2017

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TV News
Unit 27: Factual programme production techniques for television
Understanding Factual Programming 1.3.17.
Issues of Factual Programming 1.3.17.

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Brief
You have been hired as a freelance video journalist for City TVs news broadcast show. You will be researching news stories, contacting &
interviewing contributors, recording news stories in the field and in the studio.
You will need to conduct primary and secondary research into stories in order to check their reliability and create balanced, objective
news pieces which are not libelous or defamatory. You will need to source contributors to interview both in and out the studio, record
actuality footage and cutaways, record the presenter in the news studio and cut together your own stories to tight deadlines.
Welcome to the team!
Learning outline
This project will introduce you to factual programme techniques for TV. You will undertake research methods and techniques; learn
about the production, issues and development of broadcast & online TV news. You will use communication techniques to present your
ideas with clarity and confidence, checking information’s reliability.
Theory:
You will investigate the theory underlying the creation of TV news pieces, and develop an understanding of how the issues and
conventions of factual programming have an influence on the content we produce and the processes we undertake.
You will learn about research methods and techniques, the types of research conducted in factual programme production, and the
reliability of sources.

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You will gain an understanding of the different elements and tools used to plan and produce a news broadcast (including on location and
in the studio).
You will learn about written & oral communication techniques.
Practical skills:
You will learn how to conduct research from a variety of sources, including holding interviews, focus groups and conducting
questionnaires.
You will learn how to:
 interview subjects in an appropriate manner.
 communicate and present ideas and information confidently and with consistent clarity.
 operate the multicamera TV studio.
 film a news piece on location, and in the TV studio.
 operate the studio cameras.
 operate the vision mixer.
Evaluative skills:
You will learn to continuously reflect on your work during this project, and critically evaluate your own works strengths and weaknesses,
as well as evaluating the tools and software used to create your practical work.
You will learn how to collate research, and present your findings in different formats – acting on feedback and continue to improve your
work.
You will be able to assess the reliability of sources, and use this information to create your own balanced, objective stories.

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Assignment 1: Understanding factual programming
Through a series of lectures and workshops you will learn about The codes and conventions of TV news and documentaries.
By the deadline you will need to produce an informative, evaluative report which comprehensively explains what audiences expect to
see from (1) broadcast TV news and (2) documentaries. Youwill want to use in depth examples (eg/ BBC News, Channel 4 News, Louis
Theroux, Michael Moore, Indie Game: The Movie etc…) to highlight your points.
What you need to include (at a minimum);
You have been asked to explain the following 2 areas (with illustrative examples):
1. Explain all the different elements that make up a broadcast TV News programme:
 studio news readers;
 field reporters;
 mode of address to viewer (verbal, tone, attire etc…);
 links to studio;
 piece to camera
 interviewing;
 experts and witnesses;
 actuality footage
 cutaways
 report structure;
2. Documentary
 documentary formats (expository, observational, interactive, reflexive, performative);
 What is realism and how do documentary film-makers achieve it?

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 What is dramatization? Why might documentary film-makers choose to include recreations in their films and how do they enrich the
film?
 What is narrativisation? What role does a narrative play, and what different filming and editing techniques do film-makers use to create
a narrative? How important is narrative?
 Explain how documentary makers can affect their own films impartiality.
 Can documentary film-makers try to produce balanced films which are impartial and objective in their reporting? Why do film-makers
do this? What mode of documentary is objective in its reporting?
 Can documentary film-makers produce biased films which are subjective? What roles can the film-makers opinion play in the films
viewpoint? What modes of documentary are subjective?
 Does the film-maker have the right to access the information they need to make their film? Does the subject of the documentary have the
right to privacy? Does this put the subject and the film-maker in conflict?
 How does a film-maker ensure their film is accurate? How important is it to be accurate & truthful?
 Can the film-maker represent different people or issues in positive or negative ways? How do they do this? Why do they do this?
 What contract with the viewer does the documentary film-maker have? How do they achieve this?
Evidence:
By the deadline you will need to produce:
- A report or podcast
- All research notes.
Deadline & Submission details:
You will need to submit the report or presentation via moodle no later than the 1.3.17.
Grading Criteria:
(Unit 27 – P1, P2, M1, M2, D1, D2)

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