Factual and Bias Programmes

Types of factual programmes:

• Documentary
• News (including VT's)
• Docu-drama's
• Docu-soaps

Codes and Conventions

Factual programmes can be distinct by the codes and conventions that are presented. The most obvious one is that they will be informing you and telling you facts. They might get people's opinions however the main purpose is to tell the audience the truth and to inform them by not being bias. Facts are objective whereas opinions are subjective. The stories are impartial. The presentation will always be smart. News presenters will always be dressed smartly; men normally in suits and women in smart clothes. Some presenters, particularly in Channel 4, will have their sleeves rolled up. Although this doesn't look as smart, it is conveying that they have been working hard. When in a studio, it will be a modern setting, lots of lights, a desk e.t.c however they might be in a green-screen studio in which a high quality digital background may be displayed. Some presenters stand up to read some articles. This is partially to show their authority/seriousness for the topic. Some BBC news shows, shows the audience the researches working behind them. This tells the audience that the BBC are always working and are trying to find out the latest news. The presenters always look straight at the camera which makes it seem more personal and direct. It is also showing that they are telling the truth.

For the regional news, they all have 'local' accents. Again, this makes it seem more personal.

On the screen is also graphics including a lower third which are details of who the presenter/guest is. In addition to this, you might see a breaking news title on screen. This will grab the audience's attention more.

Format:

1. Titles/Summary of News/Local News
2. Presenters Introduce Themselves
3. Main Story
4. Stories
5. Weather and Sport

The news can be divided into 2 categories. Hard or soft news. Hard news covers issues that are more serious and formal i.e. politics. Soft news is less serious and is therefore not always covered as formally. This covers stories like entertainment and show biz.

Content Pyramid (from Google)

A news story should start by using the 5 W's, who, what, when, where and why. These bits cover the key information and are used at the start of the story to draw in the readers attention more.

A newspaper's article with the lead, body and tail sections divided. Done by myself and Briana.

Bias Programmes

Fox News is prime example of a bias news company. We watched Out-Foxed and learnt about how Rupert Murdoch put a bias and propaganda spin on issues covered by American news company FOX. They revealed only partial information on stories and not the full picture. They also didn't interview guests fairly. This is breaking their contract with the viewer (what the viewer expects of the programme) as they aren't reporting the full story. Manipulation techniques are also used to show one political party to be weaker than another; to the viewer, this shows the political party as being weaker, not just the individual. In addition to this, they would only read news stories that are positive to one side of the argument rather than both to make the show more accurate. FOX also use the breaking news theme/graphics when the news isn't that important.

What Can Make Something Bias?

• Language
• Opinions
• Facts
• Statistics
• Photos
• Captions
• Camera Angles
• Interviews
• Bias through selection (which are shown)
• Placement (what place the story comes)
• Headline
• Word choice and tone
• Names and titles
• Source

Evaluating a News Article

• News Article – Goodbye Hayley (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25493171)
• Positive light of her leaving 
• ‘Feature’ on main page 
• Pics of actress smiling apart from her in character one (to match storyline) 
• Described as one of ‘Coronation Street’s best loved character’