Television Production: Sensationalism vs. Reliability
When you’re working in television, it can be quite tempting to make things as sensational as possible. After all, this is what people are looking for on TV nowadays right? And the more sensational, the better. This is the reason why the Kardashians are such a big hit—they always have something sensational going on in their lives.On the other hand, there are television series which try to educate the viewer rather than simply giving them entertainment. These are the types of shows which provide reliable information and have a long-lasting impact.
Sensationalism in Reality TV
So if you’re planning to produce a television show, what should you go for? Sensationalism or reliability? The answer is: it depends. If you’re producing a reality show, then of course, you want to go for something sensational and juicy. You want to lay bare the inner workings of the human mind. You want to show what people are thinking and feeling in their brightest moments as well as their darkest.
Reliability in Documentaries
If you’re producing a documentary, you might want to shoot for something different. In this case, it’s important for the show to be well-researched and to educate its audience about an important issue (or at least an issue that you consider important). In such cases, reliability of information is of the utmost importance.
Providing Entertainment and Information
Remember that no matter what you’re making for TV audiences, it should provide both, entertainment and information. You can make your reality TV show more reliable by documenting how your characters are really feeling rather than sticking to a script which is more sensationalistic. And you can make your documentary more entertaining with good footage, interesting subjects, interviewees who are passionate about the topic and background music which reflects the feel of the scene.
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