A factual programme is a type of non-fiction programme that documents real events and people, such as documentaries, news programmes, and reality television. There are several types of documentaries, including expository, observational, participatory, reflexive, and performative. News programmes report on current events and are hosted by anchors. They typically feature scripted presentations, footage related to stories, banners with updates, and formally dressed presenters speaking in proper English.

1. The construction of
Factual Programmes
Lewis Fagg

2. What is a factual programme?
• A factual programme is a type of
programme that is based around facts. In
other words, a factual programme is non-fiction
and, most importantly, documents
actual events and people. These types of
programmes can also be described as
documentaries; other types of which are
observational, fly-on-the-wall, docudrama
or reality L-R; TV, to name a few.
documentar
y, news
programme
, reality TV

3. What types of documentaries are there?
1. EXPOSITORY
2. OBSERVATIONAL
3. PARTICIPATORY
4. REFLEXIVE
5. PERFORMATIVE
a voiceover addresses the audience
directly; images are used to illustrate the
points; editing is used for continuity
no voiceover; no interviews; documentary
maker not shown; location shooting –
handheld cameras
aka interactive; interview crew interact
with subject; use of archive footage;
voiceover usually by the documentary
maker, who also is visible to the audience
& ‘participates’
emphasizes the expressive nature of film;
eg reenactments, dramatic music;
voiceover (if present) is likely to be
questioning
documentary crew interacts with subject;
addresses the audience in a direct
manner; subject mater often relates to
identity; mockumentaries are
performative

4. What is a news programme?
News
programme
s report on
current
events.
News is
typically
presented in
a series of
stories and
is hosted by
one or more
‘anchors’ –
somebody
who
presents the
news.
IT
V
BBC
IT
V
News presenters
always dress
smartly – this
gives the
impression they
know what they
are talking
about/are
authorative.
News
programmes
usually have a
recognizable
‘rolling’ banner
across the
bottom of the
screen, with
updates of
news.

5. Conventions of news programmes
• News programmes are always scripted and never
improvised
• They normally use archive footage or footage of
recent events played over the top of the
newsreader – this gives the news context
• Presenters are always smartly dressed and they
talk in proper English with good pronunciation –
this makes the news more credible and gives the
impression they know what they are talking about
• There are graphics are used; for example, the
banner running across the bottom of the screen &
sometimes includes ‘breaking news’
• The camerawork consists of mostly close-up shots
of the newsreader

6. Conventions of news programmes
• News programmes are always scripted and never
improvised
• They normally use archive footage or footage of
recent events played over the top of the
newsreader – this gives the news context
• Presenters are always smartly dressed and they
talk in proper English with good pronunciation –
this makes the news more credible and gives the
impression they know what they are talking about
• There are graphics are used; for example, the
banner running across the bottom of the screen &
sometimes includes ‘breaking news’
• The camerawork consists of mostly close-up shots
of the newsreader