UNDERSTANDING THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMING FOR

TELEVISION
BY THAHEEMA KHATUN
Within a factual programme there are some codes and conventions that help the viewer and
the film maker to determined what is a factual news programme and what is a documentary,
therefore, in this essay I will be exploring News formats and documentary formats. There is a
clear guide in which one can identify what is a factual news programme because these codes
and conventions are; studio news reader, actuality footage, eye witnesses, link to the studio,
mode of address to the viewers, interviews.
The definition of a studio news reader is the person whos elucidating the news on television
or on the radio. These are the people who are usually behind the desk but differ according to
what type of programme they are on. An example, of this is comparing BBC news to
Newsround this is because BBC news studio readers are behind a desk to emphasise the
authority of the momentous news that they are reporting, furthermore, this is emphasised by
how they are dressed as comparing the morning show the presenter in BBC news are dressed
very formally to show the seriousness of the news. However, the Newsround news readers are
dressed very casual because the news that they put is much softer. There discourse is more
like a friend in the corner this is because the way they represent their stories are more like
they share rather than tells as their background do play. As their mode of address to the
viewer is more of friendly because they use words like you have to see it or they use
repetition such as havent you seen the website because they want to be more like there
having a conversation with their viewers instead like the BBC who are the to inform the
viewers of what is happening in the world. Also a big part of the news as in the BBC they have
a desk, sometimes a laptop but more often pieces of paper and lastly the BBC news of
multiple screens of the news room in the background. This is used to show all the news thats
happening in the world the urgency and busyness of what everyone is trying to do to get the
news. On the other hand, Newsround has a low coffee table, a bench and the presenters are
sitting closer together. This is because if they are watching this new programme in the
morning they are inviting them in into their living room therefore, dressing informal will have
more of approach to them.
Field reporters - The field reporter are journalist who presents the information from the
country that they are in to give more information what type of critical condition a country is
in. for example, BBC news consistently go to the field reporter to get more information like the
war in Syria a field reporter went about and showed the world what is happening in this
country right there and then. On the other hand, Newsround field reporter generally go out
and get a softer field report as an example, of this is they reported why Alton towers is one of
the biggest theme park in the UK. Their discourse in the field is more positive in the tone they
talk in and they are always blithe. This is because BBC discourse is formal and straight to the
point as they are trying to get through the passive audience. They put this within the news
programme by linking it to the studio because the reporters that are working away from the
studio make have an opportunity to show what research they have conducted and to spark a
debate on current topic. An example of this is when the result of Brexit came in This Morning
field reporter went out and did some vox pop and aired them and this created a huge debate
of why people didnt research what EU is. this had a softer approach as the presenter found it
comedic.
The significant element in a documentary and news is the interview because it brings the
story together and it helps people to understand what it feels like to an extent. For example,
the story Baby accidentally given to wrong couple reunited with real parents - BBC News the
main focus for this story was the interview because it gave the audience same idea of how
itd feel like losing a baby and having a baby. The emotions of what a mother goes through
with a child because of this interview, the audience understands her point of view and why

UNDERSTANDING THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMING FOR

TELEVISION
BY THAHEEMA KHATUN
she felt the way she did. Which was that she couldnt love the baby like it was hers truly.
Interviews are used in factual news programmes because having interviews the audience gets
a different point of view of how a topic is viewed and these people are usually connected to
the subject matter as they can be the experts or a witnesses to share their opinion because
this leads the story to be continuity because having an expert or witness it forces the news
show to be less impartial because theyve got someone on it who isnt connected to the news
show. Depending on the which news it is the formality is divide because if it is the BBC news
who is interviewing an interviewee the interview would most likely be heated and almost
trying to expose the person whose being interviewed. This is because Newsround ask more of
the softer question like to a celebrity theyll ask what their favourite colour is because of their
target audience.
Actual footage is footages like a CCTV camera or footage from a camera phone to make the
situation of a real life scenario to get the viewer to see what it is like. BBC and ITV actuality
footage is to furthermore claim their stories but Good Morning Britain favours field reporters.
The report structure is the arrangement of the way the news story is dispensed. Therefore, a
typical news story will follow the format of the news reader introducing the headline,
depending on what type of news it is, they will introduce them differently. For example, if its a
hard news story they will include; politics and world events. on the other hand, if its a soft
news story, this will include celebrity entertainment. Followed by that, it will bring back to the
studio which they will disperse into other things such as the weather and the sports. This is
where theyd sign off and then the end credit would be playing.
The documentary formats include, realism, dramatisation, narrativisation, expository,
observational, interactive and reflexive.
Realism documentary is where there isnt any rendered scenes or scripts and that it is a
factual event that has taken pace. Factual documentaries are created to emphasise real event
as it highlights the unrefined behaviour of a person. However, these documentary can be
manipulated slightly to give more of subjective view point. For example, the opening of
season 2 of life on benefit UK, the film makers almost glamorized the idea of being on benefits
this is because the viewer is led to believe that being on benefits you have more friends and
your life is so much more fun. As, the one person on the street who works is portrayed as
being dull and boring whereas everyone else is portrayed as having a lot of gratification. This
is demonstrated by the interviews that they have conducted as the person who works seem
antisocial and dull by his actions. For example, he seems more guarded as he had his hand
crossed throughout the interview which conveys that it was his choice not to socialise with the
people on the street.
Dramatization has always been seen as taking a subjective and bias perspective when it
comes to documentary. This is the situation has been overemphasize because there is a
camera right in front of them. An example, of this is the vice documentary on the UKs
Scariest Debt Collector. This is because the dramatization has been built up from the start
when debt collector gives his backstory (which is that hes been in prison for doing multiple
crimes). This is because the people in debt collectors use a form of catharsis to inject some
form of fear for them but also some sympathy because the audience finds out way hes like
the way he is and the audience will create a sense of sympathy towards them. Another way
was dramatization has been used in this documentary is when he gives a bitch slap to two
people whos been doing business without him. This didnt need to be shown but because it
was shown it showed the audience who has the power and authority in the documentary.
Narrativisation is in many documentaries because its always seen or heard in a documentary.
The use of narrative is used in all documentaries as it is an easy way to address the audience

UNDERSTANDING THE CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMING FOR

TELEVISION
BY THAHEEMA KHATUN
and tell the audience the story of the documentary. These documentaries can be very long
winded as many of these documentaries are 60mins long. An example, of this type of
documentary is The story of 3 girls who were kidnapped and kept captive for over 10years!
as they give the backstory of the offender and the 3 girls and they also got in expert to
analysed why he kept them for 10 years. This makes the audience understand why he did
what he did and also how the girls are feeling. Therefore, an insight of their lives.
Expository documentaries are to explain or describe information to audience and these type
of documentaries are mostly objective because they are trying to expose the topic. These
documentaries are focused on the verbal commentary and the logic in the argument. An
example, of this is the documentary Horizon-is-seeing-believing? This is because this
documentary is based on our senses and they back up their argument with logic, which is with
science. As this is the most trusted source out there and also because it does rely on the voice
over to explain whats happening.
Observational documentaries are the film makers interactions for observing the daily event
and forgetting that there is a camera by doing thing that they would normally do without the
camera. Therefore, prolonging this mode the audience get a feel of what it would be like being
there. For example, the BBC documentary called Ambulance gives an insight of what the
paramedic does in everyday bases. This is because there isnt any voiceover and the
documentary maker is made aware which gives the audience a bigger impact as it creates a
bond with the people in the documentary.
Reflexive documentary is when the film maker recognises that there is a camera right in front
of them and talk to the audience and address the problem or experiment that they are
conducting demonstrating that this issues the documentary with narrative. An example of
reflexive documentary maker is Louis Theroux as hes well known for interviewing people in
front of a camera in a calm manner. Because of the controversial way he handles a situation
as he questions the way people live. However, he does take part in many activities to get a
sense of their lives, so he can understand them more. Therefore, the way he documents their
lives is still very imperial. For example, when he went to America and interviewed the most
hated family in America, he formed an understanding of what they do but still question them
by use the research and logic to creates those questions. However, the participatory mode
makes the filmmaker be aware of the subject so hes becomes a part of the event and Louis
Theroux does that throughout hes duration of filming.
Interactive documentary is mainly interviews which get the particular answers and comments
that the film maker desires. This type of documentary permits the people who are filmed to
manifest their views but the filmmaker might juxtapose their opinion with another one. To give
more of a balanced view of the subject. An example of this is the documentary Chosen-BBC.
This documentary is mainly used up of interviews and help the audience to almost have an
emotional bond with the victims because the audience can understand where they are coming
from.