Issues in Factual

Television
Lewis Knight

Legal and Ethical

Considerations

Filming In Public

When filming in public potential legal and ethical issues

should be considered.
In terms of legal issues, when filming on public roads then
the local police should be contacted and deem the plans
safe before filming it. Approval is also required if you intend
to film on public land the local authorities and/or council
should be contacted. Also forms may need to be signed by
anybody that is in any footage to ensure they want to be on
film.
In terms of ethical issues, if youre filming an interview,
somebody that walks behind the camera may not want to
be filmed. Furthermore if youre doing an interviews then
people dont have to be filmed or have their face shown.

Clearances and
Permissions
When you are creating a film, everything that is
used must be cleared and agreed.
In terms of legal issues; Clearances that need to
be addressed are: The script, music used,
locations, contributors, products and company
logos. So if any of these are used then it must be
cleared in advance: e.g. the local council should
be contacted for use of locations and same with
the companys of the logos used.
In terms of ethical issues; if locals dont want to be
on film and dont want to sign a release form then
their feelings must be respected.

Libel and Defamation

The term libel/defamation refers to the idea of
false statements about a person or company and
therefore damaging to their reputation.
The legal issues of this are that these false
statements could cause a law suit against the
person that is creating these statements.
Although in the Constitutional law it enforces the
idea of freedom of speech.
The ethical issues could be that it is an individual
who hasnt done anything wrong and could cause
distress to an individual.

Requirements of the
Broadcasting Act 1994
The broadcasting act had a number of requirements
that had to be adhered by all broadcasting
companies. Some of these requirements were:
All ITV franchises put up for sale and awarded on
financial grounds,
new ITV regional franchises gave 25% of their
production to independent producers
Channel 5 was final conventional terrestrial TV
channel to be set up.
The broadcasting act therefore opened up the market
in TV and allowed more channels and independent
producers to be set up rather than just ITV franchises.

BBC Producers
Guidelines and Ofcom
The BBC producers guidelines is used to
encourage journalists and programme creators to
take risks but these risks must be within the
limitations that protects the BBCs global
reputation.
Audiences rightly expect the highest editorial
and ethical standards from the BBC. The BBCs
producers guidelines are a public statement of
those values and standards and how we expect
our programme-makers to achieve them. - BBC

Terminology

Accuracy
Accuracy is important within the world of news
because it effects the way in which stories are
viewed. It is the factor that effects the
trustworthiness of your news platform.
The BBC defined accuracy as: not simply a
matter of getting facts right. If an issue is
controversial, relevant opinions as well as facts
may need to be considered. When necessary, all
the relevant facts and information should also be
weighed to get at the truth.

Effect on the Producer

The effect that keeping an accurate news
platform will have on the producer is that the
programme itself will be more difficult to
produce/create and will require more time and
effort to create and to research stories.
On the other hand more people are likely to
watch their news programme if they are a more
accurate, reliable and watchable programme
source.

Effect on the audience

The effect that a more accurate news programme
will have on the audience is that they will likely
find the programme more watchable and are
more likely to continue watching the programme
if the source is more accurate and reliable.

An Example
An example of accuracy in use in within big
corporate news platforms such as BBC. When we
are told information by a representative of this
big corporate organisation we believe it is true.
BBC have said that: In news and current affairs
content, achieving due accuracy is more
important than speed.

Balance
Balance is important within news because it is a
way of interpreting both sides of a story. It is a
process in order to achieve fairness and accuracy.
Although it is considered that a lot of stories are
ones that promote only a one sided view. Or by
including views of those extremes on either end
of the spectrum.

Effect on the Producer

The effect of maintaining a balanced news
programme on the producer is that it could
potentially take more effort and time to create
programmes if more interviews and facts are
required in order to maintain the balanced
programme.
Although if this balance is maintained it will likely
keep more people watching if they know they are
getting a reliable and open-minded information
about stories.

Effect on the Audience

The effect that balance has on the audience is
that they are receiving more information about a
story and will have a widened and two-sided
knowledge about stories.
When receiving more reliable information that
develops ideas about both sides of the story, it
means that the viewers are more likely to
continue watching.

An Example
An example of balance within the news industry
would be during the Brexit talks .
The BBC incorporated the reasons for and against
Brexit and the facts about what could possibly
happen if we were to vote either way.
This created a more balanced and trustworthy
view and aimed at a larger demographic which
helps viewers to understand both sides of the
story.

Impartiality
Impartiality is a way of delivering facts to the
viewers, yet not stating their own personal view
and allow the audience to make their own
judgements and draw their own conclusion.

Effect on the Producer

The effect that impartiality has on the producer is
that they are unable to push the audience to
believe and agree with their own personal view.
This may be difficult when a large debate occurs,
e.g. Brexit, and the producer needs to allow the
audience to make their own conclusion without
pushing them towards theirs.

Effect on the Audience

The effect that impartiality has on the audience is
that they will be more likely to continue watching
if they are left to make their own judgement
rather than constantly being told what opinion is
right. It gives them more independence and
individuality in making a conclusion.
Although, on the other hand some viewers could
feel like they want to be told as they are so used
to being told what is right and what is wrong. In
which case, they may not continue to watch and
watch somewhere else that show their own views
explicitly to viewers.

An Example
An example of impartiality in news is:
During Brexit the BBC told viewers all the needto-know facts about either side of the argument
and leaves the viewers to decide for themselves.
This is achieved by using rhetorical questions that
encourage the viewers to make their own
decisions.

Objectivity
Objectivity is where you are not influenced by
your own opinion in a certain situation.
Alternatively you consider other points of views
and opinions.

Effect on the Producer

The effect that objectivity has on the producer is
that they are obliged to not force their own
personal opinions onto the views which they may
want to do at times, e.g. during elections.
Furthermore they will need to do more research
and more thorough research into stories to make
sure they are 100% correct without making
assumptions which may defend their beliefs.
Although this way they will likely gain more trust
from viewers that they deliver the facts without
any biased views.

Effect on the Audience

The effect of objectivity on the audience is that it
allows them to obtain of the facts without the
producer changing the stories to conform to their
opinions and beliefs.
This allows the audience to create their own
opinion and gain a sense of individuality.

An Example
An example of objectivity in factual television
would be what happened during the Brexit
discussion period. The majority of news mediums
would give the facts to the viewers without a
biased opinionated view, with some exceptions.
This is important because it is a large decision for
the country and if a large organisation, such as
the BBC, portrayed their view in stories then it
could effect the results and opinions of the views.

Subjectivity
Subjectivity is the opposite to objectivity in that
the purpose is to make a judgement by only
considering your own opinion. By this it means
that we do not depend on any real facts.
This therefore means that factual television
programmes use the platform to influence the
audience to agree with their beliefs.

Effect on the Producer

The effect of subjectivity on the producer is that they
can use the platform on their given medium to portray
their opinion to the audience. In contexts like an election
it could be used to force their opinion onto the audience
to vote towards one side which would be a problem.
This means that there is no need for much research into
the facts and could potentially save time and money.
Furthermore it could mean that the programme can be
completed quicker as they can get straight into it.
Although the corporation could become less reliable by
viewers if they become aware of the producers
subjectivity.

Effect on the Audience

The effect that subjectivity has on the audience is
that they are told what to believe and cannot
make their own opinion. This therefore removes
any individuality they had by believing anything
they are told.
Using the same context as with the producer, the
view of the producer could cause an election to
go against your own view.

An Example
An example of subjectivity is Channel 4
programme called Benefits street. Benefits
street is a programme that is used to show
families on benefits that dont really need it.
The way that this is subjective is because it
implies to the audience that anyone that has
benefits doesnt need it at all. It is an
exaggerated view because there are some
families that do need benefits, yet the
programme tries to make the audience believe
that everybody on benefits is a scam.

Representation
Representation is a way in which something is
portrayed to a viewer. A representation could be
in a positive or negative way. A popular
representation in factual television is the idea of
sympathy and the image of a victim.

Effect on the Producer

The effect that representation can have on the
producer is if a representation that has been
made is offensive to any of the audience
members. For example, if a large company like
the BBC made representations about women then
some viewers may be unhappy.
This could cause some viewers to stop watching
their stories. This could have a prolonging effect
on the company. It could cause an unwanted
reputation of being unreliable and could lose
more and more viewers.

Effect on the Audience

The effect that representation has on the
audience is that if a representation that is shown I
false then they may feel as if all the stories from
that company are false.
On the other hand if a big corporate company like
the BBC told the audience something then many
would believe them which could lead to the
audience being brainwashed to believe what ever
they see/hear from big companies.

An Example
An example of how corporations have used
representations is with Cliff Richard, which has
been in the news recently.
Cliff Richard had child sex allegations put against
him and has since been subject of abuse from the
public. It went as far as having his house burgled.
The charges were later dropped.
Cliff Richard has filed a 1.5 million law suit
against the BBC for false allegations which
caused negative representations of him.

 http://www.britishfilmcommission.org.uk/crew-facili
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