When is Channel 4 News on?
Monday to Friday at 7pm, duration- 55 minutes
When was the programme first broadcast?
1982
What awards has the programme won?
International Emmy Award for News, British Academy Television Award for Best News Coverage, British Academy Television Award for Best News and Current Affairs Journalism.
What is the media institution that produces Channel 4 News?
Presenters
Who are the presenters?
Jon Snow, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Cathy Newman, Matt Frei.
What are the presenters wearing? What does this communicate to the audience?
The presenters are dressed formally which conveys that the programmes attracts more older and mature audiences.
Why might a TV News programme use a variety of presenters?
The TV News programme might use a variety of presenters to show the diversity in which they work.
How are other reporters or presenters used in the TV News programme?
They are used as helpers and information givers.
Is there a balance between male and female presenters? What about race/ethnicity?
There is a slight imbalance between males and females as well as race and ethnicity, although they try to include a diverse group of people.
What effect might these aspects have on an audience?
There are 3 male presenters and 1 female presenter. There are 3 white presenters and 1 Asian presenter. This could make a variety of religions watch the news programme.
Opening sequence
Analyse the opening 2 minutes of the programme.
What is the very first shot?
The very first shot is of Jon Snow talking slightly informally than on live TV.
How does the opening sequence use graphics or images to grab the attention of the audience?
The opening sequence has interesting pictures and videos to grab the audience’s attention.
How is music used in the opening sequence?
The music is dramatic and serious so the audience know that they still take things seriously even though they aren't speaking very formally.
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 news stories are all introduced bit by bit to give the audience some insight of what will be coming up during the course of the news reports.
Studio mise-en-scene
What aspects of the studio can be seen by the audience? (Desk, cameras etc.)
You can see the screens, desks and chairs.
Are the presenters standing or behind desks? Why do you think this is?
The presenters are standing in front of the desks to seem more professional and formal.
Are journalists or technology visible? What might these things suggest to the audience?
There is no technology visible except for the big screen behind the presenter and there are cuts to a journalist in Rome.
How does the studio use colour?
The studio uses the colour purple for people to recognise them.
How news stories are presented?
The news stories are presented formally and seriously. There are no jokes made about anything and they do not try to be funny about certain stories.
How news stories are presented
How does the news programme typically present a story?
It doesn't present them in a immature way and presents them seriously and in depth.
What different techniques does the programme use to present the news? (E.g. presenter to camera, reporter on location, interviews, graphics, images, video etc.)
It uses presenter to camera, reporters on locations, interviews, graphics and videos.
What types of news does the TV News programme typically cover? Give five examples (e.g. politics, international, sport etc.)
It covers politics, international, sport, local and economical.
Give two real examples of how news stories presented to keep the interest of the audience.
Running order
Watch the first 15 minutes of the programme – as recent as you can find.(couldn't find any)
What is the top story?
How long does the top story last for?
What are the other stories the programme does or will cover? List them in the order they are presented in (the ‘running order’).
How long is each story shown for?
Why do you think each story was shown for the time it was?
Audience
What is the target audience for this TV News programme? Research online – you should be able to find plenty of suggestions to the target audience if not the official target audience of the programme.
Registered viewers include half of all 16-24 year olds in the UK. Data-driven demographic targeted ads have grown Channel 4’s digital revenues. Channel 4 to use data to inform creative and marketing processes
Why might someone choose to watch this TV News programme over others?
Although this is a news programme it isn't as formal as lets say BBC news, therefore many younger people lets say 20-25 can watch this programme with enjoyment.
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or comment?
There is an opportunity as you can follow them on twitter and tweet them your opinions.
What audience pleasures (Uses and Gratifications theory – Blumler and Katz) does the programme offer?
I don't know.
Institution
Who owns, runs or produces this TV News programme?
ITN produces the programme.
Does the institution own, run or produce any other TV News programmes, channels or newspapers?
ITV, Channel 5, UK Mobile phone operators, online outlets such as Youtube, MSN, Telegraph media group, Yahoo! and film producers and researches worldwide.
How does the programme fit the TV channel it is on?
It fits the TV Channel as the channel offers TV shows for 16-25 year olds and the news programme also has the same target audience.
What role does OFCOM have in making sure TV News is fair and accurate?
OFCOM doesn't let the programme have controversies and personal opinions as well as only one point of view.
TV News and New/Digital Media
Does the TV News programme have a dedicated website?
Yes it does.
What does the website offer viewers?
The website offers information that isn't available on TV and goes more in depth with the stories.
Does the TV News programme have a Twitter feed?
Yes it does.
How does the Twitter feed promote the programme?
The audience can interact with the live show and give their opinions on certain stories.
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or submit news stories?
The audience can find their own pictures of certain news stories and share them with others on twitter as well as sharing them with the news programme.
