Media Industry 10/6/13
Media refers to various means of communication, which then sends out a message to a wide range of people. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media.
The television industry is the main media source in which people use to find out information, and also is the main source that broadcasters use to send out a message to a wide range of people. The UK television industry is dominated by the major broadcasters, such as The BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. These companies are also called public service broadcasters, and have a wide range of responsibilities set out in their licenses, such as the BBC which has its own Charter to follow. There are also a large number of broadcasters and production companies which are not as well know such as ‘Gold’ or ‘Dave ‘which both broadcast comedy programs. In the TV industry there is around 300 cable and satellite broadcasters, including BskyB, Virgin Media, Discovery and Disney, but there is also a number of niche broadcasters catering to an amazingly wide variety of audiences and interests.
Media refers to various means of communication, which then sends out a message to a wide range of people. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media.
The television industry is the main media source in which people use to find out information, and also is the main source that broadcasters use to send out a message to a wide range of people. The UK television industry is dominated by the major broadcasters, such as The BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. These companies are also called public service broadcasters, and have a wide range of responsibilities set out in their licenses, such as the BBC which has its own Charter to follow. There are also a large number of broadcasters and production companies which are not as well know such as ‘Gold’ or ‘Dave ‘which both broadcast comedy programs. In the TV industry there is around 300 cable and satellite broadcasters, including BskyB, Virgin Media, Discovery and Disney, but there is also a number of niche broadcasters catering to an amazingly wide variety of audiences and interests.
The role of a TV Researcher10/6/13
Television researchers work within any genre of TV production, including news, sports, current affairs, documentaries and factual program, entertainment, children’s television, comedy, soaps and drama. The researcher may develop new program ideas, and to do this they may look into where it would fit in the market, and if there even is a place for it. They may also talk to the public and find out what type of program they will like to see on their television screens and also if they believe the program will be successful. Researchers may also be asked to find contributors and locations, generate ideas, locate music, and archive footage and organise rights clearances. When on the locations they may be asked to look after rushes and compile tape bags.
Researchers may work on a range of program or specialise in a particular area, such as documentaries. They would normally begin work on a production shortly after it has been commissioned and are usually contracted for the pre-production and filming blocks of a program. Researchers may contribute to the development of scripts, or briefing others who write so that they can deliver what is required. They may also be asked to check the final written materials for accuracy and may suggest changes to make. Before production begins they must identify, negotiate fees, and write up copyright clearances and legal issues relating to all bought-in materials used in shots, including archive materials, property or music. During production, the researchers would arrange transport for contributors to and from locations or studios. They would also meet contributors and will brief them before recording begins. Researchers may also be required to prepare production material such as fact sheets, pamphlets, books and booklets to accompany productions, and publicity material such as production billings, press releases, related websites, and text pages.
As a researcher they will have to understand and work with relevant legislation and regulations.
Researchers need to be highly organised as they will need to keep track of facts, figures and contact details. People skills are also an essential part of the role because researchers tend to be interviewing and phoning a wide range of people. Researchers will normally work to an assistant producer, who will manage and oversee them. Also a researcher will need to have knowledge or be able to gain knowledge of a particular or a range of subjects. They would also need to have very good knowledge on how to make a television program. This includes pre-production and post-production, as well as filming.
Although no specific educational or training qualifications are required for the role of a Researcher a degree in a media related, drama or specialist subject may provide some useful background information. Experience and knowledge of, the pre-production and production processes is required.
Television researchers work within any genre of TV production, including news, sports, current affairs, documentaries and factual program, entertainment, children’s television, comedy, soaps and drama. The researcher may develop new program ideas, and to do this they may look into where it would fit in the market, and if there even is a place for it. They may also talk to the public and find out what type of program they will like to see on their television screens and also if they believe the program will be successful. Researchers may also be asked to find contributors and locations, generate ideas, locate music, and archive footage and organise rights clearances. When on the locations they may be asked to look after rushes and compile tape bags.
Researchers may work on a range of program or specialise in a particular area, such as documentaries. They would normally begin work on a production shortly after it has been commissioned and are usually contracted for the pre-production and filming blocks of a program. Researchers may contribute to the development of scripts, or briefing others who write so that they can deliver what is required. They may also be asked to check the final written materials for accuracy and may suggest changes to make. Before production begins they must identify, negotiate fees, and write up copyright clearances and legal issues relating to all bought-in materials used in shots, including archive materials, property or music. During production, the researchers would arrange transport for contributors to and from locations or studios. They would also meet contributors and will brief them before recording begins. Researchers may also be required to prepare production material such as fact sheets, pamphlets, books and booklets to accompany productions, and publicity material such as production billings, press releases, related websites, and text pages.
As a researcher they will have to understand and work with relevant legislation and regulations.
Researchers need to be highly organised as they will need to keep track of facts, figures and contact details. People skills are also an essential part of the role because researchers tend to be interviewing and phoning a wide range of people. Researchers will normally work to an assistant producer, who will manage and oversee them. Also a researcher will need to have knowledge or be able to gain knowledge of a particular or a range of subjects. They would also need to have very good knowledge on how to make a television program. This includes pre-production and post-production, as well as filming.
Although no specific educational or training qualifications are required for the role of a Researcher a degree in a media related, drama or specialist subject may provide some useful background information. Experience and knowledge of, the pre-production and production processes is required.
A program researcher provides support to the producer and production team. Researchers contribute ideas for programs, source contacts and contributors and collect, verify and prepare information for film, television and radio productions. A researcher can work on a wide variety of programs or within one subject area.
An example of this is the talk show ‘The Jeremy Kyle show’. In the show they have many researchers who do different jobs, such as finding out background information on why the people have applied to be on the show. This then allows the presenter of the show to ask the people who come onto the show questions about why they are there, and the presenter can then understand the story in more detail. Jeremy Kyle would use secondary research to find out information as he is getting his researchers who work for him to find out the information, although those researchers would be carrying out primary researchers as they are talking to the guests who are going on the show themselves to find out the background information on their story. They would also be using qualitative data, especially during the show when the host is asking them questions, as the researchers would be asking the people who are going to appear on the show questions which would need to be explained in detail. Although they would also be using quantitative data if they are carrying out a DNA test on the show as the researcher would be asking them closed questions which would only require a‘yes’ or ‘no’ question or a one worded answer.
Another example of when researchers are used on a television program is on the news. The news presenters need to know about the latest story’s in a lot of detail as they are live when they are speaking to the public. The researchers would then go out and look into, and find out information about the story which they are going to be talking about on the show that day. This will then allow the news presenters to find out about the story in more detail before speaking to the public about it. The news uses secondary and primary research to get information across to members of the public as they use things such as Vox Pops. This is when a member of the news team talks to members of the public about the topic which they are talking about on the news. This is then seen as primary research as you are receiving information straight from the source. Although the news also use secondary research as you would be receiving information from a source which has been found out by another person.
There are many different types and methods used in research. These are things such as primary and secondary research, and also qualitative and quantitative data. Primary research is a research method used when you carry out the research yourself. An example of this is if you conduct a questionnaire yourself, and then carry it out without using information from a source somebody else has written. An advantage of primary research is that the information will come from a reliable source as the research has been carried out by you, and the sources you used to find out the information would be reliable. The disadvantages of primary research is that it takes a lot longer, and also when giving out things such as questionnaire or a survey the people filling them out may just tick any random box. Secondary research is when you look at and summarise research which has already been carried out by someone else. For example using internet research from a range of websites, which have been written by somebody else, to find out the information that you needed to know. The advantages of secondary research are that it is quicker to carry out as you are getting the information from sources which have the information already there for you to use. A disadvantage of secondary research is that the information may not be accurate and it may also be biased.
Qualitative data is mainly word based and Quantitative data is based on statics and numbers. An example of Qualitative data is open questions. This is because when asking the audience a question they are able to give you there opinion rather than just answering a yes and no question which would then be able to put into charts. An advantage of qualitative data is that you could gather more detailed information. A disadvantage of qualitative data is that people may not be interested in giving a detail and long answer, and may just say what you want to hear. An example of Quantitative data is a closed question such as ‘Do you believe a new drama would fit into the current TV market?’ and then with tick box’s saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This would be Quantitative data because it is a closed question as you only have two options and therefore you would be able to turn the answers into numbers to put into a chart. By using Quantitative data it would be quicker and not as time consuming as you could round up the information and then make a decision based on the amount of people who said yes, and the amount of people who said no, although this will not give you information on what type of drama they believe would fit into the market, or the reason why they believe it would not fit into the market. By using Qualitative data it would give you the reasons why people believe a new drama would not fit into the market and also what type they believe would fit in, and for what age group. This would then go on to help the producers during the planning and filming stages. An advantage of quantitative data is that people may be more likely to answer the questions if they only require short answers. Also it may be easier to look over all of the information gathered and come to a conclusion as the information will be in charts and numbers. A disadvantage of quantitative data is that the information given would not be very detailed and therefore you may not find out everything you needed to.
The last method of research is data gathering agencies. These are people who are hired to find out and gather information for different companies or clients. For example they would ring up a range of people asking them a few questions which the companies have given them to gather information on things such as whether they believe there is a gap in the market for a new television program, or if they watch a television channel regularly. This then gives the companies information on what they need to change, or whether they should produce a new television program and what age group to target. This is secondary research as the companies are using the information which they have got somebody else to find out for them. An advantage of data gathering agencies is that you will find out the information needed from a range of sources and ages. A disadvantage of data gathering ages is that people may not be interested in answering the questions over the phone and therefore they may not give detailed answers. Also the people asking the questions may not be doing their job properly and may not ask the right questions.
An example of this is the talk show ‘The Jeremy Kyle show’. In the show they have many researchers who do different jobs, such as finding out background information on why the people have applied to be on the show. This then allows the presenter of the show to ask the people who come onto the show questions about why they are there, and the presenter can then understand the story in more detail. Jeremy Kyle would use secondary research to find out information as he is getting his researchers who work for him to find out the information, although those researchers would be carrying out primary researchers as they are talking to the guests who are going on the show themselves to find out the background information on their story. They would also be using qualitative data, especially during the show when the host is asking them questions, as the researchers would be asking the people who are going to appear on the show questions which would need to be explained in detail. Although they would also be using quantitative data if they are carrying out a DNA test on the show as the researcher would be asking them closed questions which would only require a‘yes’ or ‘no’ question or a one worded answer.
Another example of when researchers are used on a television program is on the news. The news presenters need to know about the latest story’s in a lot of detail as they are live when they are speaking to the public. The researchers would then go out and look into, and find out information about the story which they are going to be talking about on the show that day. This will then allow the news presenters to find out about the story in more detail before speaking to the public about it. The news uses secondary and primary research to get information across to members of the public as they use things such as Vox Pops. This is when a member of the news team talks to members of the public about the topic which they are talking about on the news. This is then seen as primary research as you are receiving information straight from the source. Although the news also use secondary research as you would be receiving information from a source which has been found out by another person.
There are many different types and methods used in research. These are things such as primary and secondary research, and also qualitative and quantitative data. Primary research is a research method used when you carry out the research yourself. An example of this is if you conduct a questionnaire yourself, and then carry it out without using information from a source somebody else has written. An advantage of primary research is that the information will come from a reliable source as the research has been carried out by you, and the sources you used to find out the information would be reliable. The disadvantages of primary research is that it takes a lot longer, and also when giving out things such as questionnaire or a survey the people filling them out may just tick any random box. Secondary research is when you look at and summarise research which has already been carried out by someone else. For example using internet research from a range of websites, which have been written by somebody else, to find out the information that you needed to know. The advantages of secondary research are that it is quicker to carry out as you are getting the information from sources which have the information already there for you to use. A disadvantage of secondary research is that the information may not be accurate and it may also be biased.
Qualitative data is mainly word based and Quantitative data is based on statics and numbers. An example of Qualitative data is open questions. This is because when asking the audience a question they are able to give you there opinion rather than just answering a yes and no question which would then be able to put into charts. An advantage of qualitative data is that you could gather more detailed information. A disadvantage of qualitative data is that people may not be interested in giving a detail and long answer, and may just say what you want to hear. An example of Quantitative data is a closed question such as ‘Do you believe a new drama would fit into the current TV market?’ and then with tick box’s saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This would be Quantitative data because it is a closed question as you only have two options and therefore you would be able to turn the answers into numbers to put into a chart. By using Quantitative data it would be quicker and not as time consuming as you could round up the information and then make a decision based on the amount of people who said yes, and the amount of people who said no, although this will not give you information on what type of drama they believe would fit into the market, or the reason why they believe it would not fit into the market. By using Qualitative data it would give you the reasons why people believe a new drama would not fit into the market and also what type they believe would fit in, and for what age group. This would then go on to help the producers during the planning and filming stages. An advantage of quantitative data is that people may be more likely to answer the questions if they only require short answers. Also it may be easier to look over all of the information gathered and come to a conclusion as the information will be in charts and numbers. A disadvantage of quantitative data is that the information given would not be very detailed and therefore you may not find out everything you needed to.
The last method of research is data gathering agencies. These are people who are hired to find out and gather information for different companies or clients. For example they would ring up a range of people asking them a few questions which the companies have given them to gather information on things such as whether they believe there is a gap in the market for a new television program, or if they watch a television channel regularly. This then gives the companies information on what they need to change, or whether they should produce a new television program and what age group to target. This is secondary research as the companies are using the information which they have got somebody else to find out for them. An advantage of data gathering agencies is that you will find out the information needed from a range of sources and ages. A disadvantage of data gathering ages is that people may not be interested in answering the questions over the phone and therefore they may not give detailed answers. Also the people asking the questions may not be doing their job properly and may not ask the right questions.
Purpose of research in TV 14/6/13
Audience research-Audience research is research which is carried out to find out what television shows the audience which they have targeted are interested in. The television broadcasters, such as the BBC, will do this to find out what shows they should produce so that it will apply to their targeted audience, and this will then ensure that their shows will attract the right audiences. Firstly they would have to decide which age group or gender that they are targeting the new television program at, so that they are then able to research into what shows they would like to see on their television screens. They could use different methods of research to do this such as focus groups which is primary research because the researcher is carrying out the focus group themselves, and would then go on to put together the information. Another method of finding out the information needed is by asking the public questions using a questionnaire, which is again primary research as they are putting together the questionnaire and would then ask members of the public to fill it in. At the focus group they would need to invite a range of people, preferably from the same age group if they are planning on aiming their television program at one age group, and therefore you could get a range of views from different genders, races etc. To gather all of the information together you could then go on tp put it into either qualitative or quantitative date as the questions asked could be either closed or open ended questions. The imformation that the researcher would get back from the focus group would need to be put into qualitative data as they would be able to get detailed information from the focus group whereas from the questionnaire they could put in closed questions, which they could then turn into numbers and put into a chart. It is important that television broadcasters research into what their audiences want, otherwise they will not get any viewers by showing things which they believe and think that people want to see. An example of a television broadcaster which carries out audience research is the BBC. The BBC Trust exists to get the best out of the BBC for license fee payers. To do this, they must listen to what the public think and understand their views and priorities. To inform the BBCs decision making, they commission independent research, both qualitative and quantitative in nature. The BBC’s research complements their other sources of insight, such as public consultations and the work of the Audience Councils. Research projects explore license fee payers’ views on the BBC’s Public Purposes, the BBC’s many services, and other topics. This research then enables the BBC to understand the strength of views across the UK, and also allows them to appreciate any differences between diverse groups of people. To find out what their audiences want the BBC could use a range of research methods which could be both primary and secondary. As the BBC is such a well know Television Company they could use data gathering agencies. This would then allow them to get a lot of information from a range of sources. Also they could use things such as focus groups or questionnaires which could consist of both open and closed questions, which they could then turn into qualitative and quantitative data.
Market research-Market research is the process of collecting valuable information to help you find out if there is a market for your proposed product or service. In the television industry, market research report provides key industry analysis and industry statics, measures market size, analysis current and future industry trends and shows market share for the industry’s largest companies. Also market research is to find out if there if a place in the market for your proposed televion program. Market research could also be used to find out what the audience wants and what channel it could be broadcasted on. They could do this by researching into existing broadcasting companies such as Channel 4, and see what their aims as a television broadcaster are. A person may look into Channel4 and see that their remit is to ‘experiment and innovate’ through their television programs. This would be seen as secondary research as they have not carried out the research themselves, and they are getting the information from a source which someone else has written. If they then wanted to find out what the public is interested in they could then go on to use things such as surveys, focus groups or questionnaires. This would be seen as primary research as they are carrying out the research themselves. This would be an effective way of finding out information from members of the public as they could find out a lot of detailed information, depending on the questions they are. It is essential that the production companies carry out market research so that they could find out if their television show has a place in the market. For example, the BBC aim to ensure that they show a range of television shows which could appeal to everybody, and therefore they would be more likely to produce a program such as Eastenders, which caters to everybody. To ensure that they cater to everybody they would need to carry out research, such as surveys, questionnaires and focus groups which will help them to achieve their aim.
Production research-
Production research is the collection and analysis of information for the content and production of a media product. Production research is carried out to ensure that production can go ahead, and will actually be possible. They would need to consider many things such as the locations they want the program to be filmed in. They would need to ensure that they get permission to use the locations and also that it is a suitable place to film in. Also in the locations they would need to consider health and safety of the actors and contributors who have a role in the television program, and this may take some time to ensure that everything is safe before filming begins. Other things such as the costumes that the actors need, or props would have to be considered beforehand so that they know how much they will cost and also if they can actually get hold of them. There is a lot of research which would need to be done before filming begins and to ensure that it is done effectively they would need to hire a team of researchers. These people will then carry out all of the research needed for things such as the location or actors needed before filming begins. If all of this research is not carried out then when it comes to filming it may not be possible to film in a location, or they may not have been able to get an actor to play a role and this will just make the filming process longer, and the end product may not turn out as good as planned. The production research could be carried out by observation, internet research and location recces. Observation is seen as primary research where you would observe a situation or area. You could use this method of filming finding locations. This is because you could observe an area to see if it gets busy, and at what time. Location recces are also primary research, as you carry these out yourself and write about the suitability of a location that you want to use. The production researcher could also use secondary research such as the internet to find out about the actors that they want to use. I believe that the best way to research into production would be primary research as the information that you find would be accurate because you have carried it out yourself. Although by using secondary research finding out things such as locations would be cheaper, but would not be as accurate.
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