Textbook Chapter

Factual programming involves a range of issues that need to be considered and

thought about when making factual programmes. These, when used correctly
allow a factual programme to be effective.

Accuracy – accuracy can be described as a faithful representation of the truth,

because of this accuracy is one of the most important parts in factual production.
Before any programme is broadcasted it must be accurate otherwise it will run
the risk of being rejected. When producing any form of media that will inform
and/or educate people you must ensure the facts and statistics are correct.
Programmes such as the news are heavily relied on for accuracy as viewer want
to know the truth.

Balance – this is when both sides of a story are discussed and are evenly put
across, this keeps factual programming fair. Every story has two sides to it much
like a coin, therefore when telling one side of a story within a factual programme
keeping the balance is crucial. It is extremely important that you ensure both
sides of an argument are shown in a factual programme as this will prevent a
certain side or opinion becoming glorified to a viewer, which can result in the
consumer becoming biased. Therefore, the consumer will become bias and make
them think they have been told everything when in truth they have only heard one
side of the story. If the consumer has developed a biased opinion, then it should
be when they have been given all the information and then make their own
decision. Factual programmes such as the news have a sole purpose to provide
information for the general public based on statistics and facts, this means that if
made unbalanced then it goes against the overall purpose.

Impartiality – this is when both sides and opinions are taken into consideration
and viewed equally, this means you do not take sides or have any personal
judgment at all. To keep and impartial judgement, there must be a relevant
argument which is presented in such a way it does not appear biased. An example
of a topic that was crucial to stay impartial was Brexit, this topic took over
2018/19. Everyone had different opinions on if the UK would leave or remain part
of the EU when this was reported on the news such as UTV it was crucial for
them to stay impartial. This is because UTV is run by the people as they pay for it
with TV licences, therefore they do not want to hear biased opinions and
unbalanced reports. If UTV was to provide their audience with unbalanced
reports, it would cause an uproar and make consumers loose trust.
Objectivity – this is a lack of bias, prejudice and judgement and means it is not
on either side of the argument. Objectivity is the ability to analyse and accept
facts and then make a sensible decision from the discoveries you have made
through the research. Examples of factual programmes which are usually
objective are things like the news, programmes like this should always objective
and balance when delivering information to the audience.

Subjectivity – this is the polar opposite of objectivity and is describes as a

decision or understanding based on a particular person’s opinion or life
experiences rather than the external facts. This is used as an explanation for
what influences and informs peoples judgement about truth or reality. This is
rarely used in factual programmes such as the news but will be more commonly
found in programmes such as a League Of Their Own as it is likely to have people
airing their opinions and feelings towards a topic.

Opinion – this is judgement formed on personal views and opinions, these are
not necessarily based at all on fact. These are usually collected as a vox pox, as
this allows us what the general public/consumers think and how they feel about
certain topics. Most topics and situations factual programmes usually use more
than one opinion, ensuring that they stay balanced if possible and when shown on
channels like the UTV that they also try to remain fair.

Bias – this means one-sided, lacking a neutral viewpoint, not having an open
mind and is often accompanied with the refusal of seeing the bigger picture and
accepting more than one viewpoint. Factual programmes should avoid bias at all
costs as they aim 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. It is not the programmes place to side with one side of
an argument.

Representation – this is stereotyping or portrayal of someone or something

that is shown in a particular way by the media. Representation can either be
accurate and truthful, or stereotypical and biased. In few cases the media can
portray someone/something as a positive and truthful following fact. Although
items of media such as newspapers and commercial news corporations
sometimes represent people negatively, basing the views on judgements, which
can cause consumer to develop biased opinions.

Privacy – this is the ability for someone to seclude themselves, or information

about themselves. It is being free from the attention of the public, usually when
someone does not want to be bothered. Everyone is entitled to privacy, therefore
if someone does not want to be filmed or written about then they have the power
to ensure that it does not happen. Within some cases legal action can take place
against people within the media who do not respect privacy by ignoring it and
proceeding without the permissions needed.