Codes and Conventions of factual programmingByChris Lowman

IntroductionIn this PowerPoint I will be talking about the codes and conventions of factual programming and how they inform and determine the audience responses. Ill be looking at news reports and factual programme documentaries.

What are codes and conventions?

There are lots of different codes and conventions in factual programming and the ones I'm looking at represent the typical signs and events that we generally see in any type of factual programme whether this is TV documentaries or TV news. These are often things which are planned and we often don’t realize that they are there. This may be the main presenter on the news or the fact that every documentary will have shown basic evidence such as statistics that are not really noticed whilst we watch but are there to prove the factual base of the story.

The 5 modes of codes and convention

Observational- Googlebox is one example of the observational mode.Expository- This mode of documentary is more pleasing on the eye for the audience, it doesn’t follow conventions of most documentaries.Interactive- This is when the audience of the documentary have a say in what happens.Reflexive- Reflexive documentaries reflect on real life. David Attenborough has Reflexive documentaries.Per Formative- Acknowledges the emotional and subjective aspects of documentary and presents ideas having different meanings for different people.

ObservationalGooglebox is one example of the observational mode. Documentary makers who use observational follow people around to observe the events that happen in that persons life. Equipment can be informal, such as the use of hand-held cameras. Usually no interviews are included and there is no voice over. Long takes are used and synchronous sound joined together.

ExpositoryThis mode of documentary is more pleasing on the eye for the audience, it doesn’t follow conventions of most documentaries. It is a classic form of documentary. They are also known for having a commentator. This is the most commonly used form that uses a “voice of god” narration to shape the message of the documentary. The unseen narrators words take on power and authority which is amplified by the style of delivery and tone used.

InteractiveIt is a documentary production that differs from the more traditional forms- video, audio, photographs. This is when the audience of the documentary have a say in what happens.

ReflexiveReflexive documentaries reflect on real life. David Attenborough has Reflexive documentaries. It makes the audience more aware of the problems the documentary makers face while making their films. The style if documentary is involved with experimental documentaries, where the viewer is interested about how the film is constructed as they are the actual content.

Per formativeIt is a documentary that acknowledges the emotional and subjective aspects of documentary and presents ideas having different meanings for different people.

Codes and conventions of a News Room

Studio News ReporterField reportersLinks to studioModes of address to viewInterviewingExperts and witnesses report structureActual footage