Unit 27 task 1A- Issues in documentary

Britain’s toughest girl gang- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHKccU2NYDQ

The documentary I have chosen is Britain’s toughest girl gang, presented by Livvy Haddock, she had visited a group of girls in south London to hear about their experiences being in a gang and what it is like. They style of the documentary is expository due to its use of voice overs, the narrator being present within the documentary as well as the documentary going in depth to the girls lives. The documentary is also interactive because the presenter is the camera person as well as the interviewer.

Accuracy is the main ethical issue in this documentary because it is mainly based on facts. An example would be at the beginning of the documentary when the presenter mentions the number of gangs in the UK which is accurate though the numbers are growing.

The girls that are featured in the documentary have told the presenter about the experiences that they have had whilst being in a gang this is also known as subjectivity due to the girls having an emotional influence with their experiences, an example of this would be when Becky, a girl gang member talks about the number of people she has lost due to gang violence.

Objectivity would be used in the presenter’s case because she is giving her un-biased opinion about the girl’s lifestyle from what she has seen and heard from the girls.

The contract with viewer element is present within the documentary, which is proven by the statistical information that has been used as well as the first-hand experience from the gang members themselves.

The footage that is used at the beginning shows various gang situations that are from CCTV cameras. The legal issue with this would be access because the producer would have to ask permission to examine and use the footage.

During the documentary Livvy had disclosed that the girls she was interviewing are so at risk that she had to interview and film the girls by herself. The girls that are filmed asked if it could be under strict anonymity, also by not using their real names or showing their faces to protect their identity, also by blurring out any tattoos. The legal issue this would be is privacy.

There is no bias or representation issues used in the documentary because it is all first-hand information from witnesses and gang members.

NBC News Report- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx_49e_vtbI

The news broadcast I am analysing is about the Orlando shooting at pulse nightclub.

Accuracy is the most important ethical issue for this news report because its aim is to inform and educate the audience about current events. For the news report I have selected it has used witness quotes about what they have seen and have also used visual aids that have been taken by bystanders which would also come under access.

There is a balanced but subjective matter to the news report from witnesses and the field reporter from what she is seeing due to the subject of the news report.  There is no impartial issues within the news report. The field reporter has represented witnesses by quoting them on what they have heard and seen while being in the nightclub. Privacy also comes into this by the reporter not revealing the witnesses identity.

Access is a recurring issue in this report because they are using images and videos from witnesses and other resources they that will have to get access to. The contract with viewer issue is not mentioned within the report but by the visual evidence and a witness statement it is known to be true.