2. 5 MODES OF DOCUMENTARIES
Expository- A type of documentary that addresses the audience directly. The voiceover
is normally heard but not seen although in some documentaries this is not the
case. Images are used to emphasis what the voiceover is talking about with editing
to link the images supporting the argument of the voiceover. The documentary will
display lots of variety of footage, interviews , archived material in order to support
their argument.
An example of this is David Attenborough Planet Earth
Observational- The documentary that uses no voiceovers and no interviews to put
forward there documentary. This form normally uses handheld cameras to record
what they are observing. They will film with hidden cameras or hide themselves
from being exposed. They pretend that the subject is not being filmed.
An example of this is David Attenborough Frozen Planet
Participatory- Another form of documentary which uses another way interact with their
of audience. The documentary maker with often interact with subject and
sometimes the crew will interact to. Interviews will dominate these documentaries
but are formal. The director will use archived material in order to make this
documentary reliable. The documentary makes is normally the voiceover and is
normally made visable to the audience.
An example of this will be Michael Moore – Bowling For Columbine
3. 5 MODES OF DOCUMENTARIES
Reflexive Documentary- This is a unique documentary that uses
conventions of a fictional film for an emotional and subjective
response. It will express nature of film and anti realist techniques e.g. re
enactments, expressive lighting and dramatic music. This form will also
use a voicer over that will question what is being said rather than
authorative.
An example of this is Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends
Performative Mode- Documentary that will included the maker and
sometimes the crew to interact. The makers comments of what is going
on in the documentary. The shape of this documentary is normally
shaped in the format of an investigation or search. They may not always
be a conclusion to this documentary though. The audience will be
addressed in an emotional and direct way.
An Example will be Supersize Me Morgan Spurlock 2004
4. CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A NEWS SHOW
Codes are signs which create meaning. These codes can be divided into two
categories – technical and symbolic:
Technical Codes is a way in which equipment is used to tell the story in
media text. This could be for example the size and font of a news paper.
Symbolic Codes show what is lying at the bottom of what we see. This could
be some text in a different size to show it’s importance
You would expect to find in a news show-
• Studio News Readers
• Footage
• Eye Witnesses
• Links to the Studio
• Mode of Address to the Viewers
• Interviews
5. NEWS PRESENTERS – A DAY AT WORK
News Presenters jobs are heavily criticised by members of the public by
asking what do they apart from deliver the news.
A news presenter normally conducts in depth research, identifies and
develops news stories of interest. They will also edit copy from other
reporters or news agencies. Amongst finding out all the information that
they need to deliver the news , they write their own news bulletins, links
and assists in the production of scripts. They will research and conduct
interviews in the studio either in studio or out in location. They will
provide a briefing to crew and contributors.
The attributes for a news reader is that they have to have editorial
knowledge, understand legal and ethical issues that affect journalism,
interposal skills and communication skills.
Visual Code of a news presenter is that they have to be neat and
conservative haircut. Be clean shaven and wearing a suit.
6. REPORTING STRUCTURE
The reports of a news show use the same codes and conventions/
techniques:
• PTC: Piece To Camera
• C/A: Cut Away
• V/O: Voice Over
• I/V : Interview
• Vox Pops: Voice of People Opinions
• Graphics
