1. Unit 27: Factual Programme Production Techniques for Television

2. Intro
Factual TV is a very prevalent genre in TV programming. Various different sub genres of television fall under the overall genre of Factual TV. Some of these sub genres include News, Documentary and Sports programming.
Each of these different sub genres have codes and conventions that apply to them each specifically.
Codes are either technical or symbolic and behind them lays some sort of meaning. A technical code could be the way in which a particular kind of programme is edited. A symbolic code could be the way a presenter dresses to inform the tone of a programme. Codes tell us about the nature of a certain type of programme.
Conventions are generally accepted ways of doing things. They are genre specific and will not be the generally accepted way of executing something in every genre of TV.
In this presentation I’m going to give some examples of different sub genres of factual TV and outline what codes and conventions are specifically typical of them.

3. News
News programmes are regularly scheduled broadcasts which are meant to inform their viewers of current events. This is done through individual segments on differing stories by various TV anchors and reporters.
News programmes will more or less 100% of the time have some sort of TV news anchor to report the news. Typically they will sit at a desk, dress in formal attire and read new off of a teleprompter.
News reporters address the audience very formally. Unlike a morning breakfast host they will not put on a friendly persona but instead will be very straight to the point. This is because the topics they deal with are important and demand reverence.
Often news programmes will have field reporters that will report information from a live news event or from a location relevant to a specific story. Having a reporter on the field can bring more accuracy to the news report or increase production value. They will communicate to anchors through links to the studio.
Most news programmes will feature interviews with experts on topics that may concern a certain story or eye witnesses to a story. For example if a news programme needs an informed opinion on a story concerning medicine they could interview a doctor of some sort, or if a disaster has occurred that someone was witness to they could interview that witness to gain a better understanding of that event.
Actual footage from news events will often be intercut with reports. This footage can be shot by the studio itself but often it is footage obtained from witnesses to events.
The news is typically structured in a certain way. Usually they will first feature the most recent and relevant story. Different stories will be reported in individual segments and typically the last segment will be more light-hearted to contrast with the usual gloominess of the news.
Link to Fox News Report on “Hurricane Matthew”:

4. Documentary
Documentaries focus on a certain topic to enlighten the viewer with information about this topic. This information can be delivered in different ways and for different reasons.
It can be expository to provide the audience with information that brings context to certain things. Or it can be observational, providing a better understanding of something by finding out about it through observing it.
Documentaries will typically have a presenter that guides the audience on their “journey” into understanding the specific topic of the doc. Often they will either be very knowledgeable on the topic to provide wells of information, or have little knowledge of the topic in order for the audience to relate to them and learn about the topic through the presenter’s learning.
For example Richard Attenborough has a wealth of knowledge on wildlife whereas Louis Theroux usually learns about certain things during the process of his documentaries.
There’s a certain degree of interaction between the presenter and other people within a documentary. Presenters will often interview people with expertise on the focal topic of the documentary.
Dramatizations can be used to recreate factual events through a staged re-enactment to give an idea of how these events may have occurred roughly.
Documentaries tend to have a strong focus on realism so it’s important for documentary producers to be accurate with their information.
Most documentaries will have a level of narrativization applied to them. Based on the information uncovered and explored throughout the documentary some sort of conclusion will typically be made about the topic at hand.

5. 5 Modes of Documentary
Documentaries have 5 certain modes that use differing codes and conventions.
Expository – This mode of documentary will always feature a voiceover and its visuals are often used to illustrate the points made by the voice over and to support certain arguments. It’s main purpose is to persuade the audience to agree with a certain point of view.
Observational – In this mode of documentary a “fly on the wall” style is attempted. The fact that it is a documentary is ignored. There’s no reference to the film crew, no voice over and no interviews. Most of the footage is shot handheld in long takes to create a more natural everyday life look. The feature film documentary “Armadillo” used this style when the crew followed a Danish military squad in Iraq.
Interactive – Interactive documentaries will include a presenter who will also likely do a voice over throughout the programme. They act as a vessel for the audience to experience the story through. They’ll interact with people and ask questions that the audience are likely thinking.
Reflexive – Reflexive documentaries are less objective than most docs, as they rely a lot on fictional film techniques, often dramatizing events but with filmic lighting as well as music. It’s more interpretive than objective and focuses on providing the viewer with a subjective emotional experience. It will pose more questions to the audience rather than offer answers or solutions.
Performative – A performative documentary will focus on a specific person and explore their identity. They’ll acknowledge and interact with the crew and address the audience as well. However if that person cannot be present for some reason then people who know them well will tell the audience about their experiences with them to enlighten them about how they are as a person.
Link to Behind the Music: Jim Croce (Performative):

6. Comedy Shows
Factual TV comedy usually takes the format of a panel/ game show.
Mostly they all feature a main host with at least two other recurring comedians and new celebrity guest appearances every episode.
Each show will have some sort of a theme. For example “Mock the Week” has a focus on irreverently commenting on the most recent week’s current affairs, whereas “Nevermind the Buzzcocks” has a focus on general knowledge in popular music.
Most of the programme features contestants answering general questions on the show’s theme, but often these questions will be asked in different recurring sections of the show. For example one segment of the show might require the contestants to answer the questions through charades or by doing impersonations. This is used to keep the show from becoming repetitive or boring.
Panel shows are the most prevalent format in the factual comedy genre, but other styles of factual comedy exist. For example, “Whose Line is it Anyway” had more of a focus on improvisational comedy derided from certain scenarios often prompted by the audience.
Link to skit from “Whose Line is it Anyway?”:

7. Reality TV
Reality TV shows are perhaps the most mainstream and popular form of factual TV. This is probably because they cost relatively less than most other genres of TV and they’re not very intellectually challenging and are quite accessible to a general audience for casual viewing.
Most reality TV tends to focus on a cast of charismatic, quirky or over the top people, and almost all of them rely on creating drama usually between the regular cast.
For example VH1’s “Mob Wives” features a cast of intense and volatile women who have all married men who have been imprisoned for mafia involvement. They all have past relationships and disagreements with each other that lead to feuds and arguments in the show.
Reality shows tend to have a focus on a certain niche subject to attract a particular audience. An example of this is the History Channel’s “American Pickers”, which has a specific focus on finding rare and valuable American antiques and retro items.
Technical codes that are common in reality TV would include short talking head interviews commenting on the events of the episode, prevalent music for emotional manipulation especially during dramatic moments and reaction shots.
Unlike documentary where there’s a strong focus on realism, the producers of reality TV and its audience to a degree are aware that events are sensationalized for the purpose of entertainment.
Link to “American Pickers” clip:
I’m Rick Harrison, and this is my pawn shop. I work here with my old man and my son, Big Hoss. Everything in here has a story and a price. One thing I’ve learned after 21 years – you never know what’s gunna come through that door.

8. Sports
Sports programming is quite obviously focused on sports. This includes both the broadcasting and the discussion of sporting events.
For example if the ESPN network airs an NBA pro basketball game live along with the game itself it’s most likely that there will be commentary and a post-game analysis by a team of former basketball players, experts and analysts.
Audio commentary throughout and half-time analysis are included in the vast majority of sports programmes to provide different perspectives on the teams, their strategy and the sport in general.
Sometimes there will be short end game interviews with players and managers of both teams in order to gain an understanding of their thoughts and feelings on the games and how they might improve in the future.
Segments in which there will feature stock footage of past encounters between certain times are sometimes used to build a kind of expectation for what the following game might turn out like.
Link to ESPN post game analysis of Chicago Bulls Vs. Milwaukee Bucks pre-season:

9. Conclusion
In conclusion there are several variations and sub genres of factual TV, all with their own specific codes and conventions that apply to them each individually instead of applying to each and every genre universally.
Factual TV producers can use these different codes and conventions to their advantage to make their show feel more fitting within their genre.
Codes and conventions can serve as a guideline or template to keep TV producers on the right track, but it would also need to be said that it’s important for them not to overindulge in the conventional approach to their programmes to avoid having their show feel cliché.

10. The End