The document outlines various difficulties producers may face when creating a documentary about a controversial subject like a serial killer. It discusses the need for accuracy, avoiding misrepresentation, securing proper consent from contributors, considering privacy and fairness, obtaining necessary approvals, and handling potentially offensive material. In producing a documentary about serial killer Aileen Wurnos, the producers would have to ensure accuracy of facts, get approval for any secret filming, not offer payments to secure interviews, and stop filming if Wurnos seemed distressed.

1. Media Production
Eleanor Rose Button

2. Glossary
 Biased opinion is an inclination (idea or feeling) to present or hold a partial perspective at the
expense of (possibly equally valid) alternatives.
• Accuracy is the quality or state of being correct or precise.
 Balance is where you need to have a equal amount of opinions. Example if their was a
subject their has to be a balance some people like it some don’t. Not all people hate it or vice
versa.
 Impartiality is an inclination to weigh both views or opinions equally.
 Objectivity judgment based on observable phenomena and uninfluenced by emotions or
personal prejudices.
 Subjectivity judgment based on individual personal impressions and feelings and opinions
rather than external facts.
 Opinion is view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or
knowledge.
 Representation is the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being
so represented.
 Access means approaching or speaking to a person.
• Privacy is the condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.

3. Aileen Wurnous the selling of a
serial killer
I will take in to consideration the difficulties the producers for
this documentary would come across

4. Difficulty for producers
 Producers need to do a range of things to produce a programme here is a list
of what they have to take in to consideration
 Truth & Accuracy:
 Viewers are entitled to expect that programmes are accurate and true and the
audience and must not be misleading. This applies to all types of
programming, including entertainment programmes with factual elements.
Portraying real events, whether in documentary, features, factual
entertainment, drama or any other programme. As well as that the programmes
must be honest, fair and accurate.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 Producers would have to make sure that the information they gathered, these being
interviews with friends, family, police where real true encounters and made sure
things they said were right and not made up. Also when showing pictures of were
the lived etc… They would have had to make sure that was were she lived and
were she grew up so that viewers weren't mislead.

5. Reconstructions
 All reconstructions must be fair and accurate. If there is a
chance that the viewers might be confused, it must be
labelled to avoid confusion.
In relation to Aileen Wurnous
They didn’t have any.

6. Secret Filming
 Individuals cannot me filmed secretly for a programme unless
is has been approved by the broadcaster in advance. Also
 Programme-makers must set out in writing their justification
for covert filming/recording. Before secret filming is undertake
there are guidelines to have to follow.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 The producers did use secret filming, she admitted to
something when she thought she was off camera, however
before it was published it was shown to her and had to be
approved by Aileen in order for it to be able to have been
shown on television.

7. Payments
 You are not allowed to make payments to sources or
contributors without reference to and the approval of the
broadcaster. However this does not include things such as
meals and taxi fares. Another thing is that you must seek
advice from the programme lawyer before making or
promising to make any payment to a convicted or confessed
criminal. You must not make any payment or promise to
make any payment to any witness or defendant involved in
any kind of legal proceedings without the consent of the
commissioning editor and programme lawyer.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 No one was paid because the subjects purely wanted to get
their opinion or point across.

8. Dealing with Contributors
 If you are advertising for contributors, the wording of adverts should be approved by the commissioning editor
and programme lawyer. Another thing is that contributors should take part in programmes on the basis of their
informed consent. Consent should normally be in the form of a signed release form, although consent on
camera may be satisfactory.
 Any conditions placed on interviews by contributors must be agreed by the programme lawyer before
programme-makers accept. Programme-makers cannot agree to give contributors previews of programmes
without the consent of the commissioning editor. Editorial control must never be ceded.
 Any attempt to seek an interview without prior arrangement must be discussed and approved by the programme
lawyer in.
 Interviews must be fairly edited.
 Individuals in distress should not be put under pressure to agree to be interviewed or otherwise take part in a
programme.
 If filming with the police or other authorities, seek advice from the programme lawyer.
 If a source seeks an absolute guarantee of anonymity seek immediate advice from your programme lawyer
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 The interviews were not edited at all, all the interviews were arrange before. If Aileen became stressed of angry
filming even if half way through and interview would be cut.

9. People Under 18
 Due care must take place with regard to the physical and
emotional welfare and the dignity of people under 18 years who
are involved in programmes. Parental consent will be required
for individuals under 16 appearing in programmes, unless their
contribution is minor. Similar considerations must be had with
regard to vulnerable adults.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
Aileen obviously was not under the age of 18 however due to her
mental state, there has to be considerations in the context of she
was only filmed when she wanted to be filmed and filming would
be stopped if she didn’t want to be filmed any longer for example
if she started to get angry or upset about what was being asked.

10. Fairness & Privacy
 We must avoid the unfair treatment of individuals or
organisations in programmes.
 If the programme you are making involves criticising or
making any damaging allegation about any living individual
or organisation, you are advised seek advice from your
programme lawyer.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 The producer wasn't unfair to anyone, he interviewed them
when they were ready didn’t give his opinion just listened and
stopped if things started to get uncomfortable for the person
being interviewed.

11. Criminality
 Programmes involving criminals or about criminality require
special care and are likely to be legally contentious.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 Obviously this was very important as Aileen was a
criminal, The producers would have had to have done a lot of
work to be able to even of spoken to Aileen they would have
to of spoken to the police and give their reasons for wanting
to do the documentary.

12. Impartiality
 Programmes dealing with matters of political or industrial
controversy or matters relating to current public policy should
be duly impartial.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 Yes he was impartial as he put up both sides of the argument
but as a viewer we could still see strongly was side of the
argument he agreed with. He followed these rules are he put
up clearly both sides of the argument.

13. Potentially Offensive Material
 Material with the potential to cause offence e.g. strong
language, violence, sexual violence, explicit sexual portrayal
etc. must always be justifiable by the context. Advice should be
sought from
the legal & compliance department at an early stage.
 The commissioning editor, on the advice of the programme
lawyer, will ensure that an on-air warning is given to viewers,
where appropriate. Example before the show it will be said that
this show contains strong language and sexual scenes”
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 It was stated there would be strong language and violence at
the start of the documentary. He maybe could of made Aileen
not swear etc. but I think he thought it would give you the real
inside if she was completely her self.

14. Commercial References
 Programmes should not give undue prominence to
commercial products or services.
 Where programmes contain viewer competitions and/or
premium rate telephone lines for viewers to call, seek advice
from the programme lawyer.
 Sponsored programmes must not contain promotional
references to the sponsor, its activities or products or
services.
 In relation to Aileen Wurnous
 Does not apply to Aileen.