ITV News Opening analysis

Analyse the connotations of the title sequence

The first thing we see when the opening titles start at 0:44, is big Ben  which is also a phallic symbol with it standing proud, what we also see is the time on big Ben's clock face says its 1:25pm and quickly moves to 1:30pm which is the time the program starts which could also connote that its "time for news". I have already mentioned big Ben but it is also a landmark, and at 0:49 you can see a group of construction workers building the Olympic stadium from the 2012 Olympics  this would also connote that the news channel also focuses on continuous news as well as current news. throughout the whole of the titles i could only see one clock and that is big Ben  this could connote that the channel does focus on world news, but news in this country is their main priority. There doesn't seem to be any transparent objects, except when they film inside the studio and you can see a bunch of tv's, with different archive footage on them behind the glass, this would connote that they are looking for news story's anytime of the day and it also shows the many diverse news stories that they encounter trying to force this idea that they're not a biased news program. I couldn't find a single satellite in that entire opening, this could connote because that this is a brand new opening from a month or two ago, that they have disregarded old methods of receiving news, and have gone to digital and are also using the internet for a source. there was no shot of the world from space in this opening, there were a few land marks like i said but this bring be back to my other point that this news channel mainly focuses on news from the UK and Ireland. The only eyes that matched the rule of thirds, were the news readers at 1:00, but there were a lot of shots of people walking, this could sort of connote that again the news broadcasts on a diverse scale. I counted five instances of technology, at 0:44, you see big Ben  sure its old technology but its still counts, at 0:47 you see a wind farm, piloting the idea of a much greener electricity source, at 0:49 you see a construction site, using technology that was never used to build things 100 years ago, at 0:52 you see what looks like surgeons operating on someone or something, this kind of technique would have never been used in the 19th century, and finally at 0:54 you see a convoy of cars going down a busy road, all of these would connote that itv news is stepping into the future and is keeping up to date on all technological advances. At 0:55 you see a rushing graphic saying itv news being followed by an up beat tune that would beat every time the graphic quickly zoomed out, this would connote that they would get you the news on time and ready, to the beat you could say! the music in this is a fast paced, beaty brass sound that would almost change key every time a different shot would appear. Usually, there would be a really fast beat in the background of these news titles, almost like it were Morse code, the lack of the beat in this would connote that again they're stepping into the future, abandoning all outdated technology, and going for a medium that would let you receive news so much faster. There is no male voice over in this opening although there is a female voice over saying "This is ITV news, with Nina Hussein  this could connote that the stereotypical place of the woman in society is starting to deteriorate to give them a non-biased look, also judging from the name, they're also hiring women of different cultures to read the news as well to, again, not give them a bad look.

Analyse the connotations of the newsreaders

The first thing we see when the clip has started is that Nina is already to get started, she is following the rule of thirds and is staring into the camera as if she is looking at you and saying the news. She starts by looking down and then looking into the camera, this connotes that she has only just noticed the audience is there and is immediately ready to get started, as if shes saying "oh hello, didn't see you there" and then starts reading the news like she had been rehearsing the lines all of her life and know them off by heart. After the opening, you see her shuffling her papers, like she is always ready, like in my last point. The last thing I have to say is that she is wearing a suit, this would connote that even though she is giving you the most recent news in a quick, snappy 30 minute routine, she always has time to look formal and to look like you are getting the news from someone extremely important, making you feel important.

Analyse the mise-en-scene of the studio

As the camera cranes to Nina  you see that everything is placed in a neat modern style, not every thing all over the place, this make you focus on this one space and it is more likely that you would focus on Nina as it dissolves into a mid-closeup shot. The TV's in the background could indicate that they're still receiving fresh news, even when the program has already started, this makes people feel that it is a trust worthy source. The only other thing that i could say about this is the lighting, its an ambient light, and unlike other news programs, you cannot see the studio lights, this could indicate that its less formal than all the other channels because instead of being on a stage, addressing the news to you, its like your in a room with her discussing the current events and makes you feel more at home.