Basic details

When is Channel 4 News on?

Channel 4 news is shown at 7 pm from Monday- Friday and the whole news programme lasts for around 55 minutes in total.

When was the programme first broadcast?
Channel 4 was first broadcaster on the 2nd of November 1982 at 4.45pm, with a remit to be edgy, controversial and push boundaries.

What awards has the programme won?

• International Emmy award for news 2004,2013,2013
• British academy television award for best news coverage 1996,2004,2012
• British academy television award for best news and current affairs journalism 1993,1994

What is the media institution that produces Channel 4 News?

Presenters
Who are the presenters?
One of the main presenters who has been with channel 4 news since 1989 IS Jon Snow.

Krishnan Guru-Murphy
Cathy Newman
Matt Frei

What are the presenters wearing? What does this communicate to the audience?
They are wearing smart clothes for example the male presenters are always wearing a suit which means they are smart and presenting the news in an intellectual manner to show that they are not always casual about the news and that they mean business. Also, the female presenters mainly wear dresses which could represent femininity and smart-casual wear.

Why might a TV News programme use a variety of presenters?
This TV News programme might use a variety of presenters so the viewers do not get the same tone from just one person also the way they present the different type of news stories are all unique and different (e.g. Jon Snow uses his own opinion when talking about the different news stories which is why the audience warms to him)
How are other reporters or presenters used in the TV News programme?

Is there a balance between male and female presenters? What about race/ethnicity? What effect might these aspects have on an audience?
There is not an equal amount of women and females on the news team as there are 3 males and 1 females which isn't effective in appealing to a wide range of audiences as it could make males look more dominant and professional. Also, the races are not equal either as most of the presenters are white British which could portray the news channel to be biased with the news.

Opening sequence

Analyse the opening 2 minutes of the programme.

What is the very first shot?
The animated '4' zooming into the screen is the first shot that the audience see.
How does the opening sequence use graphics or images to grab the attention of the audience?
Their images are mainly moving constantly whilst they have a voice-over which makes it more interesting especially if it is a video as it gives more detail than what the presenter is saying alone. It also, appeals to a wider audience as they are not still images.
How is music used in the opening sequence?

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 by using the presenter talking to the camera and a video footage with voice-over to explain: local, international and borough news. They introduce the stories that are coming up later on the show by having the time with the event next to it to tell the audience how long they want you to watch the news for, they introduce many news stories that will appear to keep the audience entertained.


Studio mise-en-scene
What aspects of the studio can be seen by the audience? (Desk, cameras etc.)
The camera's as they show the studio,
The desk and the animated screen also different parts of the studio such as the interview location can also been seen when watching the news.
Are the presenters standing or behind desks? Why do you think this is?
The Presenters are standing, i think this because it is almost like they are communicating WITH the audience and inform them about the news stories instead of telling the information TO the audience which makes the aduience want to know more as it ais almost like a conversation.
Are journalists or technology visible? What might these things suggest to the audience?
How does the studio use colour?
The studio uses colour to present to the audience that they are futuristic and that they are modern to appeal to a wide range of audiences (mainly teenagers) the colours represent vibrant and bright days which appeals to young people also.

How news stories are presentedHow does the news programme typically present a story?
Animation on screen with text with audio
Presenter talking to camera
Interviews or live footage
Back to presenter talking to camera
What difference techniques does the programme use to present the news? (E.g. presenter to camera, reporter on location, interviews, graphics, images, video etc.)
Channel 4 news tends to go into more detail with the news stories as they have a live footage with text on screen which reads the important facts and figures which other news programmes such as Sky and BBC present their news. Also, the presenters are standing up most of the time which s different to other news programmes as they tend to sit behind the desk.
What types of news does the TV News programme typically cover? Give five examples (e.g. politics, international, sport etc.)
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.
What is the top story?
Tesco loses 6 and a half billion pound. lowest for any supermarket.
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’).
Tesco's economic loss
Election
Refugees found
How long is each story shown for?

Why do you think each story was shown for the time it was?
Depending on the importance and significance it was showed for depended on the time it was shown for, for example, the election went into more detail than Tesco's economic loss rather than the refugees being found.

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?
16-34 year Old
Living in the UK
Educated
Adults of the class of ABC1
Independent companies
Who want to know what is happening in the world - news wise
Why might someone choose to watch this TV News programme over others?
Unlike most news programmes, Channel 4 is fairly modern and has an enjoyable, happy atmosphere which many members of the audience (target audience) warm to. Also, the amount of depth channel 4 go into is also, more interesting as they have more live interviews and facts and figures as well as the main facts that the news almost has to give.
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or comment?
There aren't many opportunities for the audience to get involved at it doesn't to be as modern as it seems to be however, there are opportunities online for example, they have a YouTube website which has a more relaxed feel as it goes into more detail in topics which the viewers are possibly more interested in.
What audience pleasures (Uses and Gratifications theory – Blumler and Katz) does the programme offer?


Institution

Who owns, runs or produces this TV News programme?
OFCOM own this TV Programme which is in agreement with the secretary of State for Culture, media and sport.Which is shown on Channel 4.
Does the institution own, run or produce any other TV News programmes, channels or newspapers?
OFCOM also, regulate other companies such as TV and Radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services and the airwaves over the country which is what wireless devices connect to.
Channel 4 also present well known shows such as Hollyoaks, Big Brother and come dine with me.
How does the programme fit the TV channel it is on?
Channel 4 is known for the bold approach on learning that they present through their programmes, which demonstrates that the programme fits the channel it is on as the news demonstrates a factor of learning as it presents the news of the day.
What role does OFCOM have in making sure TV News is fair and accurate?
OfCOM play a huge role in making sure TV News is fair and accurate as it makes sure explicit content is only shown after 9pm which is fair as every programme under the regulation of OFCOM has to follow these rules, also, they have to sow the right amount of accuracy (Right facts and figures), they have to be true facts, they cannot be biased.

TV News and New/Digital Media
Does the TV News programme have a dedicated website?
Channel 4 News does have its own website which gives links to the YouTube channel which shows exclusive detail about a couple of news headlines which were on the live show.
What does the website offer viewers?
The website offers access to more detail and more headlines of the show.
Does the TV News programme have a Twitter feed?
yes it does have a twitter feed.
How does the Twitter feed promote the programme?
It gives links and more interesting news headlines which the younger generation would be more interested in which allows more citizen journalism and more people talking about facts and headlines
Is there an opportunity for the audience to get involved in the programme or submit news stories?