LO1: Understanding the issues relating to factual programming for television

By Andy Raynes

Andy Raynes

Accuracy
Meaning
The accuracy of a report on television is how precise it is to the factual information of the event.

Importance to the Producer

If false content is aired to many viewers across TV, the reputation of the company and its employees will be at risk, as they hold the sole responsibility from the information in their broadcast. This could spark more controversy than necessary; both on the representation of the event itself, and the firm as they can potentially lose many viewers to other competitors.

Example

Boston Marathon bombings article During the Boston Marathon in April 2013, two pressure cooker bombs exploded , killing 3 people and injuring an estimated 264 others. It was reported across several news networks (including the NY post) that 12-13 people died, which is a lot more than 3, creating an astonishing amount of controversy that would make more people fear for anyone else at the

Andy Raynes location from the extent of the bombings. The news spread even further worldwide giving a lot of attention to any news companies that write articles on it, which would mean more profit to be made.

Viewer Reaction
Depending on the viewer, if it was a relative who knew relations that were taking part in the event, it would cause even greater hysteria as there are more deaths which means more chances of being affected by the situation. On the other hand standard viewers of the news would want to be acquainted further on the factual information of the travesty.

Andy Raynes

Balance/Impartiality
Meaning
Giving a balanced view is giving both/all sides to a story; the positives and the negatives or giving others opinions as well as your own. Impartiality is simply being fair, not having to take sides and being fair minded.

Importance to the Producer

It is important to keep balance in factual programmes In order to keep arguments fair on both sides. Factual programmes have to be careful not to lose their audiences; therefore they have to keep their stories balanced. If youre a journalist the last thing you want to do is to be biased you would have to keep equality of information especially in political subjects, and personal opinions should try to be kept to a minimum. For a programme to run well it needs to have facts, accurate information and trust, especially from the viewers this is where balance come in because if there is to be a factual programme about a particular political party e.g. in a documentary about politics they would have to balance the information by including views from other political parties. Impartiality can also mean you challenging your own assumptions, but you have to weigh the argument, giving it a bit of balance but also testing both the strengths and weaknesses of any argument.

Example

This Morning - Holly Willoughby loses her cool with Katie Hopkins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edZjdgU0asM

Andy Raynes In this example Holly Willoughby, who is supposedly meant to have a balanced opinion, bursts out of emotion as Katie Hopkins talks about her opinions towards judging children by their names.

Viewer Reaction
The YouTube video itself has hit 13 million views which shows just how popular this one debate on the show got. As a viewer myself, I do agree with Hollys opinion, but Katie Hopkins could have over emphasised this for media attention. It is unusual for an interviewer in the show to be unbalanced, which is why many viewers would want to see what Holly said on the show.

Andy Raynes

Objectivity
Meaning
Objectivity is all about facts and proof that back up an opinion or story.

Importance to the Producer

In factual programming objectivity is important, because in order to get your point across you going to have to back up your facts or opinion. Factual programmes such as documentaries might need you to show or put in some information to back up the subject of the documentary e.g. a location, this would have to have proof and backup in order to make it successful. If a documentary is to be shot in a different language but with subtitles, you are going to have to make sure that what is being said is translated correctly, because some of the viewers might know better, therefore potential audiences could be lost. The purpose of objectivity in factual programmes is that you back up the object of your source, and to be open minded to get the point across accurately in a limited amount of time.

Example

BBC News - interviewing an expert In order to get factual points across truthfully, the BBC get an expert in the subject to talk about it, using their name and relevance to the subject to give the audience more of an understanding. So in this case John Everard talks about North Korea.

Viewer Reaction
Viewers would feel acknowledged of the situation, and that the information coming from the BBC is true, building a better reputation towards them.

Andy Raynes

Subjectivity
Meaning
Subjectivity is more of your own opinion, feeling or thoughts.

Importance to the Producer

This is usually avoided in factual programming, because its based more on your own opinion rather than facts. It is not usually used in factual programmes because, if the programmes are based more on your subjectivity it is going to seem biased, and not a lot of people may agree with what you propose therefore there could potentially be complaints or a loss of audience.

Example

The Alan Titchmarsh Show Debate on video games and violence Alan Titchmarsh was criticised for hosting a discussion on violence in video games, which was accused of being biased, therefore not impartial or subjective, in warning against the impact of the games on children.

Viewer Reaction
Since video games is a big subject, those who are in favour of violence in video games may disagree completely with what Titchmarsh has to say, therefore reputation could be lost as he does not balance the argument.

Andy Raynes

Opinion/Bias
Meaning
Opinions - based more on facts or knowledge Bias one sided argument

Importance to the Producer

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion however, if someone in the public eye was to give theirs, issues would be raised by the people who disagreed. However, even if the person giving their opinion is not within the public eye, they could still get into trouble depending on how serious the subject matter is. Bias is not usually advised in factual programmes. If you are one sided and dont see the point to consider the other side of the story or balance the information you will lose your audience and probably receive complaints. An example for this is when you are reporting a comment from an individual and you only show just one side of it, making it look one sided.

Example

Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson stereotyping Jeremy Clarkson gives his opinion on certain cars and the people who drive them, such as Mexicans which, when he made this remark, got 158 complaints to the BBC Trust.

Viewer Reaction
Some viewers may agree with what Clarkson says for the humour, but on the other hand this is stereotyping, which can anger people who disagree with this, and may even sell their car.

Andy Raynes

Representation
Meaning
Representation is how you show or present an individual or group.

Importance to the Producer

This is done mainly within a positive or negative way. You have to be careful to how you present your views - in factual programmes representation is more about the exposure of certain individuals or groups, for example young people could be represented as individuals with no control of themselves - this could be a bias matter. Representation creates a better view for the audience that are watching. The editing for the production can also have a big impact.

Example

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding episode The 2010 TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, which followed several travellers leading up to their big days and showed how weddings arise and are taken within different families.

Viewer Reaction
There were numerous complaints for its portrayal of the travelling community by both travellers themselves and other members of the public. It may just be humorous for certain people, but to those affected it could be a serious issue for them from the way a different lifestyle can be represented.

Andy Raynes

Access
Meaning
Access is mainly to do with permission, especially if you want to film a certain location, people or objects.

Importance to the Producer

In factual programmes it is important to get permission for access, because if you invade some elses space it might end up badly and your production might not be broadcasted at the end of the day.

Example

New York An example could be if a factual television programme is being made by a UK based Production Company about New York, all people involved in the making of the programme, from camera operators to the presenter/focus, must be able to travel to New York on the dates that are required for filming to take place. The access is part of the viability of a factual television programme as if access is not available, the programme is no longer able to be made.

Viewer Reaction
Viewers may react harshly to this if the programme was taken down for permissions not being granted. However the production company would have bigger problems as people may sue them.

Andy Raynes

Privacy
Meaning
Privacy is being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.

Importance to the Producer

You might interview a certain person that wants their identity kept away e.g. politics, some people might not want to be known because they fear for their safety; therefore privacy is important in factual programming. This hugely relates to celebrities, thats why there is a law, which stops photographers from snapping celebrities in their homes. The privacy law balances the right to a private life and the right to freedom and expression. When you report stories about peoples personal or sexual lives, finances, information about their health or film in their houses without permission it could be a huge issue. The law allows people to take action for invasion of their privacy, in which the court can award damages. If private information is published or broadcasted it is difficult to make it private again.

Example

Kate Middletons privacy invasion headlining newspapers Kate Middleton, the duchess of Cambridge, had her privacy invaded when a photographer snapped a few shots of her topless, calling it a grotesque breach of privacy taken in a highly intimate moment.

Viewer Reaction
The headline may interest many viewers, but any relations of the royal family or Kate herself went under serious action against the person who took this.

Andy Raynes

Contract with Viewer

Meaning
The contract that the production company have with their viewers is when, before the programme is made, the production company tells their viewers what their programme will be about.

Importance to the Producer

When a producer tells their viewers what they're factual television show will be about, it must be exactly what the audience were told as this was the contract with the viewer. In factual programmes its based on trust that you give your viewers the correct information and show interest in what its about to feed your viewers.

Example

Sky Guide time schedule for certain programmes An example for this is if a programme is scheduled to start at 2:30pm, but is rescheduled; certain viewers would be lost.

Viewer Reaction
Viewers may be tuning in for a particular programme, but as the time for it couldve been rescheduled, complaints could be made and if there is another programme running instead, it could get bad reputation.