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3MW Documentary

An Introduction to the News

Part 1 -

The news broadcast I watched was ITV News and their coverage of the results of the 2017 Prime Minister results.

The stories they were covering were about the results and comparing them and what they think the winner will do and how it will change, the way our country is ran.

What happened at the start of the broadcast was a moving animation with the words "Election 2017" in the middle. I think these visuals and audio was used because it is a way for news to establish what the broadcast is going to be about and its shows the importance of it.

Part 2 -

Who are the newsreaders? In this particular broadcast there tends to be old looking people as they must be extremely smart when it comes to politics and generally being smart enough to have a strong idea on what could happen next.

What does the newsreader or presenter do? They are creating debate and bringing up key information, as there is multiply presenters on this broadcast.

What would the skills you would need to be a newsreader or presenter? Firstly, you would need to be calm and comfortable in front a camera but also in front on hundreds of thousands of live viewers, you would also need to be smart, professional and well informed as people are looking at you in a sense to take the things you say and make conclusions on this information and even more so when it’s on political and social issues.

Part 3 -

What does the term news ordering mean? This means the order that the news stories appear for example a news broadcast may start with a sad story to entice the viewer and keep them watching, then for the last story a broadcast will likely end with a happy or heart-warming story to make the viewer feel safe as most news broadcasts these days involve something terrible happening.

What is the term given to the list of stories that will likely appear on the broadcast? 

Which story is likely the be shown first and how/why is it selected? Usually the first story will be any 'Breaking News' that has happened recently as this is likely to get them a good amount of viewers watching, it is also likely that as the broadcast in going on they will likely loose viewers as would any show so they may make to first story the most important.

How do the other stories appear? Other stories then appear must more relaxed and claim, they will often also tend to have a higher production value and be more entertaining.

Why is the ability to think and act quickly important in news?  This is a very important skill for anyone working on live television to have, firstly because silence is also very awkward even on the news, they must try to keep things moving while also being informative and entertaining.

What is meant by the term 'slow news day?  The term 'Slow News Day' refers to when there is not any 'important' news stories that have recently broke or have not already been reported on. The news show must then basically present a full broadcast without any 'real news' and just fill in time, this usually results in the broadcast being about irreverent things like celebrities, obscure allegations or anything they can come up with to fill the air.

What is the final story often called and what is its function? The last story in a news broadcast is called the 'kicker' which is usually a heart-warming story that puts a happy ending feel to the broadcast which makes the viewer not as impacted by whatever the other stories could have been meaning it the news have shown stories about murder, terrorism or other tragedies they can then make the viewer feel more comfortable about their life.

What is meant by the term 'news values' and which G & R wrote about them? The term 'News Values' are the general guidelines and criteria that most news outlets use. It also comes under the G & R 'Frequency'

Find a topical example for each of G & R's news values. Immediacy - Sometimes news broadcasts will fill in a slot by using an old story but an immediacy story would have happened recently. Familiarity - News broadcasts often cover events from all over the world and some of those stories have not be culturally relevant and this makes sure that the stories that are could are relevant to people in Britain.

Amplitude - News broadcasts also care about views and will often cover large stories that will get large amounts of views. Frequency - If it is an event that often fairly often, for example a premier football team winning a normal league game will not be covered on the news. However, if a Premier league team wins the champions league, which is very rare it will be covered. Unambiguity - People from all over even just Britain speak very differently and this makes sure that everyone will be able to understand and get the facts. Predictability - News broadcasts have to try keeping the shows fresh and interesting and if people know what is going to happen before they even watch the show they will be bored and not enjoy the show. Surprise - Similar to the last, one they must look into if the event is rare or expected to happen and if people will accept it. Continuity - they also must look at other news broadcasts to see what they are posting and looking at it, other companies have published their stories. Elite Nations/People - Celebrities are often on the news and receive many views. Personalisation - The news broadcasts must make sure that the common person that watches the news will find interesting and entertaining. Negativity - News broadcasts do have to present bad news but they must find a healthy balance between 'happy' and 'sad' news, as they are not trying to make people feel bad or scared. Balance - furthermore from the last point the final story the 'kicker' is nearly always used the but a balance of the mood of the broadcasts and put it more as a feel good happy show.

Part 4 -

Discuss bias through selection and omissions - Anyone who works on a news stories can add to it being biased, in this one it would mainly be the editing as they can change words, headlines, remove facts or concept something as meaning one thing but it really means something else. 

Discuss bias through placement - One big thing about placement and bias is the order that the stories are shown for example front page or back page.

Discuss bias through headlines - headlines are likely the most read part of the news article and many people read that could take it at face value. Furthermore, sometimes people will make a headline obscure just to make people read on.   

Discuss bias through shot selection and camera angles - Photos can often speak many words, and make something look completely different to what is really happening just by taking a photo at the right or wrong time. 

Discuss bias through names and captions - People use names and places in their article titles as a way of getting more people to see the post, this will often mislead people and give them a very wrong impression of what is really going on.

Discuss bias through use of language - Everybody writes and reads differently to each over which results in one thing meaning something good to one person and the same thing being bad to another, it’s the writers job the clarify theses language barriers and make the article clear and understandable.

3WM Production Schedule

Once finalizing that I was going to do my documentary on Social Media I soon began recording.

The first thing I done was the interviews with Ben Smith and William Bowels.

Next I recorder my own voice over about Social and its Effects etc.

I then filmed the visuals for the voice other to make if more pleasing to the eye.

Lastly, I spent just over a week editing and uploading the final project.

3MW Risk Assessment

The nature and purposes of research in the creative media industry

Primary Research/Self-generated research

1. Define Primary Research - This is research that you create and do yourself, whatever questions and surveys you like and you must gather the data then proceed to analyse and do what you wish with the information i.e graphs, conclusions, fact sheets, etc. Furthermore, primary research in the media industry is done to help the creators with the project, Most forms of media are very expensive and if you get the wrong and fail to break even or lose money it can lead to a failed career, bankruptcy or unemployment. In a attempt to prevent this media creators will do research to help to create what people will enjoy and will be successful.

2. What did you do? - In my Documentary I interviewed some of my friends and used their opinions and views in my documentary so this was my way of collecting Primary Research.

3. List examples from your project - When I was interviewing my friends I was also collecting Primary Research as I was asking questions that I created and wanted to know there thoughts and options on them.

In the creative industries, primary research would take place in the form of test screenings as films and video products are shown to people so that last minute changes can be made in an attempt to make the product more profitable.
For example:
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/test-screenings/32412/51-films-and-how-they-were-affected-by-test-screenings

Secondary Research

1. Define Secondary Research - This is where you use someone’s already collected information and use it for your own use, this is a lot faster and cheaper than Primary Research usually costing you no money. Secondary research is also done for a similar reason which is to help the creators have to best change of making a good piece of media. Secondary however is much cheaper but less accurate and likely less specific to what you are looking for.  

2. What did you do? - I took most of my information from the internet, which other people had collected, this was a fast process but I was unsure of the accuracy of the data.

3. List examples from your project. - All the facts about Social Media that I stated in the documentary were from other people’s data, I also watched a few other documentaries about Social Media and used them for inspiration and I tried to make mine a little different.
In the creative industries secondary research could be conducted in order to make a product more authentic. For example, if you are making a historical film, you would want the costumes to look real and from the time period and, if it is based on a real event, you would want the information / details to be accurate.
For example:
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/making-titanic/
"In preparation for the most challenging job of her career, Scott spent months researching every available scrap of information on how people dressed in 1912, poring over newspapers, magazines, catalogues, personal journals and archives, including that of the White Star Line. So intensive was her research, it often surprised even her.

“I couldn’t believe how many birds were killed just to adorn women’s hats,” she exclaims, “I mean, hundreds of thousands!” She also scoured the globe to amass a museum’s-worth of original pieces, ensuring more than 60 per cent of costumes seen in the film were from the Edwardian era".

Qualitative Research

Comparing Primary and Secondary:
Primary research is often the better choice but it not always available as it comes at a much higher percentage of time consumption and cost. Other key differences include that primary research gives you your own raw data and secondary data will often give you pre-analysed information which can be not as good as your own. Lastly I would like to compare the type of data meaning when you are doing primary research it will be specific to what you are looking for but if you however use secondary data you may find the researcher as been much less specific to what you are looking for.


1. Define Qualitative Research - This is where you discover peoples thoughts and opinions about certain topic. You will hopefully understand their point of view and how they truly feel about the topic.

2. What did you do? - What watched a few documentaries about Social Media and used from of the thoughts and opinions that where in them. In addition, I had a few friends who gave me their opinions on the topic and I considered this when making my documentary. 

3. List examples from your project. - During the interviews my friends where stating their opinions and thoughts throughout the interview which I then used.

Comparing Quantitative and qualitative:

The main difference between to two is that qualitative data is where you gain an insight into something and is based on written narratives. Whereas Quantitative is used more in an attempt to predict or control something and usually focuses on numbers and statistics. I will now talk about the benefits and negatives for each; Firstly, Quantitative research which gives you easily analyzable data which is easy to compare with other pieces of data. A negative of this however is that very often the data needs to be regularly updated to keep all the information up-to-date which can result in large amounts of time being used aswel as more spending. Now I will talk about qualitative data and its benefits and negatives; the benefits include easily accessible data and it can be great market research for companies and people media as its quick and helps them to gather information.





Data gathering agencies Why the exist?:

These data gathering agencies exist because the media industry is such a large one that there is a market for gathering and storing data which can be later used for research resulting in more accurate and specific projects to be made in the future due to this data.



1. Explain what the BARB does. In addition, IMDB and Boxofficemojo can be mentioned.

Firstly, BARB stands for Broadcasters Audience Research Board. A large part of what they do is measuring television viewing for the whole of the UK plus a few more things. Other similar company's include IMDB standing for the internet Movie Database and Boxofficemojo. These companies collect information about TV shows, Movies and a decent about of what happens with in films e.i Actors, Directors, Extras etc.

Purposes of Research:(more detail)

Audience and Market Research
1. What did you do? - I looked more into the Market of Social Media and didn't look to in-depth at the at Audience status and viewers habits. I am hoping any one who uses Social Media and is interest in the effects of it will watch my Documentary.
2. Explain the audience research from your project.
I am aware that a fairly large amount of Social Media is used by teenagers and young adults but what I learnt was that there is also a large presences from older people on Social Media. Using this information I attempt to also made my product appeal to a winder and older audience.







Production Research(define more:why is it important)

1. What did you do? The first thing I done when making my final discussion that my documentary would be about Social Media was watch a documentary also about Social Media and tried to mimic this documentary while also putting a new unique perspective on the topic. My documentary was also very low budget as I was provided with all the tools I would need including for editing. I was also able to get a few friends to help with the documentary as well as being about to record within my College. Production research is often looked at as more important than audience and market research this is because production research directly effects what the project looks and feels like in terms of professionalism and quality.
2. Explain the production research form your project. - My documentary includes a voice over myself using a audio recorder follow my some cinematic shots and finally an interview with my friends, I also did a lot of online research when producing the facts and effects about Social Media that I made sure where correct. The last thing I did was to send a week editing and uploading my documentary.


References-
The first image is provided from Google Images
The second image is provided from Google Images
The third image is provided from Google Images
The forth image is provided from Google Images
Information about media techniques used from https://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/secondary/EnglishAndMedia/MediaStudies/BTECNationalInMediaProduction/Samples/Samplematerial/BTEC_Nat_Media_Unit01.pdf

Proposal

Proposal: Assignment 3: 3MW

1. Above it my first mind map ideas for my new 3 Minute Wonder.

2. The idea I have decided to create is a three Minute Wonder documentary about is Social Media. I have chosen to do this one because I feel it is incredibly relevant to everyone as it is extremely popular and super common for almost anyone you meet to be on at least one form of Social Media. I also think this will be a fun and interesting topic to make a documentary about as I am looking forward to learning more about Social Media and looking deeply into the positive and negative effects in has on an individual person and on society as a whole.

My concept for what the production and my overview will include an introduction and brief history of social media/its beginning, then a few of the most shocking and interesting facts about social media, next I would like to present a form of report about the positive and genitive effects of social media and lastly I would like to close the documentary will an interview and then a final conclusion.

The format that my documentary will represent will be very similar to the interactive documentary as I will be hoping to give my audience new information about Social Media. Also I plan to be doing a interview/s and my documentary will end with a conclusion from myself and some of my opinions on the topic.  

For my documentary my primary target audience will be anyone who has used or is currently using social media hoping to give them a better understanding of whats happening and the large scale of it.

The ideal aim and thing I wish to achieve from my documentary will be to open people eyes to how Social Media can be good and bad for people in terms of communication and the sociological effects it has.

I will be filming an interview and maybe some other shots but mostly I will be doing voice overs and stating facts and opinion. Furthermore, I will be able to do all my work for my documentary in and around the College meaning I will not need to travel anywhere.

I will possible need a few people to help me with my production such as a camera manager, help working special audio devices and some help with editing.

Sample interview questions:
Overall would you describe your experiences with social media being positive or more negative?
Do you think social media is a positive or a negative factor to society?
What do you think about the shear mass size of what social media has become? (2.8 Billion People)
What do you think is the future for Social Media?


The equipment I will require will be a camera, a audio recording device, mic, tripod and editing software.

My estimate for the budget I will likely need for this product would be very low if any.

3. My pitch for my 3 Minute Documentary;

It will start with myself stating some of the most interesting facts about Social Media with some articulate shots being in the background. Then I will proceed to search deep into the ups and downs that come with Social Media and how its effects each person and society as a whole. Lastly I will be asking a few informed people about what they think about the topic as they will likely create a new view point and help myself and the audience understand the topic more. The ending will include a conclusion from myself.

Documentary "Mini-task"

What is a documentary? How would you define 'documentary'? 

What is it: Documentaries can be made around and be about pretty  much anything and everything often containing funny, provocative, disturbing, ironic, absurd, inspirational, amusing, shocking and many other emotions. When the documentary becomes a final product it tends to create and distinct story, viewpoint, message, experience or a general moral. 

Define: A documentary is usually formatted the same as either a film or television / radio program and consists of facts, official documents and expectances. The format of documentary is an attempt to show the viewer a new point of view through experiences and facts commonly done using real people, real places and real experiences. Its then up to the filmmaker to turn those facts into an enjoyable film while staying truthful. 

Key Features of Expository Documentary: Recently the most common type of Expository Documentary is when a person or topic is fully exposed and explored to the best extent that the person creating the Documentary can fore-fill. These types are also well known for having a commentator who works similar to a presenter who most talk you through the experiences and explaining important information thats you may what to know . These will also contain facts, opinions, interviews, arguments and often new discoveries. An example of Expository mode would be through the famous TV Series "America's Most Wanted".

Key Features of Observational Documentaries: This type of documentary involves uninfluenced interactions from the people in the documentary and the documentary will be heavily based of these interactions as they are the center of the production. The filmmaker is not shown in the documentary as well as little to no commentary. Once the documentary is edited and people see the final product they will see a transparent recording of the events that took place, the audience is then left to make their own opinions on the events that happened. An example of this type of documentary is the popular TV Show "Big Bother".

 Key Features of Interactive Documentaries: The filmmaker's presence is well known and established as they often become a participant of the topic they are presenting, lots of reveling interviews and audience interactions. Due to the often sensitive and opinionated topics in these documentaries they can sometimes be accused of manipulating the audiences opinions, this is because the way the are presented does not leave the viewer to have to make their own conclusions.

Key Features of Reflexive Documentaries: Usually done when experimenting with a topic, person or place by giving recently discovered information that shocks the viewer resulting in a informative and entertaining documentary. Often conversational as they will compare with 'everyday life' but when done correctly can be one of the most praised types of documentaries. An example of a Reflexive filmmaker would be Louis Theroux as nearly all of his work is partly attached with a controversial topic from Nazi's to big time drug dealers to maximum security prisons. This often results in a amazing inside look into whatever Louis makes a documentary about.

Key Features of Performative Documentaries: This format is different compared to the other as the filmmakers put much more of their budget, time and effort into the presentaion of the documentary e.i lots of well acted re-enactments, unique camera angles, and specified soundtracks. This form is largly considered to be a little less truthful then others but are often much more entertaining and pleasing to the eye. An example would the film 'The Summit' which has footage from interviews and re-enactments to show the events that took place on Mount Everest in August 2008 and the deaths of 11 people. The use of dramatisations and re-enactments can be great of any documentary as it gives a great in sight into the events that took place but are unable to be shown. This can also be used to help the filmmaker find new information and better understand the topic. The biggest implication that could come with this is how truthful these re-enactments are and they will also take large amounts of money and time to create.  

Conclusion: What is your philosophy as a filmmaker? I believe that when during a documentary when you are trying a express an opintion you should state or show as how factual evidance as you can to support your argument. In addition, it would be wrong to attempt to maniplilate or lie to your audience. 

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