The document discusses conventions for newspaper advertisements for documentaries. It analyzes several sample documentary advertisements, noting that they typically include the title, broadcast time and channel, use images to engage viewers and create intrigue through taglines. The ads aim to attract viewers through provocative questions or glimpses into the documentary content while promoting the broadcasting channel. Color schemes, fonts and compositions are designed to make key details like the title and channel logo stand out.

1. Ancillary task 2
A NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE DOCUMENTARY

2. Disarming Britain
Time & title
displayed
Site to get more information:
connectivity & interactive media helps
people get more involved / informed.
Shading of face
shows how this topic
isn’t something that’s
been ‘bought into
the light’
Reveals the emotional state
of the subject
Logo of the
channel that
has made /
aired the series
Violent
connotationsEven though this ad
isn’t from a
newspaper, it is
displaying a
documentary & shows
elements that could
be found also in a
newspaper ad.
The add illustrates the
problems that the
documentary is trying
to capture suggested
by the title & creates a
sense of hermeneutic
tension rather than
using buzz words.

3. Face Off
Poses a
question as to
engage the
audience
Logo of the
company making
/ airing the series
Utilises inanimate objects to
illustrate the question
asked, displaying elements
of the beauty routine for
men
Title & time you
can watch the
series as well as
the channel it is
presented on
Utilises inanimate
objects to illustrate
the question asked,
displaying elements
of the beauty
routine for women
This advertisement, also for a channel 4 documentary, poses questions
to engage the viewer & uses illustrate to provoke the viewer to think
deeper about the question in the bottom left hand corner.

4. Life After Armageddon
Informs the reader of the content of
the page. Informative & easy to
navigate
Logo shows channel the
program will be shown on
Suggestion that watching this channel
will give sustenance. Eye catching tag
line.
Contrasting colours make the logo /
title stand out. Image clearly stylised
based on the reference to
‘Armageddon’ in the title
Advertises title &
time show will be
shown
Advertisement focuses mainly
on the channel & uses the
documentary as an lure to
make people view their channel
& advertises other shows
underneath. Uses contrasting
colours & texts to make vital
information stand out.

5. Frozen Planet
Uses famous names to attract
attention from Attenborough fans.
Displays subject, whales, in
their habitat – glimpse into
the documentary.
Cold text to illustrate the ‘frozen’
aspect of the documentary relative
to the subjects climate.
Tag line, evokes mystery &
intrigue
Advertises channel showing
documentary
Contorts reality shows a literal
frozen planet & works in
conjunction with the tagline to
create the feeling of something
other worldly. Engaging the viewers
imagination & creating a sense of
hermeneutic tension
This BBC documentary about nature
mixes reality with fantasy to try and
create intrigue around the subject by
using a cold colour schematic in
conjunction with real life shots of wildlife.
Focus is more on the animals &
environment rather than the channel. No
display of time or date the program is to
be shown.

6. Codes & Conventions for newspaper
ads
o Image based
o Text is usually to give information about time or date. Otherwise it is used
to create intrigue within a tagline.
o Usually the channel logo or title are of the most prominence on the page.