Case study 2

Basic details

1. What do the letters BBC stand for?
BBC stands for British Broadcasting Cooperation

2. How is the BBC funded?
BBC was funded by the tv license and taxes.

3. What is the BBC's famous mission statement? (Clue: it's three words)
To educate, inform and entertain.

4. What is BBC's programme remit?
BBC One's remit is to be the BBC's most popular mixed-genre television service across the UK, offering a wide range of high quality programme.

5. How does the BBC News at Six fit into BBC1's remit?

Presenters

1.Who are the presenters of BBC News at Six?
Fiona Bruce and Sophie Raworth

2.What are the presenters wearing? What does this communicate to the audience?
 The males were wearing formal suits and the females were formal and appropriate dresses and this will suggest that they are a serious and a formal news programme then a informal one.

3.Why might a TV News programme use a variety of presenters?
They might use a variety of presenters so they have each job for each topic for each person.

4.How are other reporters or presenters used in the TV news programme?
The other reporters are used for interviews and going reporting live.

5.Is there a balance between male and female presenters? What about race/ethnicity? What effect might these aspects have on an audience?
There are is a diverse but majority of them are white and there is a balance of female and male and this will bring variety of races then just one if you have diverse races then just one particular.

Opening sequence


1.What is the very first shot?
A presenter sitting at a desk ready to present the news

2.How does the opening sequence use graphics or images to grab the attention of the audience?




3.How is music used in the opening sequence?
The music is dramatic and serious to imply that its formal and sophisticated tv news and not targeted at the young generation.

4. How are news stories introduced in the opening two minutes? Is there just one story or are the audience told what will be coming up later?
The stories are introduced in order and cut also.

Studio mise-en-scene

1.What aspects of the studio can be seen by the audience?
The studio was shown and computers and other technology etc.

2.Are the presenters standing or behind desks? Why do you think this is?
The presenters are usually sitting to make it look serious and that they are bringing important news.

3.Are journalists or technology visible? What might these things suggest to the audience?
You can see the journalists and full studio as well as the cameras and this suggest that they formal and appealing to an audience.


4.How does the studio use colour?

They use red, white and black.

How news stories are presented

1.How does the news programme typically present a story? Following and introduction with images - then a short interview - outside the studio refrences
What difference techniques does the programme use to present the news? (E.g. presenter to camera, reporter on location, interviews, graphics, images, video etc.) Presenter to the camera, interviews, reporters on location, graphics, images, videos etc
What types of news does the TV News programme typically cover? Give five examples (e.g. politics, international, sport etc.) Politics, international news, local news, weather, sport
Give two real examples of how news stories are presented to keep the interest of the audience.It starts off with Tesco which is slightly boring but then moves onto serious news about abuse


Running order
Watch the first 15 minutes of the programme – as recent as you can find.
What is the top story? The top story is about Tescos losses
How long does the top story last for? For 10-15 minutes
What are the other stories the programme does or will cover? List them in the order they are presented in (the ‘running order’). Top story, sub stories, sport
How long is each story shown for? About 5 min
Why do you think each story was shown for the time it was? To emphasise some and use some as breaks


Audience
What is the target audience for this BBC News at Six? Research online – you should be able to find plenty of suggestions to the target audience if not the official target audience of the programme.It is for those who stay at home or come from work - a typical British family and schedule
What are the viewing figures for BBC News at Six? Around 4m
Why might someone choose to watch this TV news programme over others?It is at a very convenient time fort hose who work and it only lasts 28 min
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or comment?  
What audience pleasures (Uses and Gratifications theory – Blumler and Katz) does the programme offer?


Institution
What other news programmes and services does the BBC offer in addition to the BBC News at Six? BBC Breakfast, News at 10 etc
What role does OFCOM have in making sure TV News is fair and accurate? OFCOM regulates and gives and emit which must be followed to have a license - it must be impartial
The BBC has been accused of 'dumbing down' the News at Six. What does this mean? Do you agree with the accusation that the news is 'dumbed down'? They use excessive graphics - they defended themselves by saying that it helped the audience understand - it does dumb down the news but i think it was done correctly


TV News and New/Digital Media
Does the TV News programme have a dedicated website? Yes
What does the website offer viewers? It has highlights etc and recaps with extra website links
Does the TV News programme have a Twitter feed? Yes
How does the Twitter feed promote the programme? Displaying the hashtags
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or submit news stories? No