The particular episode that I chose also contains the above elements.
I chose to talk about the “free” holiday- extract of the programme from 13th November 2002.
Watchdog had received many complaints from the viewers across the country about a ‘free holiday’, offered by a timeshare company.
The Watchdog crew looked into the matter more closely… they interviewed the three families that received the same offer.
One family didn’t even stay until the end of the presentation, after they found out that they were not entitled to a ‘free’ holiday, unless they bought a timeshare at the cost of £8000, which there was no way they could afford.
Another family weren’t happy either. Although they stayed through the presentation, and asked the company several times, whether there was anything else to pay apart from the £39.49 handling charge, the answer to which was NO, they decided to cancel. Apparently, they had to pay additional £60 airport tax, and additional £90 if they wanted to fly from their 1st choice airport. And if they do cancel, they have to pay £279 cancellation charge per person.
The third family did get their holiday, eventually, after 12 months’ waiting, and paying all the charges. They flew from their 1st choice airport, to their 2nd choice destination.
Watchdog invited the representative for the company, to discuss the problem. They also went to the address of the company and took a secret shot through the window. Another person interviewed was a former employee, talking about his time with the company.
The ‘talking heads’ are the families interviewed, as well as the representative for the timeshare company.
The representative from … company is also an authoritative voice. All interviewees are speaking to the camera.
There is also an on the spot report- the secret shot through the window, narrated by of Watchdog’s journalists.
The strongest points of Watchdog are:
- The on the spot reports. My chosen episode, for instance, looks very believable, as the report has been shot secretly, outside the … window.
- Interviews with former employees. Like in this case, a former employee comes forward, describing his feelings while working for …
- Interviews with companies’ representatives, authorities. In this episode, the … representative is being confronted about the situation, by having been provided a letter sent to one of the victims of a ‘free’ holiday offer, as evidence.
The actual programme, in my opinion, is very believable, as things like this can happen to any one of us.
I, myself, received a letter once, saying that I have been entered in the prize draw and have won a brand new BMW. In order to receive my prize I had to send a £25 handling charge. I had no idea where they got my details from, but was thinking of accepting this offer. Luckily for me I had accidentally frown the letter away, and did not pay the charge. Therefore, I was very relieved when later I saw a TV programme about this kind of offers.
Due to my own experience and the style of the programme I believe that Watchdog is a real and honest show.
Student: Maria Strinatko Lecturer: Steve Cockrell
December 2002
