- The document provides feedback on a mock exam for a television news module. It outlines the grade boundaries and observations about students' performance. - It discusses the intended functions of television news as informing audiences in an unbiased way and explaining complex issues clearly. - The next sections provide tasks and prompts for students to further discuss codes and conventions of television news, how to engage and inform audiences, and ideas for an interactive "tea-time" news broadcast.

1. Lesson Objective: To reflect on the mock exam
Exam Feedback

2. A* 51
A 45
B 39
C 33
D 27
E 21
F 16
G 11
Grade Boundaries – Total 60 marks

3. Observations
• It was obvious who didn’t read the preliminary material! –
you needed to respond to the brief in all questions
• Storyboard codes and conventions not always followed
• Some people didn’t storyboard a title sequence
• Some people were limited in their application of news
values and current stories
• Generally good recognition of television news codes and
conventions (i.e. how it is broadcast)
• Some use of specialise terminology

4. In our view, the function of television news is to:
• Spark interest in current affairs and world events
• Inform the audience in an unbiased way
• Explain complex issues and events in a way which makes them clear
Did you tackle each bullet point?
Did you use examples from recent news shows/stories?
Did you explain the codes and conventions of TV news and how stories are made clear
to an audience?
Task 1

5.  Charlie Hebdo
 Prince Andrew
 Elton John’s wedding
 Air Asia crash
 Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride death)
 The Interview – Sony Hack
 No more page 3 battle
 Scottish referendum
 Use of humour
 Show mobile footage from public
 Use news values (proximity,
unexpectedness, celebrity
endorsement etc.)
 Breaking news – red = important
Spark interest

6.  News is never completely unbiased
 The BBC will give this impression (educate, inform, entertain), but consider things like
the Cliff Richard invasion of privacy
 Reporters can be subjective (Jeremy Paxman)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYYbpK16r2A
 Fox news – Birmingham comments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
_zF7nbEvwY
 Russell Brand on Fox News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPK7t5B2UN4
 Michael Brown reporting
Inform the audience in an unbiased way

7.  News is adapted to different audiences e.g. newsround
 Theory of equilibrium to organise and broadcast stories e.g. Teacher stabbing
everything is OK, normal school day (equilibrium) – teacher is attacked by student
(disequilibrium) – family/friends/school/community have to learn to readjust (re-
equilibrium)
 The news presents things as ‘binary opposites’ to make the world seem simple
 Propp’s theory reinforces common ideology (the way people think)
 Don’t worry, we will be revisiting these theories!
Explain complex issues and events in a way
which makes them clear

8. Task 2
We are convinced that a TV news broadcast in the early evening is the right thing for
our audience and our channel. Do you think we are right? Give reasons for your
answer
Key point:
There is no right or wrong answer to a statement like this. The important thing is that
you:
• Think about your reasons from an audience/scheduling point of view
• You base your reasons on existing media in this area
• You consider the characteristics of your audience demographic
• You directly respond to the brief

9.  Provide us with ideas for our “tea-time” news broadcast. We need:
THIS IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE BRIEF AND NEEDS YOU TO HAVE READ IT IN ADVANCE
You needed to respond to each bullet point!
Task 3

10.  “tea-time” – deliberately broad
 Pre-watershed implications
* A suggestion for the timeslot which you think
would be most suitable

11.  Drawings are easiest to illustrate and annotate set design
 A logo might help build the image, with appropriate colours/connotations
 Casual/sophisticated presenters – appropriately chosen people for your house style
* A brief explanation of the brand image,
including set design and selection and
presentation of anchors

12.  News values!
 Examples of recent stories
 Audience demographic and suitability
 Quiz
 Bulletin
 Panel discussion
* A brief outline of how we would decide on
which stories would be given priority and how
this would be used

13.  Red button
 App
 Social media
 Hash tag e.g.#isitok
 Panel discussion
 Quiz
 Question
 Phone/text in
 Email
 Website interaction opportunities
* Suggestions for audience interactivity

14. The opening titles are really important in catching the audience’s attention. Create a
30 second opening title sequence
• Codes and conventions of a storyboard – shot types edits, specific sound/timings
• Colour – representative of house style
• Correct length
• Title sequence only!
Task 4