Current affairs (news format)
Encyclopedia
Current Affairs is a genre
of broadcast journalism
where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news
stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast.
This differs from regular news broadcasts that emphasizes on news reports presented for simple presentation as soon as possible, often with a minimum of analysis. It is also different from the news magazine show format in that the events are discussed immediately.
The UK's Office of Communications
defines it as "explanation and analysis of current events and issues, including material dealing with political or industrial controversy or with public policy
" and distinguishes it from the coverage of news, coverage of special events like parliamentary proceedings, and the coverage of consumer affairs, among other exceptions. The BBC cites Panorama
as its flagship current affairs programme, with BBC One
programmes such as Real Story
, BBC Scotland Investigates
, Spotlight
, Week In Week Out, and Inside Out
also fitting the definition.
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast.
This differs from regular news broadcasts that emphasizes on news reports presented for simple presentation as soon as possible, often with a minimum of analysis. It is also different from the news magazine show format in that the events are discussed immediately.
The UK's Office of Communications
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
defines it as "explanation and analysis of current events and issues, including material dealing with political or industrial controversy or with public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
" and distinguishes it from the coverage of news, coverage of special events like parliamentary proceedings, and the coverage of consumer affairs, among other exceptions. The BBC cites Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
as its flagship current affairs programme, with BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
programmes such as Real Story
Real Story
Real Story was a current affairs programme which aired on the British television channel, BBC One at 19:30 GMT weekly on Mondays. It was hosted by Fiona Bruce who was also presenter of Crimewatch. The programme was edited by Dave Stanford and produced by Mike Lewis.It focused on the weeks big...
, BBC Scotland Investigates
BBC Scotland Investigates
BBC Scotland Investigates is a current affairs programme broadcast in Scotland by BBC Scotland. It is broadcast regularly on BBC One Scotland on weekday nights, currently with varying timeslots....
, Spotlight
Spotlight (NI)
Spotlight is the name given to a BBC Northern Ireland weekly current affairs programme.The programme is aired on BBC1 Northern Ireland at 10.35pm on Tuesday evenings, with a repeat on BBC2. It is available to UK viewers outside of Northern Ireland on BBC iPlayer for a week after the programme...
, Week In Week Out, and Inside Out
Inside Out (BBC TV series)
Inside Out is the brand name for a number of regional television programmes in England broadcast on BBC One. Each series, made by a BBC region, focuses on stories from the local area...
also fitting the definition.