Generic research: defining modes of documentary and hybrid genres

1: Expository conventions
- Voiceover addresses the audience directly.
- The narrator may be heard but not seen, or may be seen and heard, shown as an expert in their field.
- Editing is used for continuity.
- Attempts to persuade the audience a particular point of view, often by appealing to logic and the idea of a common-sense response.
- A variety of footage, interviews, stills, and archive material is assembled to support the argument.

2 Observational conventions
-  Location shooting- hand held cameras.
- Long takes dominate.
- Synchronous sound recording.
- No voiceovers.
- No interviews.
- Documentary's maker's presence hidden.
- Subjects pretend that they are not being filmed.

3 Participatory or interactive conventions
- Documentary maker/crew interact with the subject.
- Interviews dominate but tend to be informal.
- Long takes dominate.
- Voiceover, usually by the documentary maker.

The term 'popular factual programming' is a way of referring to the new television formats that combine elements from several genres such as soaps and game shows, making these documentaries hybrid genres.
An example of a hybrid genre show is 'Location, Location, Location' which has elements of games shows, in which correct actions leading to successful endings, but also has characteristics of soaps, as drama between the hosts or the families being shown around make the show entertaining to watch. However, it does differ from most British soaps because most soaps focus on working class people, whereas 'Location, Location, Location' mainly stars middle class people.