Genre analysis (television News)

Understanding TelevisionAssignment TwoShane Gladstone Chose a television genre. Outline its distinguishing characteristics and discuss its place in the medium of television today. Make reference to at least two programmes in your answer. Selected genre - Television News: The BBC 'From the 1950's onwards numerous surveys of public opinion have demonstrated that the public learns about world news primarily from television.' (Mullan, B 1997:80) News tells stories. The stories of our society both good and bad …

…There may be some disgruntlement at the Americanised style in which some programmes are dealing with serious issues and current affairs, but with the ongoing development of digital television and channels devoted solely to news, the ability to select one of many sub-genres, whether it be traditional, Americana or contemporary will soon be upon us. My final sentence poses this question: are we coming into the golden age for television news...? Who knows? Word count 1650