1st Edition
The People We Watch Documentary Contributors and What Their Experiences Tell Us About the Cultural Industries
1. Introduction
2. Motivations
3. Casting
4. Consent
5. Relationships
6. Wellbeing
7. Presence and Absence
8. The Final Cut
9. Documentary Contributors and What Their Experiences Tell Us About the Cultural Industries
Biography
Emily Coleman is a postdoctoral fellow at King’s College London, whose research has been supported by both the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. Previously, she worked in the TV industry for over 15 years, producing and directing factual programmes and documentaries for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky.
“The People We Watch opens up a brilliant and nuanced interrogation of the documentary subject at the heart of contemporary television production through careful empirical research with the voices of participants and crew. Given the current spotlight on the treatment of those involved in making television, read this book to understand the important ethical and civic questions at stake for the industry and for future research.”
Helen Wood, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Aston, Birmingham
“This wonderful study breaks new ground by listening to the ordinary people who contribute to “factual” television. It’s an extraordinarily skilful and important contribution to media industry studies and to documentary scholarship.”
David Hesmondhalgh, Professor of Media, Music and Culture, University of Leeds
"The People We Watch is a meticulously researched, sensitive look at the making of documentary television programmes and the oft-neglected perspectives of the ordinary people who agree to appear in them. This book is a gem for scholars, producers, and lovers of nonfiction media."
Ruth Palmer, Associate Professor of Communication, IE University, Madrid
