different views that is reflected appropriately.
The Agreement Company the BBC charter needs us to do what we
can to ensure controversial subjects should be treated with impartiality in the news and other outputs dealing with the matters of the
public policy or other means to
controversy; we go further than that by applying impartiality to all subject
that require it.
Due means that the impartiality must be satisfactory and
needs to be appropriate to the output. By taking into account the nature and
subject of the content, the probable audience expectations and any sign of
signposting that may influence the audience’s expectations.
Objectivity
This is an idea that everyone has a voice, and everyone
should be heard so we get an accurate view of the topic. To avoid a bias
documentary, you must ensure that audiences are able to make a reasonable
opinion with the material that you have given.
Subjectivity:
Subjectivity is when only one opinion is shown. Whilst this
may not seem fair, it is used by documentary to get their view across. This is
seen as being a bias when showing an opinion, and can be a used in a way to
manipulate audiences.
Opinion:
Opinions are judgment’s based on a person’s own views. They
might not always be logical or knowledgeable. An opinion can be supported by an
argument; perhaps, others might not have similar opinions on the same argument.
A passive audience is an audience who take the facts presented to them and have
their own opinion on them. Reporters are unable to make a subjective opinion in
a story because they need to include both impartiality and balance. This allows
the audience to have their own opinion on what has been shown.
Bias:
Bias is when you are on one side of a topic and show
prejudice against something unfairly. Normally documentaries that are very biased
show one argument. They particularly support one side and attempt to persuade
the audience to follow the side they are on. Being bias can also include
ignoring evidence shown by the other party. Censorship is against biased views;
this is a way so the audience are protected from causing controversy. The news
is not biased due to following the rules.
Representation:
Representation is when something is being shown in a certain/specific
way. In a documentary they normally want the audience to have a particular view
on someone; they would represent that person in a particular way, could be in a
good or bad way. Sometimes you see positive representation; this can be done to
cause the audience to have sympathy towards character. However, in most documentaries
there is negative representation, victimising individuals or parties. . Stereotypes
are normally shown in documentaries to represent a group or person on physical attributes.
The media can defy the stereotypes; maybe even show them in a fresh way to their
target audience.
Access:
Access is when there is freedom to be able to use something
or someone any way chosen. It is when you have been given the permission to use
something for a production. In most documentaries you see experts of a topic
being interviewed. The camera crew would have been given permission to be able
to record that footage and use it in a production.
Privacy:
Privacy is when you are able to keep something without it
being observed by other people. Everybody is given the independence to have
privacy; nothing has to be shared when they do not want to, it is part of
someone’s human rights. In common in documentaries, there are always people whose
faces being blurred out of politeness if they do not want to appear on TV. A person
is able to say if they want to be kept private.
Contrast with the viewer:
Contract with viewer, is when there is an arrangement with
the audience. Basically presenting something the audience is expecting. This is
commonly used for most documentaries and has a link with the title such as ‘Animal
Planet’; the audience know it’s about animals.
