TASK 1A FINAL

Daisy Abeka

Task 1A final version

Ethical issues

Documentaries o factual programing are based on real life evens and actual people. They are made to inform the public and show their point of view on the subject. These issues must be taken serious into consideration or it can case an offence to the public. Ethical issues in documentaries is about taking responsibility, it is one of the key issues in documentary film making or news. Produces of factual programing should always take ethics into consideration because it is protecting the subject’s privacy wile intimately exposing their lives to the wold. It’s the filmmakers responsibility to take their method and transparent to the audience.

Reggie Yates in Texas Jail

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p03ymv61/ad/the-insider-1-reggie-yates-in-a-texan-jail

Accuracy

Accuracy is the quality of something being correct and precise. Factual programs have to be accurate, as they have to provide correct information to the audience to ensure that they are not misled. My chosen documentary is an interactive programme, as the producer interacts with the subjects. The filmmaker is most importantly the biggest part of the documentation. As Reggie Yates travels to Texas to delve deeper into the investigation of why Texas is known for its high increase of criminals, and how they are treated in their cells. As he spends a week living like a prisoner in the same conditions finding out what it is like being locked up and the impact being locked up in America’s criminal justice system. Accuracy was essential in this programme due to the personal information that was given to the producer about the depth of the inmate’s sentences. As Reggie Yates is a trusted factual programme the audience are expected to trust his sources. Reggie interviews police offers working in the field, and uses voice overs with the statistics this makes the program reliable and trust worthy to watch. Another reason why accuracy was important was due to the fact that the topic was dealing with crime and inmates who were suffering mental illness.  Meaning research would have taken place in order for the information given to be reliable.

Balance

Balance in factual programming is when something is kept equal on both sides. Factual programming they have to ensure there is a balance to their documentary a good example is, my chosen documentary provide both sides to the argument. Balance is also used to stop the programme from coming across as bias to the audience. An example of this is when Reggie Yates allows the audience to hear the story of the inmates. Instead of the audience judging he subject based on the fact that they are criminals in the justice system. This also allowed the audience to base their view on the discussion he was having with the subjects.

Impartiality

Impartiality means not being prejudiced towards or against any particular side, and to be fair and balanced, as well as also providing a breadth of view. Impartiality is important when it comes to the producing of a factual programme, this is to enable that the producers do not force their opinions on the audience as they could create controversy. This is also similar to balance as it comes under the same meaning for weighing an argument fairly. However, instead of the producer basing the subject on his own knowledge facts and statistics are shown, as the producer has conversations with the police officers and security guards in the prison. In a way the audience can see the views of the people working inside the justice system. As this is a sensitive subject the producer has to make sure he doesn’t allow his personal view to outweigh how he see’s things.

Objectivity

Objectivity is where you are not influence by your own personal views or opinions but instead consider other people opinions and beliefs being able to be open to multiple opinions without including any emotions of being prejudices. This was seen in my programme as the producer was able to relate to one of the inmates as he explains his childhood growing up, instantly allowing the audience to show he is not being biased towards the opinions of the inmates. The producer then proceeds to talking about the positive aspects of enjoying and having fun as a young child and how the excitement of youth can sometimes lead to getting yourself into trouble. The continuous interviews with the subject also show the presenter is being fair with the topic.

Subjectivity

Subjectivity is a decision or idea based on, an individual personals impressions feelings or opinions one person makes. The quality of existing in someone’s mind rather than the external world. However, this is usually avoided in factual programming as this can prevent the facts being used and may result in the programme to become slightly biased. In this programme the producer is careful to keep his opinions to himself when he is speaking to the warden about the treatments of the inmates who suffer from mental health. As the warden explains how the mental inmates are looked after differently to the other inmates in prison, this can come across as a sensitive issue to viewers at home. In order for the programme to not come across a subjective, Reggie allows the audience to judge their opinion on the subject through the conversation with the officer of the mental health warden.

Opinion

Opinion is a judgement that is based on your own views and emotions rather than actual facts or knowledge. An opinion can either be supported by an argument, but sometimes it can influence the opinion. In the making of this programme the producers personal opinion cannot be included within as it may have a negative influence on the audience. And the audience should be entitled to their own opinion. An example of this is inside ‘Texas prisons’ the producer does not display his opinion on the justice system towards any of the inmates as he sits down and speaks to them individually, this prevents the programme being prejudiced towards the topic.

Bias

In factual programming it is crucial producers prioritise the importance of stating different opinions views and facts focussing on both concepts. It can also come across as not showing evidence from both sides. Texas prison the producers are careful to not come across as Bias as they show both sides to the prison where the inmates stay and where the mentally ill inmates stay. This is fair and equal balancing both sides to the subject and showing the impact the justice system has on two different types of criminals. Another way the producer steer away from coming across as Bias is interviewing experts and important people who work in the justice system, meaning all the questions that the audience may have at home does not come across as biased.

Access

Access is having the freedom/permission to be able to use something. In factual programming anyone included needs to have given permission for them to be broadcasted. Access was crucial in the producing of this programme due to the fact the producer was going to have full access to a cell with inmates who have committed a crime. In order for the viewers to gain a deeper insight into the life of how the justice system works and the effects it has on people, the producer had to ensure he was able to access all areas to the prison and all the people working there in order for the subject to be produced in a fair way possible.

Contract with viewer

The contract with the viewer is an unwritten rule to the audience. This is to create a representation of not falsely promoting the product, report being bias free, representing everything calmly and rationally, ensuring each story entertains as well as informs accurately. An example of this is in Texas prisons they have a contract with their viewer to ensure they provide full and accurate information, allowing the audience to delve deeper into the understanding of the law in Texas. This is also what the audience will expect from a factual programme broadcasted on BBC.

Privacy

Is being able to keep something to you, everyone has the right to privacy as we only share as much as we would like to know. In factual programming people can remain private y the uses of blurring out faces or voices in order t keep the subject safe or comfortable if they requested. This was seen as the camera showed some mental health inmates in their prisons, blurred out the faces. This was used to hide their identity and it is also important in factual programming as it is key.

Representation

Representation is something that the media deal with an audience understanding and knowledge on a topic. Reggie Yates represents the inmates in a positive way when he interviews them and spends a week with them, showing the audience a side to a criminal they wouldn’t expect to see. In a way it’s also a documentation delving deeper into the American justice system, so the audience expect the unexpected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt_uvf9Xq3M

Accuracy

 Accuracy in news broadcast is to pursue the truth. With my chosen news programme accuracy is important in order for the information source to be precise and correct. As the programme talks about how some schools are going through special measures due to the threatening of an unexpected OFSTED inspection. Accuracy was crucial in this broadcast ensuring the correct names and facts and figures were stated, as they were showing images of the schools getting the correct names of the schools listed.

Balance

Balance in the news broadcast is essential, as the reporter allows the viewers at home to hear two sides to the subject. We see this from a recorded interview from one of the headmaster at the schools, and also footage from the head of education Michael Gove in the house of parliament. As well as the reporter reporting the information it does not come across as Bias as its news it allows the audience to see the weight to both sides of the subject.

Impartiality

Impartiality is for the news to be neutral and not take either side. This is also similar to balance and steer away from coming across as controversial. News night is for the audience to gain facts, and this is where impartiality comes in so the audience do not be pulled into an argument.

Objectivity

Objectivity is when you make a judgement based on what the audience have seen. It doesn’t include emotions or prejudice. The information presented in the news is important as the audience gain information and facts. This will also be based in the footages shown, statistics and interview with experts about the current situation with the school Ofsted inspections. My news programme uses objectivity as it is a factual it shares gathered news without being impartial, but giving the audience a chance to make up their own mind or opinion on the subject being discussed.

Subjectivity

Subjectivity is making a judgement based on personal feelings and opinions. It doesn’t depend on external facts, for an example footage you have seen or facts you have heard. Subjectivity is avoided in my news broadcast this is due to the fact that the broadcast may come across as controversial. The use of an interview with one of the headmasters of the schools, as he states his opinion on the subject enables the audience to judge their opinion.

Opinion

Opinions are judgements based don ones personal view, however opinions are not used in this news broadcast. Everything stated is based on facts and interviews with witness, the reported opinion cannot be used or it can be seen as impartial. Hence why the BBC news, also showed a  footage from the house of parliament to the audience can hear the political side to the subject.

Bias

Being bias is being on one side on the topic and showing prejudice against something or someone unfairly. Bias is also particularly supporting one side and tries to promote the audience to follow the side they are on. News night is not biased due to the following of the Ofcom rules. However, the audience will only witness a sense of bias when there are debates on a topic.

Access

Is having the freedom to e able to use something or someone. It is when the producer/reporter has given the permission to use or take something. In the news night the field reporter would have been given permission to e ale to record in the house of parliament, and visit the school to interview the headmaster. This enables the audience to gain more information about the subject without the viewers basing their opinion on the information given by the producer or reporter.

Representation

Is when something or someone is being portrayed in a certain way as the topic is dealing with a serious issue about education. The topic about the Ofsted visiting schools represents in a serious way, this is to ensure that the audience are getting the correct impression from the news as it is factual.

Privacy

Is keeping something to you without it being observed y other people. News constantly takes privacy into consideration as they sometimes interview eye witness of events; this is where they can hide the identity of the subject. This allows the subject to feel comfortable to explain what they want privately.

Contract with viewer

Is having an agreement with the audience representing something that the audience is expecting, for example the news night as it is a trusted factual programme, they have the contract with their audience to represent the news and information they have gathered to be balanced and trustworthy