Modes and Storytelling for Television News Documentaries Program

Abstract

       This research aims to investigate 1) the modes of television news documentaries and 2) the storytelling techniques employed in these documentaries. The study employs a qualitative research approach, utilizing content analysis of both the mode and storytelling techniques of television news documentaries. The sample consists of four award-winning television news documentaries from a media institution's contest held between 2017 and 2021. Due to the absence of award-winning documentaries in one year, the study focuses on four programs. The research instrument is the Television News Documentary Analysis Framework, which include two types: the Television Documentary Mode Analysis based on Corner's (1995) framework for analyzing television documentaries, and the Storytelling Techniques Analysis based on Yellowbrick's (2023) framework for analyzing storytelling techniques in television documentaries. Data analysis involves coding the documentaries using a coding scheme developed by the researcher and research assistants. The results are then summarized based on the research objectives and reviewed by experts in the field of television studies.
        This research findings are found. The first one is television news documentary modes. The majority of television news documentaries employ a hybrid modes, combining various elements, in which the most prevalent format is the exposition modes, while the least common is the dramatization format. All analyzed documentaries incorporate mise-en-scène, the arrangement of elements within the frame, to enhance visual storytelling. The second finding is storytelling techniques. The most commonly used storytelling techniques in television news documentaries include three aspects: visual storytelling, data-driven storytelling, and personal storytelling. The most frequent narrative structures are chronological storytelling, storytelling through participants and presenters, single-dimensional storytelling, and real-world event locations and ambient sounds are commonly used to enhance storytelling. The study provides insights into the modes and storytelling techniques employed in television news documentaries. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the genre and its potential for informing and engaging audiences.