News

Total Exposure – developing professional links and skills

9 September 2016

On 28 January at the Royal Society of Arts, our 14 Total Exposure finalists presented ideas for transforming their research into TV or radio productions to an expert panel of leading broadcast commissioners. The panel of five commissioners heard our academics’ proposals for documentaries, series, one-off television programmes and radio shows. From educational one-offs about the European Union, to a documentary revisiting the Falklands War, each idea demonstrated excellent creativity and an understanding of the need to make political science accessible.

The panel were highly impressed with the standard of pitches. A number have been ‘called back’ by various members of the expert panel for talks which could lead to a commissioning further down the line. The BBC, who were represented on the day by Steve Titherington and Jonathan Brunert, already want to commission one pitch by Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan from Ulster University. Heres how Cathy found the experience:

The PSA Grand Pitching event was a lot of fun, if a little daunting. While we might deliver lectures to halls of 300 students, delivering a pitch to five media professionals, under the glare of a bright light, with a camera in the corner is a little different to say the least! But I loved it – I had three minutes to sell my idea on ‘A World of Walls’ reflecting on my research experiences in Northern Ireland and how this might resonate globally with the building of walls and barriers as an increasingly common public policy response to violence and disorder and/or border concerns. It took me 3 minutes and 2 seconds…. (I practiced beforehand). A BBC Senior Commission Editor on the panel contacted me immediately afterwards to say that the BBC wanted to work with me. Hurray! I’ve been to London again to meet him and a producer from BBC Radio 4 to discuss my ideas in more detail. I’m now in discussions with BBC Radio 4 on the shape that my programme could take, most likely to be a single one-hour documentary, looking at walls in three different locations – Northern Ireland and two others. We are working on which locations to choose now…. exciting times ahead. So huge thanks to PSA for putting this opportunity out there – I would strongly encourage anyone considering making a pitch to go for it – you’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain. Good luck!

Such was the strength of the ideas presented, the initiative is now up and running for its second year. Total Exposure 2017 was launched at the Annual Conference in Brighton – submissions will be accepted until 31 October 2016 and the Grand Pitching Event will place in January 2017.

With the very real possibility that at least one programme may be commissioned, we encourage all members to have a go. For inspiration from last year’s participants and a guide on how to pitch, see www.psa.oomi-wp-staging.com/totalexposure.