Understanding Factual Programme Production Techniques for Television

1 Understand issues relating to factual programming for television

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

Produce a short Guidance Manual on the issues facing producers of factual

programming and the impact this can have on their work. (750-1000 words)

Accuracy - Accuracy is vital for any reputation as a news provider. You have to
ensure the audience has trust in your stories, if you consistently make mistakes
and provide wrong information your audience’s patience will eventually wear thin
and their interest and trust will be abolished. This emphasises how essential it is
to check all of your information before including it in your piece as you have a
responsibility to your audience not to mislead them. Another necessity is to ensure
that if you receive a report from someone you quote them correctly and interpret
what they have said in the correct context.

Balance - Balance means to keep a factual TV programme fair to both sides of

the topic it’s discussing, there are always two sides to a story and the information
told to the viewers should be correct, fair and equal. It is important to keep a
balance on views and investigate to find information for both sides of the story.
Ensuring that both sides of an argument are shown in a factual TV programme is
vital as it prevents a certain opinion being glorified to a viewer, making them
believe what they’re told without knowing all the facts from both sides. If your
show isn’t
balanced and doesn’t show all relevant facts of each side of an argument a lot of
viewers won’t bother watching anymore of your shows as they feel your
judgement came into your research process forcing you to become biased and
unfair. The sole purpose of factual programmes (news) is to deliver
information based on facts and statistics. Therefore, making the unbalanced,
goes against the overall purpose.

Impartiality - Impartiality is when both sides and opinions are viewed equally,
to not take sides or make your own personal judgement. To ensure an impartial
judgement, there has to be a relevant argument which is presented properly so
that it doesn’t appear to be biased

Objectivity - Objectivity is to see the whole truth, using evidence and facts and
to be fair about it. This means that the reporter or presenter has to show fair
views from both sides of an argument, so they don’t appear to be biased; this
also allows them to have different ideas and explore different opinions. To
achieve objectivity firstly you have to be able to stall your judgement whilst
looking at all of the facts.

Subjectivity - Subjectivity is usually avoided during factual TV programming as

this can prevent the facts being used and may result in the programme being
slightly biased towards your views, however some presenters may use it to help
manipulate an audience into seconding their opinion. It is acceptable to state
your opinion on a discussion but it’s vital you mention it’s your opinion and that
your opinion isn’t necessarily the opinion of anyone else, this will prevent the
viewers from thinking you will be biased towards your beliefs.

Opinion - When the producer wants to use opinions to help show the viewers
what members of the public think it is important they choose a wide variety of
people (different ages and race) to ensure that the answers and opinions they
get will be as widespread and as different as possible. It is vital to keep a
balance when it comes to keeping an argument fair because if you show too
many opinions stating they agree with an argument it will make the show seem
biased towards that, which is something you try to prevent if you wish to keep a
discussion fair. Presenters shouldn’t mention their opinion as it can make
viewers believe they’re being biased.

Bias - It is not a factual programmes place to side with one side of an

argument if there is one without balancing all the evidence and opinions, before
showing to the consumers. Biased means one-sided, lacking a neutral viewpoint
and not having an open mind. Factual programmes should avoid including bias,
as a factual programme the aim is to provide and deliver enough evidential
information to the consumers that allows them to justifiable make their own
decisions and opinions about things if they wish.

Representation - Factual TV programmes should not stereotype as it’s unfair

and often wrong, which isn’t what you aim for in a factual programme.
Representation means how something is constantly portrayed or the stereotype
of a certain thing. You have to be careful not to stereotype anything during a
factual programme as this can lead to some information being wrong.

Access - Making sure everyone has the chance to represent themselves and
their beliefs/ religion etc. To begin making your documentary and filming where
necessary you need to firstly obtain permission. If permission is not obtained
lawsuits can be filed and your programme won’t be complete. You’d also need to
make sure you have access to the correct resources that will supply you with
vital information.

Privacy - Privacy is an issue in factual TV programming because everyone has a

right to be in a state of being free from the public attention, however the media
have a right to a freedom of expression and often argue that they should be able
to produce anything they believe is in the public’s best interest.

Contract with viewer - Contract with Viewer is an unwritten rule between a

media producer and their audience. This rule is basically a promise that the
show they have described will be the show that they watch.