Factual Programming pp

1. Factual Programing
Scarlett Willans

2. Codes and Conventions
Factual programing is the news you see on TV or a genre of non fictional TV documenting
actual events or people.
Codes
These are systems of signs which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories-technical
and symbolic.
Technical codes is the equipment used for example camera, lighting
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see for example crying or
laughing.
Conventions
Theses are generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in
any medium such as there use of interview quotes in a print article, but conventions are also
genre specific.

3. News
News programmes are regular and scheduled broadcasts to keep
everyone up to date with what’s happening the world and locally with
non-bias and factual stories. I would say the main UK news programmes
are BBC news, ITV news and Sky news. Each bring them same news but
in there style and format.

4. What To Expect
Each news channel will be similar can follow conventions such as
 Smartly dressed presenters
 Well spoken with a clear ascent
 Professional feel
 Date and time, even weather on screen
 Scrolling texts with breaking news or headlines, constantly updating
As news will similar each channel with have its own style, colouring and formatting. For
example Sky News is a strong red colour, and I feel more professional and serious
looking over ITV news.
Other than the studio presenter, field reporters are very important. They follow all the
standard conventions of a studio presenter but they travel around the world to report,
usually live, to the scene of the news. This could be a war zone, central London or even
just a small village.

5. Popular News Programmes
ITV News
Sky News
BBC News

6. Definition
Factual programing is a genre of non fictional TV documenting actual
events or people. There are 5 types of documentary:
 Expository
 Observational
 Participatory
 Reflective
 Per formative

7. Expository
Expository documentaries expose a person or topic, its one of the main and
most popular modes of documentary. They are will known for having a
voiceover and often because of its nature cant always be filmed so achieved
pictures, videos and voice clips are used.
An example of this is Channel 4’s documentary ‘My big Fat Gypsy Wedding’.
This is a 5 series TV program all about gypsy wedding traditions, which are
very different from most others. Its very extreme- big dresses, young brides
and old fashioned views on the role on women in the community. Expository
documentaries are almost always very extreme and provoke shock or reveal
something most people would never see (prison documents), or maybe be
aware of ( documentary about the cruelty that goes into making meat).

8. Observational
Observational documentary is where a cameraman follows a person or an
event to observe what is happening. There aren't voiceovers or interviews as
its quite often story like and self explanatory. They are also in the moment,
there's no need for achieved footage unless on occasion there is a back story
to help explain a situation.
A good example of this type of documentary is ‘16 and pregnant’. This is a
TV program that follows around pregnant teens for 9 months to see how
they at such a young age and more often than not little money deal with
such an adult situation.
These types of documentary's are very popular as its situations that the
majority of people have never, or will never experienced.

9. Participatory/ Interactive
this type is when the film maker or presenter are directly involved with the subjects or
events they are documenting. There are usually lots of background and achieved
information to back up why the subjects in there current situation. This mode is very
different to the other because the film maker/ presenter is visible and participates in
the documentary.
An example of this is the TV series ‘Jodie Marsh On..’ this is where Jodie Marsh covers
several different subjects for example one episode is about plastic surgery. Quite often
in participatory documentary the presenter will have a connection or experience with
the subject. So in this case Jodie Marsh her self has had a lot of plastic surgery and is
going to talk to other extreme surgery cases about there experience.
Similar to other modes the topics covered in participatory are things people wouldn't’t
ordinarily experience or know much about.

10. Reflexive
Reflexive documentary mode uses fictional techniques for a more
emotional response from the audience. It can include re enactments,
music also plays a part is setting the mood and tells you how to feel,
very similar to a fictional film or TV program. This documentary kind rely
more on suggestion than fact, often leaving you thinking.

11. Per Formative
This style of documentary is similar to participatory as the film crew are involved or
they have an on screen presenter. Its often shaped into an investigation or search that
the audience follow causing suspense but unlike a faction story there may not be any
conclusion. Its also similar to reflexive in the sense that it uses emotion and addresses
the audience directly.
A good example of this is the film and TV series ‘Catfish’. Catfish is started as film
where Nev and his two brother all go in search of a girl and her family Nev has been in
touch with over the internet too see if she really say she is. After it was made many
audience member go in touch with Nev explaining how similar there situation is and
wanting Nev to help them find out if the people they have been chatting to online is
really them. It was hugely successful as usually documentary's are about something
that the audience wouldn’t expect or couldn’t happen to them, but meeting someone
online can happen to anyone. It also has a fiction sense about it, but of course is real
making it seem more shocking for the audience.