TV & Video
FACTUAL
PROGRAMMING
By the end of this lesson
‱ MUST understand the components that
make up a TV News broadcast
‱ SHOULD explain how they’re used by
broadcasters to pass information to the
audience
‱ COULD use examples to prove these
points.
Over this unit
We’re going to look at factual
programming, an important part of the
TV industry which takes up the majority of
most broadcast TV schedules.
But
. What is factual programming?
Factual Programming
‱ TV news broadcasts
‱ Documentaries
‱ Reality TV programmes
‱ Chat shows
‱ Panel shows
‱ Magazine shows
‱ Review shows
‱ Makeover shows
Factual
programming
News Documentaries
Chat
shows
Magazine
shows
Wildlife
shows
Makeover
shows
Review
shows
‘reality’
shows
What’s at the heart of
Factual Programming?
A glimpse at some part of ‘the truth’ or reality is at
the heart of all factual programme, whether its

We’re going to be focusing on

What is Broadcast TV News about?
What is Broadcast TV News about?
EVENTS
What is Broadcast TV News about?
EVENTS
Current or
unfolding
events
charactersissues
What EVENT can you think about
in the news today?
EVENTS
Current or
unfolding
events
charactersissues
TV news broadcast
What are the different things
that make up a news report?
Click here
Studio new readers
What do studio news readers do?
Field reporters
What do field reporters do?
Interviews
Whats the purpose of an interview? What
different types of contributor are they with?
Actuality footage
What do we think actuality footage is of?
Cutaway footage
Cutaways are footage that is generally
related to the subject. It is used to fill time in
the video, especially if the crew haven’t
filmed enough actuality footage. Often whilst
there is a voiceover playing.
TV news broadcast
Lets watch some of the broadcast and see how
they use the different elements.
Click here
TASK 1
Working in pairs fill in the worksheet. You
have 30 minutes.
You can watch News broadcasts on the
computer to help you think about how the
different elements are used then we will
feedback as a group.
Feedback
Next week
We will be looking how TV News
broadcasters address the audience, as well
as looking at how your stereotypes &
prejudices affect your view of ‘the truth’.

Introduction to factual programming