Screening the World (June 2008)

IBT has commissioned this new research because it addresses the international content of three key genres – children’s, factual and news – which are crucial to the future of public service broadcasting.

In chapter 1, for the first time, we measure the nature and volume of children’s programming with international content, in order to have a clearer understanding of what information about the wider world is available for children on television in the UK.

The second chapter of this report is the latest instalment in a unique longitudinal study, first commissioned by IBT in 1989, which has tracked the changing nature of international factual programming on UK television.

Chapter three explores some of the issues raised by the coverage of the post election violence in Kenya and highlights the difficulties which UK broadcasters face in reporting a fast moving and complex news story. Download the full report here (pdf)

You can view some of the original data by downloading the following tables:        |   Factual TV  |   Children's TV   |     and you can get lots more detail directly from Sophie Chalk.

Reflecting the Real World 2 (2007)

In October 2007 we published another piece of qualitative research. Based on interviews with senior broadcasters and new media specialists, the report looks at how the changing nature of broadcasting – particularly the growing importance of new media - impacts on coverage of the developing world.

The report also includes interviews with young people to find out which media they use to learn about the wider world. One of the key

conclusions is that the young people we spoke to rely mainly on television, not the internet, when they want to find out what's happening in the world. The report includes recommendations to broadcasters and NGOs on how television coverage of the developing world could be improved. Download the full report here (pdf)

In 2006 we published two pieces of research:

Reflecting the Real World?
This piece of qualitative research examines how UK television portrays developing countries. Leading broadcasters and developing world experts were interviewed. Both groups acknowledged past and present weaknesses, but there was a consensus that improvements had taken place and some recent initiatives broke new ground. Focus groups were organised and viewers were shown clips from a range of international programmes to see which had the greatest impact. There was enthusiasm for programmes which took risks or felt more authentic. The report included recommendations for future action by broadcasters and NGOs. Download full report (pdf)

Bringing the World to the UK
Part of a unique longitudinal study, begun in 1989, this is the eighth in a series of monitoring reports which examines how the main public service channels meet their obligations to cover
international issues. The report revealed that non news and current affairs factual programming filmed in developing countries saw a significant rise since 2003. The highest increases were on the BBC channels with ITV and Channel 4 both performing less well.
Download full report (pdf )

IBT’s goal is that UK television should produce a wide range of
imaginative, inspiring and innovative high quality programmes – across a range of genres – which enable a mass audience to learn about and engage with the developing world, its people and the issues which affect their lives.