This document discusses conventions used in documentaries to present information, including archival footage, vox pops, interviews, facts and statistics, reconstructions, stock footage, and music. It also discusses how gatekeeping and construction of reality media theories relate to the use of these conventions in shaping the reality presented in documentaries.

1. Documentary Conventions
TASK 1, POST #7

2. List of conventions…
A documentary uses conventions to help present the documentary.
 Archival Footage – Footage taken from a later date and not by the actual film crew
 VoxPop - Interviews with the general public to give general opinions on the subject/topic of the
documentary
 Interviews - Interviews with experts/professionals on the topic
 Facts and Statistics - Facts and statistics that support the view of the documentary and the
subject
 Reconstructions - A reconstruction of a event that has some sort of relation to the subject of the
documentary
 Stock Footage - Footage taken by the crew that has a relation to the topic of the documentary
 Music/Sound effects - Music and sound effects used to enhance the meaning/message of the
documentary

3. Media Theories associated
with conventions
 Gatekeeping – This is when information is
selected or rejected when deciding if it should be
included in the text
 Construction of Reality - This is when the
process of editing and gatekeeping by the
producers causes a artificial picture of reality