Representation

All types of media forms are re-presentations of reality. But the producers and editors of them censor them in way that they want the audience to perceive them, one reason for doing this is to create interest and to get their audience talking, drawing more attention to the media source. An example of this is ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ broadcast on Channel 4 back in January 2007.


The producers and editors of the programme edited some of the contestants in an unlikable light, causing a massive stir outside the house resulting in a race row. All though the programme was being portrayed in a bad light, the media’s attention was all on Big Brother, and people were still watching the programme because they wanted to find out what was going to happen next!
The constants that were represented badly were quickly voted out and left to face an angry public and debates about their inappropriate behavior. After the programme came to an end, OFCOM had received over 45,000 complaints. This resulted in a huge investigation and according to BBC News article (May 2007)

“Channel 4 had made some serious editorial misjudgment:’


The article also states:

“Channel 4 will have to broadcast Ofcom's findings ahead of three of its programmes - the first show of the new Big Brother series on 30 May, the first re-versioned show the following morning and the first eviction show”

One of the contestants made this statement in another BBC News article (February 2007)

“The whole thing has been so unfair and so cruel," she added. "I've not been portrayed as the person I really am." – Jo O’Meara


The majority of the time the audience has their own perception on most subjects but by the producers censoring the media forms this can influence and change the audiences’ opinion on that particular subject or issue.

T.V. Soaps are re-presenting real-life issues using fictional characters. The soaps re-presenting today’s society of the issues and cultures which we all experience such as marriage, adoption, abortion, still birth, death, eating disorders etc.







































The fictional families represent the types of family’s in today’s society e.g.)
‘Nuclear Family’ (The Webster Family in Coronation Street.)
‘Extended Family’ (The Slater Family in Eastenders)
‘Gay Couple’ (Jonny Foster and Paul Lambert in Emmerdale)
‘Step-Family’ (Steve McDonald and Michelle Connor in Coronation Street.)














Representation is an important part of today’s media. In many ways it helps us to understand different things.