Unit 27: Factual Programme Techniques

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Understand issues relating to factual programming for television.
2. Understand codes and conventions of factual programming for television.
3. Be able to plan and research a factual program for television.
4. Be able to produce a factual program for television. 

UNIT CONTENT

Understand issues relating to factual programming for television:

• Issues - accuracy; balance; impartiality; objectivity; subjectivity; opinion; bias; representation; access; privacy; contract with viewer etc.

Understand codes and conventions of factual programming for television:

• News - studio news readers; field reporters; links to studio; mode of address to viewer; interviewing; experts and witnesses; report structure; actuality footage etc.
• Documentary - documentary formats (expository, observational, interactive, reflexive, performative); realism; dramatisation; ëarrativisation etc.

Be able to plan and research a factual program for television:

• Genres - news; documentary, eg docudrama, docusoap, infotainment, ‘reality’ TV, educational, wildlife, special interest, makeover; magazine; discussion; review; chat show.
• Develop ideas - program concept; target audience; development techniques, eg creation of narrative, scenario, synopsis, research process, interview questions.
• Research - primary sources, eg contacts, interviews; secondary sources, eg broadcasts, reviews, internet, archives; checking information.
• Legal and ethical considerations - filming in public; clearances and permissions; privacy; libel and defamation; requirements of the Broadcasting Act 1994; BBC producers’ guidelines; Ofcom.
• Planning - production organization  roles and responsibilities; schedules; interview and contacts appointments; location recess; budget (planned, evolving); risk assessments; documentation.
• Proposal: subject idea; format; genre; style; audience; intended aim; budget.

Be able to produce a factual program for television:

• Production techniques - filming (general views, interviews, cut-aways); graphics; scripted pieces to camera; studio; location; public space; sound (ambient sound, wild track, interviews, presenter’s descriptions, studio sound).
• Production management - monitoring progress; identifying and solving problems; production organisation, eg call sheets, equipment booking, location management, logistics management
• Editing: creating narrative; conveying meaning; illustrating topic.

Source: https://boadigital.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/unit-27-factual-programme-production-techniques-for-television.pdf

Examples of factual programs are shown in clips below.

Planet Earth - Documentary 

Newsnight - News

How Television Works - Educational

The Specials - Docusoap

Threads - Docudrama