TV News | Our Idea and Initial Research

For our online news channel, we want to produce a series aimed at young people (aged around 18-25) with premise of looking into urban myths and social misconceptions.  We will aim look into allegedly hangover 'cures', whether vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking, as well as more absurd and funnier subjects like old wives' tales.

The Brand

THE BUNKER

A play on the word 'debunk', as the channel will focus on debunking urban myths and social misconceptions.  The branding around the channel will be themed as a parody of conspiracy theorist channel, but will be more aimed at light-hearted mythbusting with both comedic and serious elements.  I will host the show with other presenters, such as Katie reporting on packages outside of the studio.

Pitch / Topline:

"Hello and welcome to THE BUNKER! YouTube's answer to debunking myths and theories you may or may not even know existed!"

We felt the pitch should be colloquial and light-hearted, whilst also selling the brand as something that would appeal to the audience with a sense of mystery to entice them to watch.  I think we have achieved this in our topline.

Katie carried out some research into mythbusting and debunking:



E-cigarettes

This segment will take on a more serious tone than the pre-recorded package, but we will still aim to allude to a more jovial and light-hearted tone.

• Story
• The government has endorsed e-cigarettes as a method of quitting smoking, but with the rise of 'DIY e-juice', are there more dangers than we realise?
• Research
• Jason carried out some research into e-cigarettes:

• Contributors
• We have reached out to a 'vape lounge' in Canterbury who is willing to be interviewed by us
• We have also contacted people from 'ash.org' and Medway Stop Smoking Service for expert opinion
• Locations
• Vape Royale, Canterbury

Hangover Cures

For this package, I feel it would be more appropriate to prerecord the footage, rather than use this story for the live segment as this would take be the funnier, more lighthearted story - I feel this tone would be difficult to convey in a live setting.  

• Story
• Our reporter (Katie) will follow a group of young people on a night out, keeping track of what they are drinking before we skip forward to the next morning.  Each of them will be trying to cure their hangover through different methods: greasy fry-up, drinking lots of water, and tablets.  Katie will investigate which cure works the best before we cut back to me in the studio. 
• Research
• We carried out some research on hangover cures, looking at the science of a hangover and what 'cures' were out there.
• I looked into the effects of alcohol and explored the idea of focusing on the 'Go Sober for October' campaign by Macmillan:




• Melissa focused on the science behind hangovers:

• Contributors
• Group of students
• Locations
• Student house in Canterbury