Understand issues relating to factual programming for television

Understand issues relating to factual programming for television

Issues: accuracy; balance; impartiality; objectivity; subjectivity; opinion; bias; representation; access; privacy; contract with viewer

Task 1: Provide examples of programs that need to consider these issues:

Accuracy- This means the program has accuracy to the information they are providing which is relevant to the subject. News in whatever form, must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due partiality. This has been stated in Ofcom code 5.1 as accuracy is a key issue, if any significant mistakes in news should be normally be acknowledged and corrected on air quickly. Corrections should be appropriately scheduled. The BBC says they are committed to achieve due accuracy. This commitment is fundamental to our reputation and the trust of audiences, which is the foundation of the BBC. Accuracy is not just getting the facts straight it’s about getting relevant opinions across. After all this the truth can be unfolded. When handling facts the BBC gathers material using first hand sources whenever possible; they check and cross check facts; validate the authority of documentary evidence and digital material and corroborate claims and allegations made by contributors where ever possible. Accuracy is more important to the BBC then speed. Channel 4 double check all the information received. If any translation has to take place only professional and impartial translators must be used. These rules are mostly repeated it just depends on the cannel or production making factual programs as all the rules are set by Ofcom. Accuracy is imperative in programs like BBC news or BBC breakfast. These programs are live and they can discuss some really controversial or sensitive topics like war, in these situations they have to protect peoples dignity by not disclosing names of fallen. For example in Bowling for Columbine accuracy is an issues as he uses accurate information but he puts them in an order which discriminates someone and he uses language like ‘’It is believed’’ to make things seem factual as most people do not notice this. Michael Moore uses lots of library/source footage but he has selected footage which supports his views which create false connections in the viewer’s minds. This is an issue as the program is supposed to be factual but he gets the facts and uses them to sway the audiences mind as everything is a fact but it is put in such an order that it is false. Another example of poor accuracy is Jeremy Kyle, a factual program but the ‘facts’ are not true all the time. He listens to both sides but Jeremy does not get enough evidence to support anything said on the show, the only support are a few or just one witness. This show does not need accuracy as it is made for entertainment purposes and the core of the argument sometimes in never reached or resolved. The only truthful part of the show is the lie detector or the DNA tests. This is a problem as the program is supposed to be factual.

Objectivity/Impartiality/Balance- These three points have mainly the same meaning which is that both ends of an argument are shown and the reporters do not interfere with their own opinion. Balance is that both sides have to be viewed equally and the reporter stays neutral, objectivity means that the reporter must not take sides and must use facts and evidence to support both sides and impartiality is the mixture of both saying the reporter must report both sides must stay neutral and must use facts and evidence for both sides. Ofcom states in code 5.4 program in the services must exclude all expressions of the views and opinions of the person providing the service on matters of political and industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy. Views and opinions relating to the provision of program service are also excluded from this requirement. 5.5 Due impartiality on matters of political and industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy must be preserved on the part of any person providing a service. This may be achieved within a programme or over a series of program taken as whole. The BBC says impartiality lies at the heart of the public service and is the core of the BBC’s commitment to the audience. It applies to all of their outputs- TV, radio, online, and in their international services. Channel 4 is a program which deals with matter of controversy e.g. significant legislation currently passing through parliament, Channel 4 must ensure that justice is done to a full range of significant views and perspectives. This is key to channel 4 as they are truthful with their audience.  For example Loose Women is a show where women talk about facts in their lives or in the world. However they massively discuss each other’s opinions. This convinces the audience to take sides and that is the issue of this program. Another example of bad impartiality/prejudice is COPS. This is an American show where a camera crew follow police and record the arrests and situations they get in. this program shows what the criminals did, sometimes how they did it what their punishment is and they ask the criminals a few questions which might not be answered. This show does not show or say why they are doing this, it is not showing the other side of the story which could be very dramatic.

Subjectivity/Bias- This is when a presenter gives their opinion or judgment usually avoiding factual programming. The presenter might try to convince the audience of their opinion for entertainment purposes or they are passionate about their views. Channel 4 states in their guidelines for factual programming, that all footage should be edited fairly. However they state that bias can accrue only if a significant number of viewers are highly interested in the subject. For example Loose Women is a show where women discuss factual topic for entertainment purposes constantly giving their own opinion and trying to convince other contestants and the audience to their side. This is an issue as the viewers are uninfluenced by the commentators in a major way making the viewer take sides.

Representation- This is how people, places or events are depicted on screen. These could involve stereotypes which can be presented through mise-en-scene, camera, sound, and editing. Ofcom states that representation of people should be in their true nature as misrepresentation portraying them as stereotypes leads to great offence for the viewer’s so programs should not do this. Channel 4 believes that factual programs should represent people in their true nature. Producers should not obtain or seek information, audio, pictures or an agreement to contribute through misconception or deception. Any use of deception must be approved in advance by their commissioning editor and lawyer and permission will only be given where such use is justified by the public interest and is proportionate to the public interest. For example VICE is a factual YouTube channel which does has not appeared on TV to my knowledge but they have a magazine. In a documentary about Russia’s hardest drug they interview addicts who are in an abandoned house (at least looks abandoned due to the amount of rubbish around the flat and the lack of windows) making their addiction look really bad. However that is where they lived and they are portraying exactly how much this drug affects people. Another example being Bowling for Columbine where Michael Moore interviews these patriotic people who believe everyone should have a gun and they are protecting themselves and their loved ones. It sounds like a good cause but he chooses to interview them in an environment which makes them seem very animal like as they are in a tent all dressed in camouflaged army gear even though they are not in the army. In this shot you can also see a little child around the age of 3 or 4 who is in a nappy and dirty walking around. This makes them seem animal like. This is an issue as he tries to convince people of his views in this documentary which are that guns are not the solution and they make things worse.

Access and Privacy- Permission must be obtained to film as the invasion of privacy is not wanted or needed. Ofcom involve a number of different legislation'sins in particular, sections 3(2)(f) and 326 of the Communications Act 2003, sections 107(1) and 130 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 (as amended), and Articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These legislation stand for the rights of the ones who are being filmed, they can always deny the broadcaster to use their face in the program. Obviously you cannot just start filming people without them knowing and use the footage to be put on TV. The BBC respects privacy and does not infringe it without good reason, wherever in the world it is operating.  The Human Rights Act 1998 gives protection to the privacy of individuals, and private information about them, but balances that with a broadcaster's right to freedom of expression.  In regulation, the Ofcom Broadcasting Code states "Any infringement of privacy in program, or in connection with obtaining material included in programs, must be warranted." Channel 4 produces of factual programs are required to comply with the law, the code and the handbook and in doing so they must at all times comply in full with advice given by the lawyer. This ensures that the program is providing the best available legal and regulatory deference. For example BBC news have to get written permission from an individual to be able to use their face in the news or any sort of factual programming. If they do not get a signed permission or just film someone without them knowing the producers and perhaps the channel can be sued for hundreds of thousands of pounds or even million if the footage is used.

Contact with the viewer-Interactivity according to Ofcom is a functionality rather than a specific type of service, and it can be applied in a wide variety of context. It distinguished the ability of viewers to interact with TV programs by two methods;

·         By changing the content which appears on screen

·         By providing information to the broadcaster

 The BBC says that interactivity allows their audiences to engage with them in many different ways; from voting for a contestant who could win, taking part in viewer, listener or online competitions, raising money for charity etc. Interactivity provides choices and gives opportunities to be heard, to participate and to create content. They aim to offer it to everyone by using different platforms in different ways, but they will not exclude viewers and listeners who chose not to interact as trust is the BBC’s most important value. At channel 4 they believe that knowing more about their viewers will help hem give us more of a programming and services we love. They collect all the information or feedback from the viewers and collectively decide on what should be implemented by the best ideas or the most popular giving the audience what they want to see in their favorite programs if possible. For example X-Factor is one of the programs which allow full interaction with the audience as they decide who wins at the end with the most votes. This is great interaction as the audience is dictating what major changes happen on the show like who wins in the final changing that individual’s life.