BBC NEWS CASE STUDY 2

Basic detailsWhat do the letters BBC stand for?

British Broadcasting Cooperation
How is the BBC funded?

A conundrum in public service is how to ensure that a publically-funded broadcaster can remain independent from political control, 

What is the BBC's famous mission statement? (Clue: it's three words)

Inform, educate and entertain
What is BBC1's programme remit?

They have a remit to be the BBC's most popular channel and attract high viewing figures
How does the BBC News at Six fit into BBC1's remit?
Presenters
Who are the presenters of BBC News at Six?

Sophie Raworth and George Alagiah
What are the presenters wearing? What does this communicate to the audience?

The presenters of BBC News at 6pm wear smart casual clothes as Sophie Raworth wears dresses to show that she is smart but also casual to be presenting the news. George Alagiah wears a suit with a tie which shows that he is smart and intellectual enough to present the news and to show to the audience that he means business and that he is mature to present such important information to the members of the public
Why might a TV News programme use a variety of presenters?

The TV News programme might use a variety of presenters to make sure the viewers do not listen to just one presenter throughout the whole of the 28 Minutes which is good otherwise the audience will get bored of just listening to one voice to receive their news from
How are other reporters or presenters used in the TV news programme?

Other reporters/ presenters are used in the TV News Programme to present other news such as sports and celebrity news, also when they are doing a wider insight on news that are elsewhere from the studio they would use a presenter to show the location or show a different scenery than what the viewers are used to seeing.
Is there a balance between male and female presenters? What about race/ethnicity? What effect might these aspects have on an audience?

There is a balance between male and female presenters in this News Programme as they have one female and one male presenter that is always seen on the show which makes it easy and shows to the audience that they are a diverse company and programme. They are also equal regarding race and ethnicity as BBC News hasa variety of race and ethnicity's.

Opening sequence: Analyse the opening 2 minutes of the programme.
What is the very first shot?

The first shot is of Sophie R. sitting at her desk talking about the top story (on the 22nd April 2015 - the top story was Tesco's 6 and a half billion pound loss)
How does the opening sequence use graphics or images to grab the attention of the audience?

The opening sequence uses graphics and images to grab the attention as the animated screen is visible to the viewers which they can see the images and animated videos which gives more of an insight and a more entertaining aspect to what the presenter is talking about.How is music used in the opening sequence?

Music is used in the opening sequence, (tense music), to show when a news story is introduced which helps the audience know that it is a new topic. this happens throughout the whole of the programme which makes it more consistent
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?

News stories are introduced in the opening two minutes to inform the audience what they will be talking about later on in the show which is convenient to the viewers so they stay watching until te story they are interested in comes on.


Studio mise-en-scene
What aspects of the studio can be seen by the audience?

The audience can see:
     - The workers at their computers - presumed to be collecting the news 

     - The camera's filming the presenter 

     - The presenter at the desk

     - The workers behind the desk through the glass screen

Are the presenters standing or behind desks? Why do you think this is?

During the opening sequence the presenters are sitting behind the desk whereas after the animation and the date appears on the screen the presenters are standing close to the animated screen which is convenient which makes the viewers see and hear what the presenters are talking about and can also see more information (important information)
Are journalists or technology visible? What might these things suggest to the audience?

Journalist are visible during the TV News programme, before the actual news headlines are mentioned, the journalist are shown through a crane shot of the studio, at their desk, this shows what they are always finishing new news for the viewers and that it is new and updated.How does the studio use colour?
The studio uses he colours, red and black.

How news stories are presented
How does the news programme typically present a story?
The news programme typically presents a story by:

1. The presenter talking to the camera about the news headline
2. They have animations giving more information with the presenter talking over the animation
3. Interviews with a significant person or members of the public
4. Back to the studio with the presenter

What different techniques does the programme use to present the news? (E.g. presenter to camera, reporter on location, interviews, graphics, images, video etc.)

1. Presenter talking to the camera
2. Reporter at a different location
3. Interviews with significant people or members of the public
4. Animations on the animated screen 

What types of news does the TV News programme typically cover? Give five examples (e.g. politics, international, sport etc.)
Political
International
Local (UK)
Sport
Celebrity 
Give two real examples of how news stories are presented to keep the interest of the audience.
The election
The migrants 

Running order: Watch the first 15 minutes of the programme – as recent as you can find.
What is the top story?
Tesco's £6.4bn lossHow long does the top story last for?
3/4 minutesWhat are the other stories the programme does or will cover? List them in the order they are presented in (the ‘running order’).

1. Tesco's loss
2. Migrants
3. On-line Paedophiles
4. The Hacker in America
5. Election 2015

How long is each story shown for?
2/3 minutes each Why do you think each story was shown for the time it was?
The less importance the story has to the UK the less time BBC tends to spend on it 

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.

What are the viewing figures for BBC News at Six?

Why might someone choose to watch this TV news programme over others?
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?
What role does OFCOM have in making sure TV News is fair and accurate?
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'?


TV News and New/Digital Media
Does the TV News programme have a dedicated website?
What does the website offer viewers?
Does the TV News programme have a Twitter feed?
How does the Twitter feed promote the programme?
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or submit news stories?