Codes and conventions of factual TV programmes

In this essay I will discuss the codes and conventions of factual TV

programmes, this will include news formats and documentary formats. For
factual programmes whether that being a TV programme or documentary
it has to follow the codes and conventions in order for it to be effective.
This is including things such as interviews, voice overs and actuality
footage, etc.
The first convention is studio news, in any news report you always have a
news reporter, also known as anchor. This is someone who appears in not
only just TV or radio but many other formats too. An example of a news
presenter would be Dan Walker from BBC Breakfast. Presenters have an
important job within the way they speak or dress. They have to speak
formally so that they are respecting the public who watches. They also
have to use appropriate discourse based on the show to make sure they
dont offend the audience. Presenters have to give a non-bias to allow the
audience to create their own opinions. If presenters were to give opinions
the show could then be classed as subjective. Presenters use a variety of
voice tones depending on the subject matter, if they were talking about a
death they would talk with a soft comforting voice to let the viewers feel
the emotion being portrayed. Also, presenters have to dress formally so
they look professional. They have to give the correct positive vibe to the
audience as viewers wouldnt want to sit and watch someone who is
poorly dressed. Presenters tend to sit in front of a green screen with
images and videos going on in the background related to the subject
matter. So, if the news were discussing Donald Trump they would have
cutaways of Trump Towers and other things related to the matter.
The second code and convention would be a field reporter, also known as
correspondent. This is someone who reports the news from the exact
location it takes place, to give more detail and shows reality. On many
news channels such as BBC they have an overseas correspondent who is
always on standby. This means that when something is happening in
another country they are there live to report on the current situation. An
example of an overseas correspondent Lyse Doucet. An advantage of
correspondents is that they can collect greater details than being away
from the live event and this could lead to viewers not believing fully what
is being said. A disadvantage would be that is it most normally live which
means it is not edited before being aired, so members of the public could
easily wreck the report.
Another codes and convention is interviewing. Interviews are done in both
news and documentary programmes. An interview is a series of questions
asked about the current topic, often to a witness of the current report. A
witness is good to interview as they can tell facts as they was there to
witness the incident that has taken place. In interviews mid-shots and
close ups are used to show the realism in the persons face to show the
emotion through to the viewers so they can feel emotions themselves.

Interviews could also be done with experts, say if a report was on about a
cancer patient they may interview a doctor to give out facts as they as
more educated on this matter compared to the general public. The last
type of interview is a vox-pop, this is done with random members of the
public, normally found on a high street. This is a good type of interview as
it shows the public just normal peoples opinions and perhaps someone
with little less education on a situation, therefore will give a non-bias reply.
The next code and convention is mode of address. This is how the
information is shown to the viewer, dependant on the target audience. An
example of this would be CBBC 60 second news as it aimed at young
adults/children so is soft news. Soft news includes things such as like
entertainment and lifestyle. Whereas the BBC News At 10 is hard news,
aimed at the older generation. Hard news includes things such as politics,
war and crime. Hard news always has a much deeper tone as the subject
matters are always hard hitting situations, making the audience feel an
emotion. Soft news is also shown on longer programmes but it always
shown closer to the end once the headlines are out of the way.
Voice overs is the next code and convention I will discuss. These are used
in both news and documentary programmes. Voice overs are used most
popularly over cut always, but the voice and image will both link. An
example of this would be in the documentary The Boy Whose Skin Fell
Off. He would discuss what was happening on the screen and go in to
more detail about things such as emotions and the pain he was suffering
with. The voice over is sometimes called The voice of God, this fitted in
well with this documentary as the main character had passed away and it
was as if he was talking from heaven, educating people on his illness and
difficult lifestyle. Voice overs can speak directly to the viewer, offering
information, explanations or opinions.
The next codes and convention is actuality footage. This is footage of an
event that has happened and is being used to back up the story that is
being told. CCTV is sometimes used in order to show this. This sometimes
happens if someone robs a shop, the CCTV footage will be shown to help
capture the thieves. Actuality footage can also be used when a worldwide
event has happened such as the 7/7 bombings in London. When this story
happened, members of the public sent in footage which they recorded
themselves, on mobile devices. This footage is important so that the
programme can back up the story with evidence of it happening. This aids
authenticity and adds information the maker may not be able to obtain
themselves.
The final codes and convention is backing music. This is when music is
being played in the background, to perhaps add an effect. Backing music
is popularly used in intros and outros to recognize a programme. A
popular one being the Match Of The Day intro as it stands out and is well
known in the general public. Backing music is also sometimes used to add
emotion, so sad music would be used in the background when discussing

a sad event. The music will always have the correct volume level in order
to not interfere or distract the audience.
Documentaries also have codes and conventions too. Such as;
Observational, Expository, Participatory, Poetic, Performance and
Reflexive.
The first type is observational; these are always shot with one or maybe
two cameras. The cameras will be hand held and will be there to observe
the environment as well as being educational. There is usually no
interviews included and there tends to be no voice overs. This is shown on
BBCs Frozen Planet.
The second is expository; these are documentaries that expose a person
or a topic. Expository documentaries are well known for having a
commentator talking over the videos/pictures and explaining what is
being shown. Expository documentaries construct a specific argument.
They also speak directly to the viewer, like mode of address. An example
of this is Johns Not Mad
The next is participatory; these are where the film maker gets involved
and isnt hid behind the lens. Interviews are included but tend to be
informal, and a use of archive footage is used. A lot of this is shot on
hand-held cameras, they also often use voiceovers. My example of this is
Louis Theroux: most hated family in America.
Another is poetic, these are subjective. A particular mood/tone is created
which is sometimes enhanced by music. It is also light on the rhetoric and
events are perhaps left under developed. Poetic documentaries are not
always linear; a filmmaker arrives at its point by arranging footage in an
order to evoke an audience association through tone or rhythm. A good
example of this is Rain - Joris Ivens (1929) A short Dutch documentary film
premiered on 15th December.
Performance is the next I will discuss. Performance directly addressed the
audience by acknowledging the subjective yet emotional aspects of a
documentary. The subject matter often concerns identity such as; gender
or sexuality, rather than factual topics. The makers of the documentary
also interact with the subject.
The last is reflexive, these borrow techniques from fiction films for an
emotional, subjective response. They emphasize on the expressive nature
of film; anti-realist techniques e.g re-enactments, expressive lighting and
dramatic music. They use voiceovers when present and is likely to be
questioning and uncertain rather than authoritative. They are reliance on
suggestion and imply meaning rather than facts. Nick Broomfield is best
known for his reflexive style of documentary making.