Understanding Issues Related to Factual Programs for Television

Accuracy- It is important for the information in a documentary to be true and for the audience to
trust that the information presented will be correct. If the information in a documentary is found to
not be true then it can result in severe penalties for the producer such as not being hired again easily
and getting sued. An exception to this can be reality TV shows such as Love Island where the events
that take place on the show can be heavily staged and scripted.

This is important for programs that are based around giving the audience accurate information
because it is important for the audience to believe that the information they are being given is not
exaggerated or fictional. This is because if the information is not accurate the audience may decide
not to watch the documentary.

Balance- This us when the topic being discussed is researched and presented in such a way that the
audience can decide themselves and decide their own opinions about the documentary. If a
documentary shows one side of an argument with more favour or in a better light than another side
of an argument then the producer may develop a reputation for being bias and this can affect
audience numbers for the next report.

It is very important for programs based around current affairs show balance when dealing with
controversial topics.

Impartiality- This is where the documentary is presented so that it does not show any bias of one
side of the documentary or the other. This encourages the audience to form their own opinions from
the facts presented. This means that the program shows only the facts from of the subject and the
way the documentary is presented through the shots used and music played through the show.

Objectivity- This is where the documentary explores many different aspects to an issue with little or
no bias. It is presented in such a way that the audience is only being given the information of an
issue. The format and editing is done so that it avoids suggesting a certain bias to the audience. An
example of this is RTE news. This is because the news is presented to the audience and the opinions
and bias opinions from different people is kept to a minimal.
Representation- This is when a program is supposed to represent areas, groups, cultures etc. as they
actually are and not to exaggerate certain characteristics. This can be done by showing different
shots and by editing the program a certain way. When a group or area is represented wrongly it can
lead to reinforcing biases toward the group.

Subjectivity- This is when program represents the directors views on the subject. Because of this a
program with many subjective elements is heavily bias. This is allowed on documentaries where the
documentary can be based around sending a message to the viewers. Examples of this include The
Spirit of 45’ and Supersize Me.

For these programs this is not as important as the documentary maker may be trying to send a
message that cannot be told without expressing their opinion Some documentaries stand out
because of their subjectivity. When a documentary is subjective it means that it is heavily based
around the documentary maker’s opinion and view on the subject being discussed. Examples of this
include The Sprit of 45’ and Supersize Me.

Opinion- It is important in a documentary to show a range of different opinions to make sure that
the audience is able to form their own opinions on the subject. This is done by showing a range of
different opinions so that the audience is not deliberately pushed into having a pacific opinion. It is
also important to so a mix of different opinions so that the viewer does not feel that the
documentary favours one types of opinion over another.

Bias- Bias is when a prejudice is shown towards a group or idea. In a documentary bias can be very
common as the producer may want to put across their opinion to the audience. Bias should be
avoided because when it is shown in a documentary the audience may only end up knowing only
one side of the topic. It can also result in the documentary losing a large proportion of their potential
audience.

Bias is acceptable on documentaries however where there is more focus on the program to
entertain or deliver a message as well as provide information. This is very obvious on programs such
as Top Gear and Love Island where the editing and parts of the program where the program is more
focused on the drama and interaction between the different people taking part in the program.

Access-

Access is the ability of a person or group to be able to be heard in media by an audience. This can be
difficult if the person does not have the resources as well as the following to reach an audience. In
recent years websites such as YouTube have made it easier for a wider range of people to reach an
audience but access is still difficult for many people to develop a significant following or the
resources to get their voice heard.

Privacy- This is the rules that decide what information about other people can be presented and
what information and boundaries are off limits to producers. People who violate laws related to
privacy while trying to gather material for a project can be subject to legal action and are open to
large risks as a result. An example of privacy being violated was on a currant affairs program called
Prime Time where the people on the show accused a parish priest of statutory rape. Although the
priest was eventually proved innocent, the accusation caused permanent damage to the priests
reputation.

Privacy is less strict when the subject is of interest to the public. When this happens the names and
background can be released to the public depending on the severity of the case. These
circumstances are things like court cases.

Contract With Viewer- This is an unwritten agreement between the documentary maker and the
audience. The contract with the viewer is the expectation from the audience that the material that
they are being presented from the audience is fact and that the reality depicted in the documentary
is an accurate representation of real life.