Understanding issues in factual tv programmes

In this report I will be discussing the issues within factual TV

programmes, the issues being things such as: accuracy, balance,
impartiality, objectivity, subjectivity, representation, opinion and
bias. I watched a selection of TV programmes such as: Benefits
Street, Question Time, News Night, Johns Not Mad, Louis Theroux
and Panorama. These programmes include some of the issues that I
will now discuss.
The first issue is accuracy. Accuracy is being factual or truthful about
a subject. An example of this is a documentary called Johns Not
Mad. Johns not mad is a BBC documentary from 1989 which
shadows a 15 year old boy with Tourettes. This gives examples of
accuracy as in the show experts are used to give facts about the
illness. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist, offers observations on aspects of
John's behavior. Another way accuracy is used is by interviewing his
mother. This is accuracy as it truthful as its coming from someone
who has been with John through his whole life so far and struggled
with the illness with him, using his mum is good as it will make the
audience believe what is being said more.
The second issue is balance. Balance is having a balanced opinion
on a subject. 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 shown to a viewer, making them
believe what theyre told without knowing all the facts from both
sides.
The third issue is impartiality. Impartiality is weighing both views
equally, taking no side. An example of this is Question Time.
Question Time is a topical debate television programme aired on
BBC. The show typically features politicians from at least the three
major political parties as well as other public figures who answer
pre-selected questions put to them by an audience selected on the
basis of its political views and demographic. In this the host David
Dimbleby, is impartial as he stands and listens to both sides without
taking any side of the debate. This is important as if the host was to
take a side it would then become unequal.
The next issue is objectivity. Objectivity is unbiased opinion based
on facts. An example of this is the Newnight episode which was
based on Benefits street. Newsnight is a weekday BBC Television
current affairs programme which specialises in analysis and often

robust cross-examination of senior politicians. In this episode

Channel 4 Head of Factual Programmes Ralph Lee debates the
merits of the controversial documentary series 'Benefits Street' with
'Chavs' author Owen Jones and Spectator editor Fraser Nelson. This
is objectivity as Ralph challenges both sides of the debate with facts
but she is not biased as she doesnt choose a side and remains
objective. She gives facts from the show to back up her questions
but without siding to any side of the debate.
Another issue is subjectivity. Subjectivity is opinions that arent
based on facts. Factual TV programmes are usually based on facts
so 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. Some
presenters may use it to help manipulate an audience into
seconding their opinion. It is okay to state your opinion on a debate
but its important you mention its your opinion and that your
opinion isnt necessarily the opinion of anyone else, this will prevent
the viewers from thinking you will be biased towards your beliefs.
The next issue is representation. Representation is the action of
speaking or acting on behalf of someone else. An example of this is
the episode of Panorama- Inside North Korea. Panorama is a BBC
Television current affairs documentary programme. First broadcast
in 1953, it is the world's longest-running current affairs television
programme. The BBC reporter Rupert Wingfield-Hayes investigates
the apparent upturn in the North Korean economy and asks if the
signs of improvement in the capital Pyongyang are real. This is a
good example as in this episode we never actually get to view the
leader, Kim Jong Un. Everything that is said to Rupert is just simply
passed on from the leader to the people working for him which is
then spoken to Rupert and the team. We have no idea what is true
or not as we are hearing it second person and not from Kim Jon Un
himself.
The second to last issue is opinion. Opinion is a view or judgement
formed about something not based on facts. An example of this is
Louis Theroux The Most Hated Family In America. The Most Hated
Family in America is a 2007 BBC documentary film written and
presented by Louis Theroux about the family at the core of
the Westboro Baptist Church. The organization was led by Fred
Phelps and located in Topeka, Kansas. In this we are shown opinions
from both side, which are very different. Firstly, we are shown all of
the families opinions and all the things they do on a normal day
which some people would be very opinionated about, which at the
end Louis comes clean with what he thinks. This isnt based on facts
because itss simply just what Louis thinks and believes himself
which he shares with the family who also have different views.

The last issue is biased. Biased is unfairly prejudiced for or against

someone or something. An example of this is Benefits street.
Benefits Street is a British documentary series broadcast on Channel
4. The show was filmed by documenting the lives of several
residents of James Turner Street, Birmingham. It shows benefits
claimants committing crimes and lack the motivation to seek
employment. In this programme we are shown all bad things about
the people living on the street. We are shown how they are all
unemployed and arent trying to make a living.