CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMING Millenia Ritchie

CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF FACTUAL PROGRAMMING Millenia Ritchie

WHAT ARE CODES AND CONVENTIONS? When making a factual programme, there are guidelines that producers must follow. These are called the codes and conventions. Codes are a system of signs that are put in place, to create meaning. Conventions are what you would expect to see in a certain genre. They’re considered to be the correct way of doing things in media.

NEWS PROGRAMMES Interviews: Interviewing is a way in which news reporters can obtain information on a particular topic. They can be recorded either in or out of a studio. The location is quite flexible, as they can be implemented anywhere. They can be taken in the form of written, audio or visual interviews.

STUDIO NEWS READER: They are based in a set up studio, behind a desk, usually. Almost always dressed formally, using proper language. The camera is usually pointed towards the presenter, only showing their top half. They must be entirely objective, meaning that all information shared by the presenter must be non bias. Often, they read from an auto-cue. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=be 3 BHw. Ni 58 A

FIELD REPORTERS: Field reporters are usually at the scene of a story, directly in front of the camera. They, alike studio news readers, must be non biased when presenting the public with information. Often, field reporters will be accompanied by an eye witness on the scene, to whom they can ask questions to obtain more information. The live reports will switch and go back and forth from the studio, to on the scene.

EYEWITNESSES AND EXPERTS: They have an important role when it comes to broadcasting particular news stories. For example, when a tragedy or incident occurs an eyewitness may be interviewed by a news reporter, to gather more information, but also to get a more in-depth picture on the situation at hand. Experts can be used when discussing topical issues, in order to draw in more viewers and increase interest through knowledge and awareness. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=7 Kz 8 mvo. Pj. LA

FOOTAGE Actuality Footage: This is footage that was recorded live, taken from the scene of a news story. It grabs viewers’ attention, as they’re able to see what is happening at the exact time. An example of this would be footage captured of Hurricane Ophelia https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Af. XE 9 NTwf. Ss Reflexive: This is pre-recorded footage that can be used during the news report. Voiceovers and, in some cases, dramatic music are often playing, over the footage.

EXPOSITORY: This is a type of documentary that is focused on the exposition of a certain topic, perhaps being information that the public was previously unaware or unavailable to. It involves a presenter, or using visuals, which may be captured hidden footage or images, paired with voiceovers. Due to the aim of expository documentaries usually being to educate and/or inform the public, everything portrayed in it must be entirely true.

PERFORMATIVE: These involve an individual capturing themselves. Commonly, whilst taking part in events. The person recording would usually be using a hand held camera. Observational: The film maker would follow the person around, to observe their daily life. Similar to performative documentaries, the crew often use hand held cameras. No interviews or voiceovers take part in observational documentaries.

NARRATIVISATION: These type of documentaries are filmed and edited together, with the aim of forming a story for the viewers. They’re based on real life events and consist of a presenter talking to an audience, explaining what is happening.