This document discusses the codes and conventions of factual programming such as documentaries and news reports. It defines codes and conventions as typical signs and events that viewers expect to see, such as a main news presenter or facts and statistics in documentaries. It then outlines five modes of documentary: observational, expository, interactive, reflexive, and performative. For each mode, it provides a brief definition and example like how observational documentaries involve following people with no interviews or narration. The document concludes by listing some common codes and conventions for a news room setting.

1. Codes and Conventions
of factual programming
By
Chris Lowman

2. Introduction
In this PowerPoint I will be talking about the
codes and conventions of factual programming
and how they inform and determine the audience
responses. Ill be looking at news reports and
factual programme documentaries.

3. What are codes and
conventions?
There are lots of different codes and conventions
in factual programming and the ones I'm looking
at represent the typical signs and events that we
generally see in any type of factual programme
whether this is TV documentaries or TV news.
These are often things which are planned and we
often don’t realize that they are there. This may
be the main presenter on the news or the fact
that every documentary will have shown basic
evidence such as statistics that are not really
noticed whilst we watch but are there to prove
the factual base of the story.

4. The 5 modes of codes and
convention
Observational- Googlebox is one example of the
observational mode.
Expository- This mode of documentary is more pleasing on
the eye for the audience, it doesn’t follow conventions of
most documentaries.
Interactive- This is when the audience of the documentary
have a say in what happens.
Reflexive- Reflexive documentaries reflect on real life.
David Attenborough has Reflexive documentaries.
Per Formative- Acknowledges the emotional and subjective
aspects of documentary and presents ideas having
different meanings for different people.

5. Observational
Googlebox is one example of the observational
mode. Documentary makers who use observational
follow people around to observe the events that
happen in that persons life. Equipment can be
informal, such as the use of hand-held cameras.
Usually no interviews are included and there is no
voice over. Long takes are used and synchronous
sound joined together.

6. Expository
This mode of documentary is more pleasing on
the eye for the audience, it doesn’t follow
conventions of most documentaries. It is a
classic form of documentary. They are also
known for having a commentator. This is the
most commonly used form that uses a “voice of
god” narration to shape the message of the
documentary. The unseen narrators words take
on power and authority which is amplified by the
style of delivery and tone used.

7. Interactive
It is a documentary production that differs from
the more traditional forms- video, audio,
photographs. This is when the audience of the
documentary have a say in what happens.

8. Reflexive
Reflexive documentaries reflect on real life.
David Attenborough has Reflexive
documentaries. It makes the audience more
aware of the problems the documentary makers
face while making their films. The style if
documentary is involved with experimental
documentaries, where the viewer is interested
about how the film is constructed as they are the
actual content.

9. Per formative
It is a documentary that acknowledges the
emotional and subjective aspects of
documentary and presents ideas having different
meanings for different people.

10. Codes and conventions of
a News Room
Studio News Reporter
Field reporters
Links to studio
Modes of address to view
Interviewing
Experts and witnesses report structure
Actual footage