Frontline Essay

"Frontline" is a documentary. It promotes a parody and mimic of ACA programs. "frontline" is a satire which paradise TV ACA shows that are driven by ratings and commercial interests at the expense of integrity and the truth. "Frontline" links into our topic "telling the truth" as it promotes different techniques and themes, and how they are used to fabricate and twist the truth. Themes such as, no responsibility over actions, women and gender issues, image is all that matters and desire for higher ratings. These themes are found in the selected episodes "The Siege" and "We Ain't got Dames". These two episodes also use techniques such as juxtaposition, emotive language, hyperbole, satire, editing and music in order for viewer to believe what is displayed to them as the truth but in reality is a manipulation of the truth.

In the episode "The Siege" the theme no responsibility over actions is employed. As it emphasizes how news reporters are careless and take risks not caring about the individual. Just like in "frontline" mike speaks to the man who has taken his children as hostage live. He takes a big risk, putting the lives of the children in danger because he isn't a professional speaker and it isn't his job to do so either. It shows how truth is used as a tool for ratings. The technique editing is used in this episode when mike ends the conversation just as the gun man begins to say "no one listens!" the exclusive broadcasts edits out the no one listens part. This shows how the truth becomes largely irrelevant and the media may not care at all. The mistreatment of journalistic ethics becomes very obvious as the series emphasizes the consequences of irresponsibility.