Reality TV blurs fact and fiction, making it a hybrid genre that is continually evolving. While initially portraying everyday life for entertainment, most contemporary reality shows place participants in highly constructed scenarios. One example is The Only Way is Essex, a reality show about friends in Essex, England. Though based on real lives, producers set up situations for entertainment. Shots of characters at the gym or leaving a club add elements of reality while entertaining audiences.

1. Documentaries
Reality

2. Reality TV
• A media genre that blurs fact and fiction and realism is reality TV.
• Reality TV is hard to define as it is a hybrid genre that is continually
shifting and developing.
• It was initially understood to present everyday life as entertainment;
however, most contemporary shows place participants in highly
constructed situations. Reality TV now involves presenting a range of
very structured scenarios, heavily edited to provide audience
entertainment.

3. The Only Way is Essex
• This is a reality TV show that airs on ITV’s ‘ITVBe’ about a group of
friends living in Essex. The producers of the show base it on the
participants real life however explain at the beginning of the show
that there are elements that have been set up for entertainment.

4. The Only Way is Essex
Throughout the show producers use a variety of
camera angles and shots to create entertainment
for the audience.
Here they use an establishing shot to set the
scene of the gym. As the males in the show are
all ‘Essex lads’ who take care of their image and
appearance this is where you would expect to
see them in their free time. Therefore, reality of
the show is expressed.

5. The Only Way Essex
Here they use a long shot to display
Chloe leaving a night club. This allows
the audience to see her outfit – one of
the main reasons young girls watch the
show is to see the latest outfits and
trends as many of the female
participants are fashion icons in
magazines and social media.
Also the fact that she is leaving the club
adds the reality element as you can see
her on a normal night out like normal
people partake in.