GENRES AND

CONVENTIONS OF
FACTUAL PROGRAMMING
Joseph Weston

News
Definition:
A broadcast or published report of newly received or noteworthy information, especially about
recent events.
Conventions:
Studio news readers, Actuality Footage (film or photos of real events), Eyewitnesses, Links to the
studio, Interviews, Report structure and a mode of address to the audience.

Bibliography: Oxford Dictionaries (2016) News Definition, in Oxford Dictionary. Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/news (Accessed:
13 April 2016).
Wikipedia (2015) Actuality film, in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuality_film (Accessed: 14 April 2016).
teddiebmxa (2012) Conventions of News. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/teddiebmxa/conventions-of-a-news-show (Accessed: 13 April 2016).

News
Example:
This is an example of a news show (BBC News at Ten), and you can tell this for many reasons.
The main ones are the live news reporter (Left) that is currently interviewing a political editor
(Right). They are talking about the current affair of whether there will be airstrikes in Syria, and
are outside Westminster as its being discussed (9.27). This report also contains actuality footage
of the debate taking place inside the Houses of Parliament (4.09).

Bibliography: BBC (2015) BBC news at Ten special edition - UK vote on strikes in Syria (02/12/2015). Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn1z8xfKlm8 (Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Documentaries
Definition:
Using pictures or interviews with people involved in real events to provide a factual report on a
particular subject.
Conventions:
Voiceover, Footage of real events, Archive footage, Interviews (with the public or with experts),
Use of text/titles, Set-ups (which can range from studios to reconstructive scenes) and
technicality of realism (this includes lighting and sound used in interviews to make it look and feel
real).

Bibliography: Oxford Dictionaries (2016) Documentary Definition, in Oxford Dictionary. Available at:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/documentary (Accessed: 14 April 2016).
Greenwich Council (2008) Conventions of Documentaries. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/crosswaysfederation/codes-and-conventions-of-documentary
(Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Documentaries
Example:
Below is an image from a documentary about Albert Einstein. We can see that it using the
convention of interviewing (0.38), which in this case the interviewee is an expert in physics. We
also hear him voicing over some archive footage of Einstein a little beforehand, as well as having
a title sequence (1.25).

Bibliography: ScienceNET (2014) Albert Einstein documentary HD. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyK5SG9rwWI (Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Docudrama
Defintion:
A movie or television programme that tells a story about real events, that may have happened
recently, and possibly would be controversial in nature.
Conventions:
Narrative structure (linearity will depend on story its based on), Large variety of camerawork,
Music appropriate to the story, Voiceovers occasionally used and a large amount of editing
techniques including montage.

Bibliography: Merriam-Webster (2015) Definition of DOCUDRAMA. Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docudrama (Accessed: 14 April
2016).
Cleary, D. (2012) Codes and Conventions of the Docudramas. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/daniellecleary/codes-and-conventions-of-the-documentarydrama (Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Docudrama
Example:
The example below is a film called 127 Hours by 20th Century Fox, which recounts the real tale
of Aron Ralston and how he fell down a gorge and got his hand trapped behind a rock resulting in
him being stuck there for 127 hours. This uses the conventions of having a linear narrative, his
character voicing over certain parts and using a variety of camerawork, including a found footage
style.

Bibliography: FoxSearchlight (2010) 127 HOURS - full length official trailer HD. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlhLOWTnVoQ (Accessed: 14
April 2016).

Docusoap
Definition:
A TV programme about the lives of real people, typically those who live in the same place or do
the same job.
Convention:
Observation of real people, rapid cutting between scenes, camera used to represent you
witnessing the action, usually large amounts of debate on whether or not its scripted or not
(though implied that it isnt) and techniques used to make it look like a drama.

Bibliography: Woodford, K. and Cambridge Dictionaries Online (2016) Docusoap Meaning. Available at:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/docusoap (Accessed: 14 April 2016).
Bignell, J. (2012) An introduction to television studies. 3rd edn. New York: Routledge.

Docusoap
Example:
Made in Chelsea is a very popular docusoap that had large amounts of speculation over
whether or not it is scripted. Aside from this, the show uses multiple cameras and fast cuts to
make it seem like it is scripted as we observe the lives of a group of people that live in Chelsea.

Bibliography: Made in Chelsea (2016) Harmless or harmful? | made in Chelsea S11-Ep2 | E4. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab4fRh8iqrc
(Accessed: 15 April 2016).

Infotainment
Definition:
As the name suggests, it is a programme that is designed to inform and entertain at the same
time.
Conventions:
Very similar to News shows, but designed to be more entertaining and usually more specialised.

Bibliography: Merriam-Webster (2015) Definition of INFOTAINMENT. Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infotainment (Accessed: 14 April
2016).

Infotainment
Example:
A good example of Infotainment is The Last Leg, which is a weekly show that covers the news
in the week in a manner that is easy to understand and comedic. It follows most of the
conventions, as seen below, there is: a studio, presenters/anchors, interviews with guests and
most importantly, information being presented to the audience in an entertaining way.

Bibliography: The Last Leg (2016) Simplifying the EU situation - the last leg. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rr1le-EjCs (Accessed: 14 April
2016).

Reality TV
Definition:
Television shows where people are continuously filmed. Intended to be entertaining over
informative.
Conventions:
The use of real people (volunteers) and situations, almost no scripting, a presenter/voiceover,
element of conflict and audience participation.

Bibliography: Oxford Dictionaries (2016) Definition of Reality TV, in Oxford Dictionary. Available at: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/reality-tv
(Accessed: 14 April 2016).
Raji, B. (2010) Conventions of Reality TV. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/belair1981/reality-tv-revision-4525638 (Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Reality TV
Example:
On of the most famous examples of Reality TV is Big Brother, which has a group of people live
in a house together full of cameras together, trying to win the favour of the audience and be the
last remaining member. Not only does the audience participation put it under this category, but
also the use of the members being volunteers, a voiceover, next to no scripting and, as always
with Big Brother, there are elements of conflict.

Bibliography: BigBrotherArchive FullEpisodes (2013) Big brother UK 2010 - day 2. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSm5oursiKc (Accessed: 14
April 2016).

Educational
Definition:
As the name plainly suggests, it is show based on educating the viewer. This is a common style
for children's shows.
Conventions:
Talking directly to the viewer, use of facts and figures and unbiased opinions.

Educational
Example:
Newsround (shown below) is a news channel for children and follows of the conventions listed
previously. As you can see he is directing everything he says at the viewer, as well being
unbiased due to him reporting on news and so has to be.

Bibliography: Boleto, R. (2011) CBBC Newsround with Ricky Boleto. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Jupc9WfH8 (Accessed: 20 April 2016).

Wildlife
Definition:
Simply a documentary about plants of animals or other non-human creatures.
Conventions:
Very similar to normal documentaries, but most tend to have no interviews and have voiceovers
the entire film.

Bibliography: Wikipedia (2016) Nature documentary, in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_documentary (Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Wildlife
Example:
An example of a wildlife documentary is Blue Planet, which specifically focuses on wildlife in the
ocean. The conventions it follows are: voiceover (Sir David Attenborough), footage of real events
and archive clips and a title card at the beginning.

Bibliography: BBCWorldwide (2008) Blue whale - blue planet - BBC wildlife. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fzT6ifrhL8 (Accessed: 14 April
2016).

Special Interest
Definition:
A documentary that focuses on a specific field or interest (E.g. fishing, cars or haunting shows)
Conventions:
Shares most of the conventions of a normal documentary but more specialised, and so the music,
title cards and editing may reflect said field.

Special Interest
Example:
Below is a screenshot of the title screen for the show Extreme Fishing. As well as fitting with the
usual conventions of normal documentaries (Voiceover, real footage, use of title/graphic cards,
etc.), it also follows the added conventions of Special Interest documentaries through the use o
fonts and music that fit with the theme of it being extreme fishing.

Bibliography: BlackoutVIP (2012) Extreme fishing with Robson green S02E01. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDutRneh1N0 (Accessed: 15 April
2016).

Makeover
Definition:
These are shows that take people, houses or other such objects/places and refurbs them to
improve the standard they have.
Conventions
A mix between the conventions of Documentaries and Reality TV. Furthermore they tend to have
a reveal at the end to the people that had something/were improved, along with time lapses of
the project and Before and After footage/images.

Makeover
Example:
Extreme Makeover Home Edition is a popular TV show, in which various families have their
homes (that are usually in disrepair) refurbished and improved in a short period of time. This
show has all the conventions that have listed, ranging from interviews and voiceovers to titles and
time lapses.

Bibliography: Super Extreme Makeover (2014) Extreme Makeover Home Edition S06E20 Bell Bamily. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nMrFhRJMA (Accessed: 15 April 2016).

Magazine
Definition:
Also called newsmagazine. a regularly scheduled news program consisting of several short
segments in which various subjects of current interest are examined, usually in greater detail than
on a regular newscast.
Convention:
Studios, interviews (both in and out of the studio), actuality footage and a light-hearted
mood/presenters.

Bibliography: Dictionary (no date) The definition of magazine. Available at: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/magazine (Accessed: 14 April 2016).

Magazine
Example:
This is a screenshot from the show Entertainment Tonight which is a channel all about celebrity
gossip. They follow the conventions through the use of studios, interviews, actuality footage and a
less serious and light-hearted approach. Furthermore, to get more viewers, they use clickbait
titles to get more people to watch.

Bibliography: Entertainment Tonight (2016) Kaley Cuoco says shes happier than ever as her divorce gets finalized. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3HUpDPLULQ (Accessed: 11 May 2016).

Discussion
Definition:
Simply a show based on talking with a group of people on a specific topic.
Convention:
Studio (with an live audience), main presenter, guest stars (sometimes related the thing they are
discussing), occasional use of sketches and a light hearted approach to what they are discussing
(sometimes using comedians or comedic sections/sketches).

Discussion
Example:
The show Talking Dead is an after-show for the popular TV show The Walking Dead. On it,
presenter Chris Hardwick has a group of guests, mostly cast of the programme, discuss the
episode with him and what happens/will happen. They have a live audience and include comedic
segments such as In Memoriam which is devoted to all the characters that died in that episode
(as the show is infamous for many character deaths).

Bibliography: WalkingDeadFan1 (2014) Emily Kinney cries on talking dead. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVIf9mvgWUM (Accessed: 20 April
2016).

Review
Definition:
A written opinion of a film, book, TV show, etc. by critics or other companies.
Convention
Film name and release date, quotes from the film or other related sources, intro/summary, the
plot, positive and negative aspects, the characters and their actors and ratings.

Bibliography: Woodford, K. and Cambridge Dictionaries Online (2016) Review meaning. Available at: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/review
(Accessed: 15 April 2016).
14, tds (2011) Conventions of Reviews. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/tds14/codes-conventions-of-short-film-reviews (Accessed: 15 April 2016).

Review
Example:
This is a part of the review for the film Edge of Tomorrow from the website Empire. In this
image we can see the use of the conventions of rating, plot and characters. Further down the
page there are examples of the actors names, summary of their opinion, the positives and
negatives and quotes from the film.

Bibliography: Jolin, D. (2015) Edge of Tomorrow.

Chat Show
Definition:
An show in which guest stars/celebrities are informally interviewed. Can be on TV or Radio.
Convention:
Studio set, presenter (Sat somewhere where it is obvious they are the presenter), guest stars, live
studio audience and a quirk that makes their show unique. There will always be a multi-camera
setup.

Bibliography: Farlex (2003) Definntion of Chat show. Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chat+show (Accessed: 15 April 2016).
ecclestona (2010) Chat show Conventions. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/ecclestona/chat-show-intro-ppt (Accessed: 15 April 2016).

Chat Show
Example:
The show below is The Jonathon Ross Show, which is a chat show hosted by Jonathon Ross.
As you can see below the presenter is on the left with the guest sofa on the right, with the
presenters seating are standing out from the guest area. They are in a studio with a live
audience behind the cameras.

Bibliography: California Girl (2014) The Jonathan Ross Show S07E02 - Russell brand, Lindsay Lohan, Daniel Radcliffe, Rio Ferdinand. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75KluX-1Wps (Accessed: 15 April 2016).