For those wanting to get into the TV and Radio industry last weeks talk provided some useful tips on how to get ahead. The speakers were Bob Dickinson, Freelance Radio Producer and Cat Lewis, Executive Producer and managing director for Nine Lives Media. 

The talk started with Bob who works mainly for the BBC as a freelancer and gave a good insight into what it's like to work in this fashion as he's had a long and fruitful career working both for the BBC as an employee and as a freelancer. 

He gave details of how to pitch ideas and made the important point, which was later reiterated by Cat - to be successful in this type of career it's all about the IDEAS.  Keep them coming and log them, whether they're small or big, his advice was go nowhere without an ideas book.  His book has been the source of many commissioned radio pieces and he explained how logging small ideas can bloom into much bigger ones.  Another good piece of advice he offered was not to be downhearted. He explained how rejection is a huge part of the process of producing programmes and just because an idea has been rejected once doesnt mean it can't be stored, revisited and revamped at a later date.

The talk then moved onto Cat Lewis,  who started in the business when she was 14 years old as an intern at her local radio station in her spare time.  Savvy from the start she turned a 3 week project into a 3 year one just by asking.  

In her first piece of advice she developed Bob's idea of IDEAS!  She said to be in the business of TV and radio, it is low paid (to start) and long hours so you have to passionate about this route first and foremost.  She also said it pays to immerse yourself and train yourself in this concept of ideas!  Never close your eyes to opportunities and stories around you and ask yourself “will this make a good program”.  Keep a close eye on what's happening at present on TV, radio, in newspapers as well as Art and Design and don't feel that your ideas are not important. 

Next is EXPERIENCE which can be a catch 22 situation, as to get a job in the industry you need the experience but to gain the experience you need the jobs!!!  She said it's great that there are so many vocational courses out there which give a level of experience but within her company and a lot of TV companies it is important to gain a good post grad qualification in TV and Broadcasting. These are the best institutions Cat reccommended for post grad courses...

- UCLAN
- FALMOUTH
- CARDIFF
- CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON

So if this is your career direction check them out.

She also said interestingly that there are no set career ladders in this business - it'ss more of a D.I.Y. ladder.  So to putting it plainly you need to make sure you set your ladder against the right house.  There is no use going for any old job out there.  If you're into the Inbetweeners then why go for a job on BBC Radio 4 - it makes no sense.  You have to make friends in the business, as “people do business with friends” and she suggested that even if you do 2 weeks (recommended amount) of unpaid work, that you do every single little job with passion and enthusiasm as you will be watched. This comes from her own experience running her company.

So to sum it up, to get a job in TV and Radio-
- Get the very best qualifications you can
- Get some experience
- Sell yourself through your ideas (currency of the business)
- Make sure you are pitching for the right job

Simples!!!

And for more pointers check out this book recommendation from the talk – CONFLICT - the Insiders' Guide to Storytelling in Factual/reality TV & Film by Robert Thirkell

Sarah Miles - Words
Karl Doran - Video Capture
Mary Stark - Video Edit
Digitial Reporters Team