Media researcher

Researchers in television, film and radio provide essential support to the producer and production team

As a media researcher, you'll work closely with the production team to organise, plan and research everything that will happen during a programme or show. Your role is key to the success of a production, and you're involved at all stages of the production process, including pre-production, location and or/studio filming or recording and post production.

A lot of your time is spent on the phone sourcing the various elements needed to make a programme. You'll pitch ideas, source contacts, book contributors and find suitable filming locations. You're also responsible for fact-checking, writing briefs for producers and presenters, and ensuring that production adheres to the appropriate guidelines and legislation. Some researchers also help with filming or sound recording.

You can work on a variety of programmes or within one subject area, for example news or natural history.

The job can lead to an assistant producer role, and is a chance for ambitious recruits to show their potential.

Responsibilities

Depending on the size and type of employer, you may specialise in one area, such as location or contestant/casting research, or you may carry out a range of research-based tasks and expand into more production-based activities.

In radio, broadcasters do elements of their own programme research, assisted by the producers and researchers. Researchers in radio contribute to the development of websites that enhance programme delivery and may drive the on-air contributions of listeners.

In television and film, researchers may be involved in a variety of activities, such as:

• factual research - checking that all the information used in making a programme or film is accurate, such as period costume and architecture
• picture research - examining archives for film, video and photographic material to be used in documentaries.

Typical responsibilities are extremely varied but you may need to:

• meet with producers, directors, designers, presenters and writers to discuss the research needs of a programme
• generate and develop new programme ideas
• undertake relevant background research and convey findings accurately to production staff in reports and briefs
• source and research facts, figures and information using the phone, internet, film and tape archives, specialist collections, picture libraries, museums and government departments
• assess contributors' suitability for the programme and develop an up-to-date database of regular contributors
• research and book contributors, guests and locations
• provide a written brief to presenters or, in some cases, such as live events, feed information to the presenters
• recruit freelance staff and negotiate fees
• provide administrative support such as typing, answering the phone and dealing with contracts
• brief scriptwriters, presenters and guests on topics and prepare them for live interviews
• write and update scripts and edit news reports
• manage programme content and video editing on websites and other social media channels
• negotiate broadcasting rights
• source copyright for literary and music sources and gain clearance for any materials used
• find interviewees to conduct initial interviews with and get vox-pop responses to current events from members of the public
• direct a small shoot and carry out straightforward editing.

Salary

• Freelance and short-term contracts are particularly common in this industry.
• According to Production Base, the minimum rate of pay for junior researchers in TV or film is £120 per day/£600 per week.
• With experience, the minimum rate of pay for freelance researchers is £154 per day/£770 per week. These rates of pay are minimum rates and are to be used as a guideline only.

Rates of pay vary widely depending on the size and type of company and location, the production itself (size, scale and budget) as well as your skills and experience.

Income data from Production Base. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Unsocial working hours are a common feature of the job. Researchers may work up to seven days a week for long periods.

What to expect

• Staff jobs are extremely hard to come by and researchers are usually freelance. They are generally taken on for specific projects or programmes (often lasting no more than two or three months). To secure regular employment, you'll need to build up a reputation. Large corporations, such as the BBC, may employ some researchers on permanent contracts in areas such as news or sport.
• Researchers work in a variety of settings, ranging from office-based research to interviewing people in the street. Documentary researchers may sometimes work undercover.
• You will report to the producer, who will provide you with a brief. You'll work closely with assistant producers and production coordinators, as well as with crews, contributors and presenters.
• Many opportunities are in London and at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays near Manchester. However, there are opportunities in other major UK cities as well.
• The work is challenging and demanding and requires a high level of commitment. The work culture is generally informal, but you may feel pressured with tight deadlines to meet.
• Travel is common when interviewing potential guests and contributors or looking for locations, for example. You may also attend and help in filming. You may also have to travel overseas for some research projects.

Qualifications

Although not essential, many media researchers have a degree. The following subjects may increase your chances:

• art
• broadcasting and media
• design
• English
• history
• journalism
• media studies
• politics
• public relations
• theatre.

Having the right mix of relevant work experience and skills, personal qualities and confidence is more important than your degree subject.

You'll need experience and knowledge of the production process gained from roles such as runner or personal assistant.

Knowledge of current affairs and the media is useful for general researcher roles. You may need specialist knowledge and research experience for specific subject areas or documentaries.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not essential, although a practical journalism or media course may help. Research courses thoroughly before applying to make sure they meet your career aims.

If you don't have a degree, you could start to build your skills and knowledge by taking a Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production or the Level 3 Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology. Alternatively, you could take an advanced broadcast production assistant apprenticeship, which combines paid work with study for a level 3 qualification.

It may also be useful to take specialist short courses to help develop your skills. Relevant courses are offered by organisations such as:

• BECTU
• ScreenSkills

Skills

You'll need to have:

• excellent writing skills to create clear and concise reports and documents
• a creative approach to problem solving and the ability to think outside the box
• excellent verbal communication, presentation and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with people from different backgrounds
• organisation and administration skills, with the ability to multitask
• flair and imagination with an instinct and passion for a good story
• resourcefulness, determination and motivation
• visual thinking and the ability to be adaptable yet methodical
• attention to detail
• teamworking skills so that you can provide practical support to the production team
• the ability to work well under pressure and to tight deadlines
• strong IT, digital content and research skills
• the ability to work collaboratively, but also independently
• confidence, patience and tact when dealing with the production team, writers, actors, presenters and the public
• knowledge of legal and ethical principles in relation to the media and copyright, data protection and public liability, as well as health and safety procedures
• the ability to manage your own workload and promote yourself to get new work.

You will usually need a driving licence.

Work experience

Pre-entry experience is vital. Many media researchers have gained experience in entry-level jobs in television, often as a runner, or have worked in newspapers or radio or in other areas of research.

Opportunities for work experience do exist, but places may be limited so you'll need determination to succeed. Companies offering a variety of work experience opportunities include:

• BBC
• Channel 4 - opportunities include their Production Training Scheme for those interested in careers in research or as a production assistant
• Creative Access - work experience and internship opportunities for communities that are underrepresented in the creative industries
• ITV
• Pact Indie Diversity Scheme - includes work placement opportunities such as trainee development researcher
• Sky - opportunities include a production graduate placement.

You will need to be creative in seeking out work experience opportunities. Try to get experience in a research role with your local or regional press, hospital or community radio, or student publications, films or TV productions. You could also contact local production companies to see if they offer work experience. Be prepared to attend industry events and network.

Work shadowing a researcher can also be useful as it gives you an insight into the role and can help you start to develop a network of contacts.

Experience in related areas such as project management will help you develop your communication, problem-solving and organisation skills, which are key to working as a researcher.

If you're trying to get into freelance work, Broadcast is a useful resource to subscribe to.

Joining communities with an interest in film, television and radio will help provide useful links and keep you up to date on current affairs within the industry. These include:

• British Film Institute (BFI)
• Royal Television Society
• Women in Film and Television UK (WFTV)

Build a portfolio/show reel of everything you've contributed to, from newspaper articles to television programmes, to demonstrate your experience when approaching potential employers.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Most researchers work on programmes for:

• television
• independent production companies
• radio
• satellite and cable companies.

Researchers are employed by large broadcasters such as the:

• BBC
• Channel 4
• Channel 5
• ITV
• S4C (Welsh language television channel)
• Sky.

BBC Cymru produces and broadcasts in both English and Welsh, while BBC Alba broadcasts Gaelic programmes, made almost entirely in Scotland.

There are also hundreds of independent production companies in the UK. These include:

• All3Media
• Avalon
• Big Talk Studios
• Endemol Shine UK
• Hat Trick Productions
• RDF Television.

There are hundreds of smaller independent companies, based mainly in London, which mostly recruit freelancers.

Commercial radio companies include:

• Bauer Media - includes Kiss, Absolute Radio and Magic networks
• Global - includes Capital, Classic FM, Gold, Heart, LBC, Radio X and Smooth
• News UK - includes talkSPORT and Virgin Radio UK.

Researchers are also employed by a small number of production companies in the film industry.

Most researchers work on a freelance basis for specific projects and programmes. Large corporations, such as the BBC, may employ some researchers on permanent contracts in areas such as news or sport. They also have a Researcher Talent Pool for work as and when opportunities arise.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BroadcastJobs.com
• grapevinejobs
• Mandy.com
• Production Base

To make speculative applications, consult employer listings on websites such as:

• Kays
• KFTV

When making speculative applications, do your research and make sure your CV and covering letter are targeted to the company you want to work for.

Websites such as Start in TV are useful for tips and advice on breaking into the industry.

Professional development

The majority of training is on the job, although short training courses are available in-house or externally. The BBC, for example, runs events and training that are advertised on BBC Academy.

Training opportunities within broadcasting companies are usually linked to operational needs.

Training courses, events and workshops are offered by a range of organisations. ScreenSkills (the industry-led skills body for the screen industries), for example, provides details of training courses funded by ScreenSkills and other relevant training providers. They also provide advice on getting into the industry, as well as information on bursaries and mentoring opportunities.

Career prospects

There is no fixed career ladder for the role of researcher in TV, film and radio. However, you will often start as a runner before starting a career as a junior researcher or research assistant.

Career progression is achieved by working on a variety of programmes, films and stations so it's vital that you establish a strong network of contacts in the industry to help you secure work. As you gain experience, you will start to build your reputation, which can lead to more work and potentially higher pay.

Researchers in local radio may move into the national network, while those in television may go on to work on high-profile current events programmes or specialise in a particular area, such as music, contestant, archive or location research.

With experience, you may find there is an opportunity to move into a senior researcher position, supervising a team of researchers. It's also possible to move into an assistant producer and then producer role.

Further options include moving into other media roles, such as journalism, or other areas of production.