Understanding issues relating to factual programming for television essay

In this I shall attempt to understand issues relating to factual programming for television. To do this I shall firstly offer a definition of factual programming, then some of the genres involved. Then, I shall analyse up to three different types of factual programmes and consider issues surrounding them. It is hoped that this will further my understanding of factual programming.

The various issues relating to factual programming which may include accuracy, balance, impartiality, objectivity or subjectivity, opinion, representation, access, privacy and contract with the viewer.

 Accuracy is important in a factual programme as it enables the audience to have trust and believe that what you are producing is the truth this allows you to keep as well as please the audience as they prefer having to read or watch something with straight up facts than something that may or may not be true. Balance in a factual programme means that you are able to keep the programme fair to both sides of the topic discussed as there are always two sides of a story meaning the information should be fair and equally correct. It is important to make sure that both sides are kept balanced on views and investigation. Impartiality means to view both sides and opinions equally meaning that you cannot take sides as well as make your own personal judgement, in order to do this you must gather relevant arguments and present them in a way where they don’t seem biased. Objectivity is being able to see the whole truth using facts and evidence while being able to be fair meaning that you must be able to show fair views from both sides of an argument. Subjectivity is avoided during factual programmes as it can prevent facts from being used and may result in the programme being slightly biased towards any views. Opinion is when the producer decides to get people’s opinions in order to show the viewer what member of the public may think is important so that they can choose a wide variety of people. Bias is important in a factual programme as it needs to have different opinions, views and facts and focuses on both concepts, it is important that the programme sticks to the correct information and not make statements that support one side of the argument.

Factual programmes is a genre of non-fiction programming that enables you to document actual events and people, they are also known as documentaries, Factual programmes represent one of the largest sectors of both television and radio production. The two programmes I will be analysing are Biggie & Tupac and supersize me. In the biggie & Tupac programme there are some elements of accuracy when the members of both Biggie and Tupac’s family were speaking about their characteristics and describing previous events that may have happened before both murders, the audience may have believed this due to the    fact that they knew what was happening on the inside compared to members of the public. Where as in supersize me there was more accuracy due to the fact that what was being said and shown was true as it was mostly common sense that if you do not diet well then there will be health risks as well as that there were facts being provided from scientists and doctors that make the audience seem as if they are correct, however the presenter sometimes may have exaggerated things in order to make it seem bad which made him biased towards fast food. There doesn’t seem to be much balance in biggie and Tupac as most of what is being said were opinions and theories rather than straight up facts as well as the fact that they mostly spoke good about biggie than they did of Tupac initiating that Tupac was more into the gangster world and somehow may have been killed due to what he was involved in where as when speaking about biggie they showed his mother and family speaking well about him and is music. In supersize me there was more balance as there were facts as well as opinions that the presenter may have given this was useful as the programme remained neutral.

 There was objectivity used in biggie and Tupac when giving out facts and some evidence that the police may have shown however that evidence did not help catch and finalise who the actual killer was for both of the cases. In the programme supersize me there was also use of objectivity where the producer showed statistics and evidence that proved eating fast food is unhealthy even though some of the facts are may not be enjoyable or make you feel good they are still the truth.  There is more bias shown on biggie and Tupac as the evidence and facts given were not 100% as well as the fact that they arrested people for the killings but were not entirely sure that they had the right person. However in supersize me they use facts and statistics on how unhealthy fast food can be these are the facts that make up the show, but they only end up focusing on just how unhealthy food is and neglecting some benefits it may have. Biggie and Tupac was seen to represent more of the hip hop music aspect where they spoke about their work changed music now and how much hip hop and gangs had changed, where as in supersize me they represented McDonalds and other fast food services more as they were trying to exploit the companies for selling food that causes health issues. In supersize me there was unlimited access and less privacy even during appointments and access to scientists and doctors as they were trying to warn people of the risks, however in biggie and Tupac there was limited access and more privacy as the investigation at the time was still going on, there was a scene where the presenter walked into a barber and got laughed at and when he started to ask questions about the cases no one spoke and instead started mimicking and laughing and him this could be because people were afraid to speak and the fact that they found it astonishing that a middle class white man was asking questions where as if it was a black man they would have given him more access.