I wanna be in...
Being a Researcher is a varied role which puts you right at the heart of a production and sees you working closely with the rest of the team to achieve fantastic results.
The role of a Researcher calls for people who are willing to go the extra mile, and if you do, each day will offer something new and exciting. The roles you are required to perform can change frequently depending on the project you are working on, whether you're in a small or large company, and whether you are working in factual television, entertainment or drama. Multi-tasking is the name of the game for Researchers, so you need to be adaptable and able to work quickly. Examples of tasks you might be asked to complete include researching information about the topic your project is covering, finding appropriate interviewees or giving information about specific subjects, researching locations for filming and visiting the location to take photos for the Director, taking part in script meetings and letting the team know about information you have come across which could help with the process. It is sometimes the Researcher's job to make sure filming permissions and consent forms are obtained when the team are out on location or in the studio.
Researchers often work on a production from beginning to end, but sometimes they are also brought in at different stages in the process. The Development Department requires Researchers to come up with new and exciting ideas for projects. Working in Development requires very creative and original thinkers who have strong writing skills and can find out accurate information quickly and efficiently.
During or after a project Researchers may also be asked to delve into archives to source images, sound-bites or footage to use in the production. Archive research involves dealing checking the chosen archive material can be legally used in the programme. Production Coordinators or Production Managers deal with the price of the material and negotiate the fees, but occasionally Researchers will be required to do this.
At the end of a production Researchers often help with the post-production paperwork, filling in contributors' details and making a note of what music is used etc.
Some Researchers specialise in particular subject areas, so if you know lots about sport or have a degree in science, you may choose to specialise in that area. Specialist Researchers are often in high demand.
Being a Researcher is demanding, often with long hours and difficult situations to tackle, but the role allows you to try your hand at lots of different things, which should help you to make a judgement about which aspect of the job you prefer. Being a Researcher allows you to gain a window into someone's life or a particular subject matter which very few jobs allow, and if you put the time and effort in the rewards will be great and your career will move quickly.
How did you get into the media industry?
I got into the media industry by doing loads of student television and generally being a swot in all things televisual. On the back of that experience I got on a 18-month training scheme with ft2 - (Film and Television Freelance Training). This gave me a lot of experience with different companies and I progressed from there!.
What inspires you about the media industry?
The media industry is a fantastic place to work in, even though I've been working in it for a while now the ‘magic' of working telly has never really gone away. It's a constantly changing and exciting industry, and the people are fantastic.
What's the best advice you can give to people wanting a career in Research?
It helps to live and breathe television! Watch as much as it as you can (and a variety too) and try and get a sense of the workings as much as possible - for example, who are the different independent production companies and what do they specialise in? How are the BBC and Channel 4 similar and how are they different? Try and get as much work experience as you can and read Broadcast from cover to cover! And as a researcher - try and be super-organised, plan for every eventuality and lastly, label all your tapes properly - you'll be glad you did in the long run!
