A media researcher works in television, radio or new media helping to
organise all aspects of media programming, from ideas to execution.
Media researchers work in different sectors of the media industry, including
television, radio, film and the web. They plan, arrange and execute the
production of programmes and other output in its various forms, whilst keeping
tabs on the industry and its reception in the wider world.
The researcher is a point of liaison between executives, creatives and the
public, and can work with different people from across these boundaries to
ensure the smooth running of the programming process.
A journey through the different stages of research work might start with
investigation into markets and output. A researcher is one of the people
responsible for knowing about the state of the industry, so that companies can
plan programmes which will be in tune with demand; adjust and tabulate their
productions according to current affairs; and plan future manoeuvres to widen
the public’s access to different media programmes.
The next stage becomes more specific, as researchers devise ideas for future
productions. After being sent an idea for a programme, they may be required to
establish its logistical feasibility or to find out about any cultural or
historical knowledge that would be a necessary precondition of the pitch before
it came to production.
The later stage of a media research job involves the production itself. At
this stage, practical elements come to the fore, such as filming, sound
recording, organisation and booking. This often involves large groups of people
and catering for unusual requests from celebrities or production teams who need
the researcher to set up a certain situation.
At all times, the researcher is expected to be on the ball, alert,
accessible, ready to obtain information or sort out practicalities and at ease
with their company.
Salary
Salaries can vary depending on the company, the seniority of the position,
the commercial potential of the programme and the economic forecast.
Because of the contractual nature of the work, researchers are often paid at
weekly rates, which can range from £350 for junior researchers to £600 per week
for covering senior research roles.
Responsibilities
- Meeting with directors or executives to discuss forward planning
- Practical organisation of the programme – e.g. organising the venue for
shoots, or booking travel for stars and executives
- Writing plans and reports for past and future programmes
- Researching market statistics and writing reports on what they might mean
for the company or specific programme
Qualifications
Applicants are almost always educated with a good 2:1 degree in any subject.
There is no standard request for other given qualifications, as advertisements
will usually stipulate qualifications specific to the role.
Skills
- Interpersonal skills and a good phone manner
Working Conditions
When working from the office, the working conditions are standard office
practice – stress can be an issue, but other risks are minimal.
When on location, however, conditions vary. Researchers are usually expected
to be on-site for the duration of filming, which can mean long stints away from
home and staying in hotels with no opportunity to get away.
Furthermore, unusual settings and difficult requests from directors can
involve attendant problems. However, companies are legally obliged to brief
their employees on any adverse conditions they can foresee, so researchers
should be going into any period of filming with some idea of what’s going to
happen.
In many cases, the researchers are the people who book the place and plan the
events of the filming themselves, and so they may be the best equipped for
what’s going on.
Experience
Increasingly, applicants must expect to spend some time gaining experience as
an unpaid intern before they are likely to be considered for a full-time paid
position. Most researchers are promoted from early positions as interns and
runners, and in some places it is expected that applicants for a research
position will have gained experience in the media through these avenues.
However, there is no unbreakable template for applicants, as personality and
programme-specific experience are so central to the work.
Recruitment advertisements may stipulate specific skills or genre-specific
experience. For example, the skills required to research a reality television
show in pre-production may be very different to those required to research and
fact-check a historical documentary that has already been made. On the other
hand, of course, many of these skills overlap, so a background in research of
any kind is a big help for potential applicants.
Employers
In the UK, the BBC is a major employer of media researchers, as are all the
big-name commercial television and radio stations. However, many foreign and
satellite television channels who have a strong presence in the UK media will
not necessarily recruit researchers here, as their production may all take place
in their home country, or exported abroad where they can find cheaper labour.
Career Progression
As mentioned above, researchers can expect to progress from internships and
work as runners to work as a media researcher. Promotion to a senior researcher
role is a typical advance from junior research positions. From this point on,
the career progression is less typical.
Some researchers will continue to work in a research capacity. Some will work
as executives, commissioning and overseeing the programme at the media outlet or
station. Others will focus on the creative side of the industry, writing,
directing and producing work. Still other media researchers might decide to go
freelance and combine different aspects of these roles.
