Audience Research: Interview Questions

Audience Research: Interview Questions

1.       What is it you like to see in a documentary i.e. on screen narrator or off screen or lots of cuts of the location that is centre of the programme?

2.     What is it you hate with a documentary? I.e. are there any conventions you hate or wish to change?

3.    Do you often watch a documentary?
 

4.   What subject do you most enjoy watching a documentary about i.e. sport/ current affairs/ celebrity?

5.    Are you often interested in public perceptions of these matters, do you really want to see these being interviewed on the street?  

From asking these questions this has enabled me to explore all the different aspects on what are my target audience likes and dislikes about documentaries as well as any dislikes about documentaries ensuring I keep away from including these in my documentary. I also asked how often people watch documentaries therefore can give me a knowledgable understanding of how often and demandign these media texts are.

 

 

Regulation Research: Ofcom

Regulation Research: Ofcom

Ofcom is required under the communications Act 2003 and the broadcasting Act 1996 in order to draw up a code (guidelines) for televisions and radio. Some examples from this covers the standards in programmes as well as fairness and privacy. This is known as the Ofcom broadcasting code.

Where a television programme or radio has breached the Ofcom code, Ofcom would normally publish whatever there findings of any programme or radio breaching the code and formally stating why a broadcasting breached the code. If the code was to be breached deliberately, seriously or repeatedly, Ofcom may impose statutory sanctions against the broadcaster.

When applying the code to content, broadcasters should be aware that the context that appears in their programmes is highly important. With Ofcom setting a guideline which I will explain further, Ofcom has taken into account the following:

• The likely size and composition of the potential audience for programmes in television and radio.
• The likelihood of persons who are unaware of the nature of a programmes content being unintentionally exposed by their own actions to that content.

The code does not address each and every case. Broadcasters face a number of individual situations and the code sets more of a clear overview of the guidelines therefore making it easier for broadcasters to make a necessary judgement.

The rules regarding under eighteens are put in place in order to ensure people under eighteens are protected.

Content and material that might seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of people under eighteen must not be broadcast.

Children must also be protected by appropriate scheduling from material that may not be suitable for them. The nature of the content, the likely number and age of children who may be viewing as well as taking into account school, time, weekends and holidays when it comes to judging appropriate scheduling.

Television broadcasters must observe the watershed, although this does not apply to radio. Currently, the watershed is at 2100. Material unsuitable for children should not be shown before 2100 or after 0530.

Although Radio broadcasters do not have to consider the watershed, they must have particular regard to times when children are particularly likely to be listening.

Violence and crime must not be featured in programmes primarily for children unless there is strong additional justification. Strong language and sexual content can not be shown before watershed and drugs, smoking and alcohol must not be included in programmes primarily aimed at children and must not be glamorised in programmes before the watershed.

Broadcasters should be careful not to provide clues which may lead to the identification of those who are not yet adults and who are maybe involved in being a victim, witness, defendant or other perpetrator in the case of sexual offences featured in criminal, civil or family count proceedings.

What I have learnt through carrying out this research is the basic guidelines of what broadcasters are allowed and are not allowed to include in both radio and television programmes as well as learning what the rules are regarding the employment of under 18's within these programmes as well as these programmes being shown to this age group.

Textual analysis

As part of my research into documentaries, I have produced a textual analysis using stills of a documentary made by BBC Panorama.

This first still shows a regular on screen presenter talking about what topic this programme is going to based on. This is usually the same bases with many other documentaries broadcast as well as including the channels logo it is to be shown on or filmed by. This can usually be shown on set of where ever the main location is going to be the "highlight" of the documentary or can be set against a background of any sort as long as its clear by having onscreen or third person narration what the documentary is going to be about, this is because the audience would have no clue by seeing the setting to give it away.

Mise en Scene in this shot is a close-up of the presenter shot in front of a lite up building. The reason why I believe this to be used is because this is a well known documentary called 'Panorma' and as we would later see as the camera slowly zooms off of close-up to more of a long shot, we then see the 'Panorma' logo on the building which gives a great significance that the building is of Panorama and this is where all the investigations take place. Therefore, this is to create the sense of the presenter being at home and then going away to investigate the chosen topic the documentary is to be about.

Once there has been an intro given by narration, this is usually followed by 10 seconds of fast cuts of whats to be featured in the programme. This can be cuts of the location, interviews and customer opinions. Already, by this point the viewer will feel as if they would be interested in watching the documentary or would rather not. Therefore this is crucial in keeping viewers interested so that they don't turn over the channel rather than watching the documentary.

Mise en Scene in this shot is an aircraft that belongs to 'Ryan Air' which has been shot using medium- close-up of being in mid-air. I believe the reason why this has been used is so the audience is clear on what is happening and what the topic is, in this case of an airline and views this cut aways now and again and a reminder of what the programme is about.

This is also a still taken from the fast cut introduction. This is a still of a person who this documentary is based around. These stills have been taken from BBC Panorama which is all about Ryan Air. Therefore, in this case the reason why we see the man above is because he is the owner of the airline.

Here, in this shot we see the owner of the airline and is shot walking holding documents which is creative in a sense of media as this shows someone with importance. This is to clearly indicate this person is important and with a man behind him as well as the man in front are both wearing smart clothing which also indicates the sense of importance.

 

Once the programmes introduction has been shown, there is then a title sequence or short cut of the programmes title. This is usually used to advertise the programmes name.

The logo is creative as it is a sphere shape which represents the earth with multiple windows of images which indicates this is a programme which investigates all means and information all over the world.

 

 

We then cut back to the on screen presenter or in some cases third person narration heard over the top of shots shown. In most documentaries we see an onscreen presenter with them narrating throughout the programme as well. Again, this is the programme being introduced in more detail.

Again, mise en scene is of the brightly lite building with dark flooring but the presenter appears to be lite by a spotlight which brings importance to the presenter and shows the presenter is the key importance to this shot.

 

 

This is a shot of the location being talked about or "featured" in the programme. I believe this is critical for a documentary to show this as otherwise the audience are going to have no clue what is being explained to them as well as what they are relating to.

Mise en scene in this shot appears to be of an airport as of a close up of a pop-up poster of a Ryan air craft advertising the destinations of which it flies to. In the distance behind this it shows inside the airport as we see the check in desks with passengers wishing to check in. This again in a cut away which has the job of reminding us again the key topic of this documentary, so that the audience don't lose focus on what the documentary is about.

 

As well as many other documentaries, 90% of the time a documentary includes an interview of some kind. This can be spoken over the top of a cut away or on screen. This includes titles showing the name and sometimes who they are.

Mise en scene is of a man which has his name edited on top of the shot, which appears to be shot in a garden with the garden shed which indicates this to me. However, the reason why I believe this to have been used is to show this person as being an outsider away from the main focus of the documentary. This can often be used in a documentary

 

 

This links with above, as well as including an interview on screen customers/ public opinions have been shown on screen using text. I believe this keeps a documentary interesting as it is not following the same old conventions as many other documentaries which is using on screen interviews and using something initiative and different.

Mise en scene is of a deep blurred background which appears to be the location of where the documentary is focusing on. This keeps this shot of customer opinions interesting and keeps it linked to the subject of the documentary without causing the audience to lose focus and show this is still part of the topical discussion. To me this also gives the sense of an outsiders opinion, this being shown in a way of someone who is not related to this location has commented in a negative way as we do not see an on screen appearances of anyone who has made these comments.

 

 

 

Once the main bases of the programme is over we then cut back to the programmes regular on screen presenter. This is so the same method that is used at the beginning of the programme as an introduction but as an overview and to conclude the documentary.

Again we see the building behind the presenter which again brings the sense of being the High Quarters with the presenter again highlighted by a spotlight which shows the viewers the focus of this shot is on the presenter talking.

 

 

Finally, at the end of most documentaries it is followed by credits which lists all the people who have been involved with the programme and any locations and extras used.