Codes and Conventions of TV News Sets and Location

Analysis

Studio:

BBC Midlands Today Studio Setting:

Nick Owen, the BBC Midland’s main presenter, presents the news in smart attire, with good posture standing up. The smart attire depicts Nick as a trustworthy person and makes him seem professional. A bug is also seen during his presenting and the top left.

The background is made up of large monitors that are constantly playing an animation on loop of the news room functioning with people working hard, many screens featuring different events around the country etc. This portrays seriousness and therefore establishes the broadcast as a serious presentation of news. Also, a screen may be used in order to show the logo/ident in order to reinforce the news broadcast identity.

The presenter is standing at the start giving a short intro of the upcoming headlines with clear sophisticated diction. An aston is present during the presenters screen time which shows his name on the near bottom of the screen. This is done so that he is able to almost “lure” the audience and set up a brief connection/relationship with the audience. This is reinforced by using a mid-shot. Also a rule of thirds is used which shows the presenter being on the 1st third. This is used in order to focus the audiences eyes on the presenter.

During the intro, the presenter in the studio will narrate over filler shots that will appear on the screen about recent headlines with the background non-diegetic music rolling in sync with the unfolding images faintly until the title sequence is played. During the title sequence the music increases in volume and is more upbeat.

On Location:

During most broadcasts, the presenter will pass the screen time to the on location reporter, usually by announcing “now over to my colleague, [insert name]” after the headline/story has been briefly introduced by the presenter in the studio. When a reporter is giving the piece to the camera (PTC) he is outside the broadcast (OB) and will be looking straight into the audiences eyes by looking directly into the camera lens when reporting. By being formal and reporting what unfolded at the location, the story is given importance and attention from the audience. Also, An aston is carried forward with the reporters name.

The setting behind the reporter would usually have a link to the current story being reported for example, if the story was about drag racing on the streets, the reporter would be stood on the pavement with traffic behind him. There is a link to the official website on the name super/aston which is convenient for people who just turned on their TV’s skipping the headlines/stories as they can read up on what they have missed on the go on their mobile device.

Reporting On Location;

Vox Pops

In Vox pops, the person being asked the question is the only on in the shots usually, and the question asked is cut off, only the response if used in the end product to prevent being repetitive.

An aston is not used all the time as the people being interviewed are not significant enough to be named on TV News, there is no relevance. An aston is usually used if an important/relevant person is present on screen in order to give them identity, if it’s just some local on the street then their identity is kept secret for protection.

The bug is still carried forward, the Vox pops are mainly 7-12 seconds long in some cases shorter and most are used in between graphics on the screen and narration. In some cases, a Breaking News banner may be put over the person being interviewed.

Statistics/Facts/Quotes

Statistics are usually laid out In front of the viewer, whilst the story is being narrated, and with a moving or still image background. In some cases, the text appears as the narrator dictates the report and is usually animated to make the news understandable and to present the news smoothly.

Statistics, facts and quotes are mainly used to begin and explain a topic or further support a statement made by the news on a certain event. They also usually appear after a couple of filler shots to ease the transition from presenting to narration.

Interviews

Interviews include the aston carried on along with the ticker, banner and bug. The interview lasts around 15-20 secs, in some cases more depending on the case/story that is being reported. It is possible for the interview to be paused with filler shots and narration to follow in order to explain certain bits of information. The interview is then reinstated by cutting back to the interview from the filler shots. In an interview as opposed to a Vox pop, a two-shot is usually used rather than an over the shoulder mid-shot. In some cases, a two-way conference call is presented with both the presenter and interviewee being in two different locations. This shown by a split screen. The rule of thirds is used as the presenter is on the left, and the interviewee in on the right rather than in the middle. This helps the audience focus on both points of interest and catches their attention.