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Programme Researcher

A programme researcher provides support to the producer and production team. Researchers collect, verify and prepare information for film, television and radio productions, either working on a wide variety of programmes or within one subject area.

The work, which is very different from academic research, involves organising, planning and researching everything that will happen during the programme: who will be interviewed; where; will the film crew fit; does the budget stretch? The researcher will contribute ideas, contacts and sources to the process.

The job can be seen as an apprenticeship for the producer role and a chance for ambitious recruits to show their potential.

The variety of the work carried out by researchers depends on individual producers and the production companies that employ them.

In radio, broadcasters do a lot of their own programme research, assisted by the producers. In television and film, researchers can be involved in a wide variety of activities and the role can be divided into two:

factual researcher, responsible for checking all the information used in making a film, eg period costume and architecture;
picture researcher, responsible for examining archives for film, video and photographic material to be used in documentaries.

Typical work activities include:

meeting with producers, directors, presenters and writers to discuss the research needs of a programme;
generating new programme ideas;
sourcing and researching facts, figures and information using the internet, film and tape archives, specialist collections, picture libraries, museums and government departments;
conveying findings accurately to others in report form and briefings;
updating scripts and editing news reports;
researching and booking appropriate people and locations;
booking resources, facilities and freelance staff;
providing administrative support, such as typing, answering the phone and dealing with contracts;
briefing scriptwriters and presenters on topics;
sourcing copyright for literary and music sources and gaining clearance for any materials used;
negotiating broadcasting rights;
tracking down film, archive and video tape;
finding interviewees and conducting initial interviews;
finding members of the public for a vox pop response to current events;
directing a small shoot and doing straightforward editing.

Range of typical starting salaries for those with little experience: £10,000 - £16,000. With one or two years' experience researchers can expect to earn around £18,000 (salary data collected Aug 04).

Experienced researchers with specialist skills, such as subtitling, can earn as much as £40,000, depending on the size of the company and its location (salary data collected Aug 04).
There is a great variation in salary between employers, location, experience and the responsibilities of the job, all of which often make salaries negotiable. Freelance rates vary widely and are calculated on a daily rate between £100 and £300 (salary data collected Aug 04).
Working hours typically include regular unsocial hours, depending on the programmes. Researchers could be working up to seven days a week for long periods. Work on live programmes is more predictable.
Work takes place in a variety of settings: it can be office-based or might involve interviewing people in the street. In some cases, documentary researchers may work undercover for weeks at a time.
By the end of the first year, and having gained experience, most researchers are freelance, usually working on short-term contracts for individual programmes. In order to secure regular employment, freelancers need to have built up a reputation.
More than half of all researchers are women.
Jobs are available in restricted locations with the majority of work in London and other major cities with broadcasting bases, such as Manchester.
The work is stressful and demanding and requires a very high level of commitment. The work culture is generally informal but you may feel pressured with tight deadlines to meet.
Researchers can travel a great deal, occasionally overseas, depending on the research project.

Information taken from Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk for more information

Courses

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College
Weymouth College (2)
Bridgwater College (2)
East Devon College (2)
(1)
Yeovil College (1)
Exeter College (1)

Qualification
Other (5)
A Level (3)
AS (3)
BA (Hons) (1)

Subject
Media (9)
Photography (1)