WEEK 2: HOMEWORK Research and present a reality show of your choice

Outcome: One A4 page of research in any format you like – the more

creative and visually appealing the better. Remember to print in advance

of the deadline. You can work in pairs if you want to, but each student

must have their own printed copy of the finished piece.

THIS PAGE WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH

Deadline: Thursday 3rd March (after half term) by the lesson - both classes

Guidance

The following is a list of ideas to help you think about what to focus on

Production: Who produces the show and how is it funded? Eg TV licence

(all BBC shows), revenue from voting process; sponsorship; revenue from

adverts etc

Scheduling: Broadcaster, time of day, day of week, duration, frequency, series or serial format; spin-off programme; part of a larger franchise

The sub-genre of the show: infotainment, docusoap, lifestyle, social

experiment, reality talent, reality game

Generic conventions, variations or themes: Observational or

specifically constructed, personal make-over, degree of competition,

celebrity involvement, workplace-related, relationship-focused, health

and well-being-themed, celebrity, environmental, educational, consumer,

surveillance etc

Presentation format: Hosted, voiceover, panel-based, personality-led,

celebrity-presented, studio-based, on location, in purpose-built

accommodation

Target audience: who are they and how do you know? By age,

gender, class, ethnicity, interest, local or global appeal/reach

Audience appeal and interactivity: How does the show appeal to the

target audience? Role of audience – in studio context, voting processes,

incentives to participate

Representation: What sorts of ideas, lifestyle, and messages are

represented in the show? Are the participants represented positively?

Does the show represent them as stereotypes? Is the show edited to

encourage the audience to like/dislike them or to empathise/laugh at

them?