A great researcher is an asset to any production, and this course is designed to give you the key skills to work across all genres of factual television. Course participants will learn through practical exercises, lectures, screenings and discussions about how to research and write a one off series doco, magazine segment or current affairs proposal. Subjects covered will include:

• how to identify potential stories and angles for different program formats
• The different research tools you may need
• Archival researching
• Understanding the important of finding great “talent” - and how to prepare them
• Basics copyright and legal issues relevant to the researcher
• The importance of thinking about visuals – even if you’re not the one actually shooting the story
• Once you’ve researched it – how to pitch your story effectively

Course director Lesley Holden is an enormously experienced, talented and respected researcher and producer. The course, run over 6 weeks, will involve a number of practical exercises to be completed outside course time so course participants should plan for some homework! If you already working in TV production and need to improve your Research Skills, or want to move into TV Research, then this course will give you a great grounding.

*DISCLAIMER* AFTRS reserves the right to cancel any course for any reason at any time. In the event of a course being cancelled a full refund of course fees will be provided. If an enrolee wishes to withdraw from a course, they may do so up to 14 days before the course commences and get a full refund. Cancellations within 14 days of course commencement will incur a fee. For more information on AFTRS Open’s policies, including refund policies, please see
our policies page.