Watching The Reality TV Phenomenon

May 24, 2012 - PRLog -- With the success of programmes like “The Only Way Is Essex”, “Made In Chelsea” and “Big Brother” it’s sometimes difficult to remember a time before reality TV.  In truth, reality television has been around for a long time but it was just called something different.

Factual Programming – the art of news and current affairs, documentaries etc has always relied heavily on the man in the street.  In order to produce a one-hour documentary though, the programme makers would often have to film hour upon hour of interviews. To then edit a narrative into the story, the interviews would have to be transcribed.

Audio tapes were made from the video footage (or film in the early days) and passed onto the typists. Many newsrooms were packed full of transcript typists, whose job it was to plug into their cumbersome foot-pedal controlled machines and transcribe the interviews into the written word which made it easier for the producer or director to craft a story from.

These days fortunately things have changed.  Whilst the process is essentially the same, fortunately technology has stepped in and now audio files can be saved as a computer file replacing the old tape cassette.

Digital dictation has made its way into many other areas of business too – with professions such as surveyors and high court enforcement officers.  Basically anyone who has the need to document their movements or log events in their day can, and should, try using a digital dictation service.  Some services on offer, such as Shertalk, enable you to upload audio files which are then whisked away to typists who produce written reports from your spoken word.  Your own workload could be considerably reduced overnight if you decide to dip your toe into online transcription services.

But back to reality (television).  There doesn’t seem to be any stopping the flow of new programmes which champion the eccentricities of life in Britain today. Desperate Scousewives followed wannabe WAG’s in Liverpool through their endless days of shopping, tanning and beauty treatments, while Wife Swap preferred to highlight the contrasts between two different families.  

Talent shows are a similar story, with people thinking shows such as The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent are new innovations, but again talent shows have always been around, in various different guises.  Esther Rantzen was responsible for the UK’s first talent show which saw an unknown name launched into a career of their choice. Whilst most were consigned to the “never heard of them” file shortly after the shows, Sheena Easton was the one big name to come from the series, and went on to have a huge career in entertainment.

So remember when you’re watching the latest fad, that it’s probably been done before but with less technology and possibly in black and white!

Visit : http://www.shertalk.net