Unit 27: Representation of Britain

The representation of Britain can be a person or origination which presents Britain as a whole, such as the military and the royal family. For instance, when a army soldier is labelled as a hero. They will present themselves as being modest, the military does this because they want to represent the men of Britain as being brave but modest. The representation of Britain in broadcast journalism can be seen in investigation documentaries such as the BBC's 'Panorama' when a presenter is reacting and observing foreign affairs.

In the BBC show panorama, the episode titled "Ebola Frontline"  shows the BBC's representation of Britian, because the presenter is obersevering the effects of ebola on a first person perspective.
The presenter is shown as representative of Britain. In this documentary the presenter is shown as being ignorant but caring, and sympathetic, this in turn, shows Britain as a nation has the same feelings and reactions to the Ebola crisis. The presenter does not know how deadly the desire is and the powerful effect it has on the people living with Ebola. This is effective to how Britain is represented because like to presenter, the nation of Britain and other first-world countries are unaware of the effects Ebola has on the local civilians physical and mental health. The presenter also makes a statement about how first-world media only seems to take notice of a foreign problem when white people die. This statement criticizes the British media, and how public opinion within Britain can be changed by the media.  The BBC uses the presenter as a representative of Britain because the
documentary is made to investigate the Ebola crises, and make the audience (Britons) aware of the problems that the people with Ebola are experiencing.

Unit 27: Impartiality In Broadcast Journalism

Impartiality is when a range of different opinions and perspectives are given, but they all have the same equal value. Philip Harding, New News, "One of the most basic elements of impartiality has to present a wide range of viewpoints on any particular issue. The more controversial the issue, the greater the responsibility on the broadcaster to let all sides air their views." (P69, 2002) 
In this quote Philip Harding states that impartiality within broadcasting is risky because it takes a lot of responsibility and professionalism when a conversion subject is arisen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Q7X5lZBlk

As a further example of Philip Hardings perception of impartiality I have found a episode of BBC's 'Question Time', which debates the controversial topic of drugs.  Because 'Question Time' is run and commissioned for the BBC, their programs including question time needs to be impartial. This is partly due to the BBC being a public broadcasting network, Meaning it is paid for by the tax payer. This may effect the BBC because the united kingdom is a multi cultural society, and if the BBC were to favour one person opinion over another, than this could create problems due to different races and cultures.
 The BBC also needs to keep it's vales which were created since the BBCs inception. "Trust is the foundation of the BBC: We are independent, impartial and honest". [www.BBC.co.uk/aboutthebbc]

In this episode of question time the debate is about "the governments war on drugs". Because the BBC needs to remain impartial they have to listen to all the opinions that are given while discussing the subject. The disadvantage of this is that objective opinions can be given, for example in this episode, John Lydon is against taxing drugs, because their is a "lack of education', but does not clearly give evidence as to why drugs should not be taxed. So his viewpoint becomes subjective, and to be imparial you need a more objective opinion.

Unit 27: Objectivity In Reporting

In this essay I will describe and explain the objectivity in reporting that is used within the BBC.

Objectivity is an opinion is support with evidence such as facts, statistics or quotations. For example on the BBC's "Kermode and Mayo" the film critic Mark Kermode was parsing a film he would have to give evidence why.

Sandrine Boudana, mcs.sagepub.com, New York University,USA.
"Objectivity is a standard that promotes truth, defined as a ‘correspondence, grounded in correctness, between thought and reality’'

This quote explains objectivity is an point that uses factual information while also using an opinion. This is important to use within the media because it is not biased and is less likely to harm or offend an audience.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02d0kh7

In the record pod casts from the BBC radio 5 program "Kermode and Mayo film review". In this pod cast we can see film critic Mark Kermode describe his thoughts and opinions on the film 2001: Space Odyssey. Because the BBC needs to remain impartial   Mark Kermode needs to remain objective while reviewing this and other films. 

In this pod cast Mark Kermode praises the film, naming it "Amazing", however he is objective in his opinion because he claims the film inspired him and many other film critics and multiple  filmmakers. Mark Kermode also balances his positive review because he tells the audience that the film's plot "doesn't always go the way, you want it too".  This tells us that Mark Kermode is unbiased because although he has a strong positive reaction to the film, he is able to admit to the films faults. 

Unit 27: Issues in factual Programming: Balance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY2R9ocxbqA

For this section of the essay I will describe and explain the balance the BBC needs to present in their broadcasting to be impartial towards their audience. For an example of this I will use an episode of BBC's 'People Like Us'. This episode subject is about young working class/under working class families who live a deprived suburb of Birmingham called Chelmsley Wood.

"People like us" is a human interest documentary. To be impartial the BBC gives the audience different stories and perspectives such as, The young actor who wants to lose weight, The teenage who works in a chip shop, but dreams of being a hollywood actor and the young mum who is looking for a new home for her and her child. The show presents the positives and negatives of the people who live in Chelmsley Wood, this is to change perspectives that the public make about the under working class community. For example in the documentary the 'young mum' is first presented as being loud and irresponsible, but is later shown as being caring and nurturing towards her child.  The actor could have been represented as being lazy and greedy because of his weight, instead is shown as being kind and ambitious, in the documentary he claims that he will "take his family out for a meal". This documentary uses comedic elements to balance the heavy subject matter.