BBC News
What is it?
News is made to inform the viewer of what's happening around the world at that current time. It's often updated very regularly, particularly with 'bigger' stories where they may have 'Breaking News' segments within which they've received the news in the past few minutes, or even Live coverage where a news reporter is sent to talk about the subject in person as it happens.
There are different kinds of News programmes;
- Breakfast shows- Morning programmes with more light-hearted and family-friendly stories.
- Prime Time- Usually evening shows on 'prime time' TV that show more world news, politics and stories containing violence.
- 24-hour rolling channels- shows that report news constantly.
Where can you find it?
Popular British channels BBC and ITV both have their own News TV shows such as BBC Breakfast, BBC Six O'Clock News and ITV Evening News. The same channels have their own News websites where you can find stories that they're speaking about on their show, and you can find more out about the subject, particularly for the smaller stories, where they may not talk about them for much time on the programme.
On the BBC News website, you can find Headlines at the top of the page, and scroll down further for subjects like most read current articles, and local news (by entering your town or postcode).
On the website you can also stream the live 24-hr BBC News Channel and Radio, ensuring that the News is available to viewers at all times...
On the BBC News website, you can find Headlines at the top of the page, and scroll down further for subjects like most read current articles, and local news (by entering your town or postcode).
 |
| When you enter your town name, the most popular stories for that area are shown. |
On the website you can also stream the live 24-hr BBC News Channel and Radio, ensuring that the News is available to viewers at all times...When is it shown and why?
...News never stops being created around the world; and so it's important that the audience have 24-hr access to what's happening around them.
Aside from 24-hr programmes, News shows are most popular as evening programming (18:00 and 22:00 shows) and weekend morning shows (deducted from data collected July-August 2018 by www.barb.co.uk) as this works around the most common working hours of 9-5 Monday-Friday.
News content also differs depending on what time it's shown. BBC Breakfast has a more relaxed setting than evening news, as the presenters are sat on a sofa with a coffee table in front of them, and they occasionally take breaks from reading from the prompt to chat between themselves about the topic. The stories tend to be more lighthearted, or at least family-friendly, so that the show is appropriate when children are more likely to be in the room. The set layout also mimics a living room more closely, which makes the viewer feel more relaxed.
Evening shows tend to only have one presenter speaking directly to the camera sat at a desk. This more formal approach accentuates the seriousness of the stories they're presenting. During the evening shows they present stories that aren't so child-friendly; topics such as politics and violence or war are more common.
Aside from 24-hr programmes, News shows are most popular as evening programming (18:00 and 22:00 shows) and weekend morning shows (deducted from data collected July-August 2018 by www.barb.co.uk) as this works around the most common working hours of 9-5 Monday-Friday.
 |
| Data collected by www.barb.co.uk 13th-19th August 2018 |
 |
| BBC Breakfast has a more relaxed approach. |
 |
| Huw Edwards presents BBC News at 10. |
Who watches the News?
There are different News programmes for multiple different audiences, including Newsround, directed to a younger audience.
All of the BBC News platforms are designed to make News accessible and understandable for everyone. Everything is spoken about in plain English, but there are also specified segments for people who have more specific interests. For example, business, sports, and politics all have their own sections within the programming and also on the website. BBC are careful to cater for as many different audiences as possible.
All of the BBC News platforms are designed to make News accessible and understandable for everyone. Everything is spoken about in plain English, but there are also specified segments for people who have more specific interests. For example, business, sports, and politics all have their own sections within the programming and also on the website. BBC are careful to cater for as many different audiences as possible.
Why is it important?
The News keeps people up-to-date with the rest of the world. It helps viewers to feel connected to parts of the world they wouldn't know about otherwise, and usually supplies a reliable source for people to learn about world events.
Without News, the public would be made to feel like they were out of the loop, and even that Governments were keeping secrets from them. The News supplies a level of transparency for the viewer and they ask the questions that the public aren't able to ask.
This tends to mean that in live, the camera is handheld. This also allows for more movement of the camera if something related to the story happens in the background, the cameraman is able to easily move to catch any action. It also helps the viewer to understand that the live segment is happening right now- if the camera were on a tripod, the shot would look too structured and set up. Having small movements or even mistakes makes the shoot more real.
In the studio, the set is fairly simple. The presenter sits behind a desk, and has a window behind them that views through into the BBC offices.
This gives an almost literal sense of transparency to the viewer. It's not too distracting, and the eye is still drawn to the presenter (mostly because of the camera focus) but it also makes the shot seem more serious and real. This is because you can see the people in the background working, in a formal office environment.
The presenters are often dressed very smartly, too. This further accentuates the seriousness of the topics and they aren't wearing anything that might distract from the stories.
BBC News' brand colour is red. Red is strong colour that catches the attention of the viewer, and it connotes to business and seriousness. It's not too distracting, but it also helps the presenters (usually in navy or black suits or skirt and blazers, particularly on evening news) stand out from the background.
Without News, the public would be made to feel like they were out of the loop, and even that Governments were keeping secrets from them. The News supplies a level of transparency for the viewer and they ask the questions that the public aren't able to ask.
Analysis
10.01.18's episode of BBC News at 6 (EStream)
Watching Notes
In the Studio
- Brief 'Coming Up'- Around 7 sec for each story intro
- 15 sec intro
- Presenter introduces the story with basic facts of the story and introduces the presenter doing the story
- screen behind shows what they're talking about
- Image to script
- Breaks in speech to give viewer time to take in sentences
- Interviews with experts or package presenters
Live
- In front of a related subject
- 2 way interview from studio
- voiceover on related to GVs
Packages
- Few seconds of GV to let the viewer understand what the package will be about
- Presenter speaks in clear facts on voiceover, intercut with ...
- a formal interview, Vox Pops and GVs
- then on loc speaking about the loc or interviewing people involved on loc
- use a tripod
- Finish with voiceover and GV or...
- facts are shown onscreen as well as images of the interviewees
- Presenter is then interviewed in the studio for more facts
Analysis
Narrative Codes
It seems that BBC News tends to follow the same narrative order for each show (gathered from comparing my notes to other broadcasts). This makes the show simultaneously easier to watch and easier to make, as everyone knows what to expect.
The correspondent will generally begin the package with a voiceover on GVs. They then may interview a relevant person, such as someone affected by bad weather, or an expert on the subject. This interview might be formal, without a presenter, and an arranged location such as a dining room with set-up lighting. It could also be informal, like a vox pop with someone in the street who may be witness to the event, and no time to set up good lighting.
The correspondent then may be shown at the location of the event, with any aftermath in the background. This breaks up the package so that it isn't completely GVs. The correspondent then may end the package with facts on screen, then go to the studio to have an interview with the presenter of the show to close off the subject.
The presenter will then repeat this process for another package or there may be a live story.
During a live story, a correspondent may be sent to report on what's happening as it happens around them. Live segments can help the viewer understand exactly what's happening as they can see it. Often, they'll have a 2-way interview from the location to the studio, and the studio presenter will ask the correspondent questions about the location and to explain what's happening behind them. The studio presenter asks questions that the viewer is likely to want to ask. They may also include OOVs (out of view) while displaying images or GVs related to the subject.
They may also interview someone live, which will be an informal interview or Vox Pop, which accentuates how 'on the fly' the live segment is and how nothing is really planned to happen.
Finally, the studio presenter will sign off the show.
- Coming up
- Opening title
- Introducing package in studio
- Package
- Back to studio, (sometimes live interview with package correspondent)
- Studio Introduces correspondent on live location
- Correspondent speaks about brief details (sometimes will interview someone live)
- Back to studio
The correspondent will generally begin the package with a voiceover on GVs. They then may interview a relevant person, such as someone affected by bad weather, or an expert on the subject. This interview might be formal, without a presenter, and an arranged location such as a dining room with set-up lighting. It could also be informal, like a vox pop with someone in the street who may be witness to the event, and no time to set up good lighting.
The correspondent then may be shown at the location of the event, with any aftermath in the background. This breaks up the package so that it isn't completely GVs. The correspondent then may end the package with facts on screen, then go to the studio to have an interview with the presenter of the show to close off the subject.
The presenter will then repeat this process for another package or there may be a live story.
During a live story, a correspondent may be sent to report on what's happening as it happens around them. Live segments can help the viewer understand exactly what's happening as they can see it. Often, they'll have a 2-way interview from the location to the studio, and the studio presenter will ask the correspondent questions about the location and to explain what's happening behind them. The studio presenter asks questions that the viewer is likely to want to ask. They may also include OOVs (out of view) while displaying images or GVs related to the subject.
They may also interview someone live, which will be an informal interview or Vox Pop, which accentuates how 'on the fly' the live segment is and how nothing is really planned to happen.
Finally, the studio presenter will sign off the show.
Technical Codes
In the studio, the composition of the images put together is clearer- this is because there are more controllable elements within a studio. They're able to change the lighting, camera angles, and shot composition very easily. Whereas on a live location, it's much harder as there are less controllable elements, and as a crew you aren't able to bring so much equipment.
This tends to mean that in live, the camera is handheld. This also allows for more movement of the camera if something related to the story happens in the background, the cameraman is able to easily move to catch any action. It also helps the viewer to understand that the live segment is happening right now- if the camera were on a tripod, the shot would look too structured and set up. Having small movements or even mistakes makes the shoot more real.
In the studio, the presenter is always in the center of the shot, looking directly down the camera lens. This helps the viewer to feel as though they're being spoken to. The camera represents the viewer's eyeline, and if the presenter if off-center, it's difficult for the viewer to feel as though they're being spoken to directly. When the presenter is stood next to a screen or graphics, however, it helps for the presenter to be stood in on of the thirds, as this helps the viewer to watch both the graphics and the presenter almost at the same time.
Studio or package and live shoots differ from each other not just because of what equipment is available to them, but it also makes it more believable. The viewer is able to feel as though they are directly being told the information.
Representational Codes
In the studio, the set is fairly simple. The presenter sits behind a desk, and has a window behind them that views through into the BBC offices.This gives an almost literal sense of transparency to the viewer. It's not too distracting, and the eye is still drawn to the presenter (mostly because of the camera focus) but it also makes the shot seem more serious and real. This is because you can see the people in the background working, in a formal office environment.
The presenters are often dressed very smartly, too. This further accentuates the seriousness of the topics and they aren't wearing anything that might distract from the stories.
BBC News' brand colour is red. Red is strong colour that catches the attention of the viewer, and it connotes to business and seriousness. It's not too distracting, but it also helps the presenters (usually in navy or black suits or skirt and blazers, particularly on evening news) stand out from the background.
Audio Codes
BBC News uses music in its opening titles and over the Coming Ups in order to signify the beginning of the show. The music they use is quite dramatic and draws the attention of the viewer, highlighting the seriousness of the stories playing on top of it.
They also use a drum sound effect between each story in the coming up- this acts as a kind of punctuation, since the coming ups are a lot of information at once it helps the viewer to acknowledge the beginning and end of each story. It also stands out against other sound which further draws the attention of the viewer- this is particularly important during the coming up as it means the viewer will be able to see if any topics they're interested in will be spoken about.
Dialogue is also important as speech needs to be clear. Presenters on the news never really have particularly noticeable regional accents. This helps any viewers to be able to understand everyone on the show. Correspondents are more likely to have regional accents as they might be a correspondent for a particular part of the UK.
It helps for the presenters or correspondents to explain stories over images; either GVs, photographs or graphics; as this helps the viewer to fully understand what the presenter is saying, as they are able to visualise the news at the same time as hearing it.
They also use a drum sound effect between each story in the coming up- this acts as a kind of punctuation, since the coming ups are a lot of information at once it helps the viewer to acknowledge the beginning and end of each story. It also stands out against other sound which further draws the attention of the viewer- this is particularly important during the coming up as it means the viewer will be able to see if any topics they're interested in will be spoken about.
Dialogue is also important as speech needs to be clear. Presenters on the news never really have particularly noticeable regional accents. This helps any viewers to be able to understand everyone on the show. Correspondents are more likely to have regional accents as they might be a correspondent for a particular part of the UK.
It helps for the presenters or correspondents to explain stories over images; either GVs, photographs or graphics; as this helps the viewer to fully understand what the presenter is saying, as they are able to visualise the news at the same time as hearing it.
Comments
Post a Comment