The BBC Academy Podcast

Priorities for commissioners are constantly changing, so how do you know what to pitch to them? In this specially recorded discussion from Fast Train Cardiff, Richard Sambrook, director of Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, talks to a number of commissioners about the shows that excite them and the pitching process. The panel includes Kerry McGeever, assistant editor for BBC Radio Wales, Llion Iwan, commissioner for factual programmes at S4C, Ellis Owen, head of commissioning at BBC Cymru and Gwawr Martha Lloyd, drama commissioner for S4C.

Dr Who lead writer and executive producer, co-creator of Sherlock and many other TV hits: Steven Moffat gives advice and talks openly about his writing career. A must listen from the BBC Academy Fast Train Cardiff.

Learning is no longer confined to schools and universities, nor is it limited to the platforms of TV and radio. The growth of online education has seen an explosion in apps, interactive learning tools and communities which allow people to learn in ways which work for them. So how do producers of learning content meet these changing requirements? Myles Runham talks to learning professionals Catherine Allen, Simon Budgen and Abigail Tinkler about how they create and distribute learning content which matches the high expectations of today’s internet users, bringing education to a wider audience through innovative strategies.

What are the opportunities for freelancers working in drama in Scotland, across radio and television? What’s the difference between a good script and a bad script? What are executives looking for when crewing up and how can creatives and writers really engage with the reported upturn in business? Recorded at the BBC Academy’s Fast Train event in Glasgow, October 2013, author, journalist and commentator Muriel Gray chairs this panel discussion featuring Chris Aird, head of drama for BBC Scotland, Bruce Young, editor of drama for BBC Radio Scotland, director Douglas Mackinnon and writer Andrea Gibb.

Identifying the priorities for commissioners is a common dilemma for all programme makers – how to find out what shows excite them, where there are gaps in their schedules, and how best to pitch those winning ideas. In this masterclass, recorded at the BBC Academy’s Fast Train event in Glasgow, October 2013, Jo Street, commissioning executive for BBC Daytime, Alan Tyler, executive editor for entertainment commissioning, BBC Scotland, Colin Paterson, editor for topical programmes and events, BBC Radio Scotland, and Ian MacKenzie, media project manager for Channel 4, highlight some of the issues that programme makers face and offer their suggestions of how best to make use of their time and their attention. The panel discussion is chaired by BBC Scotland presenter Shereen Nanjiani.

From apps to social media to online, there are now more ways to make use of your content, capitalising on your assets and extending your reach beyond the screen. This session, recorded at the BBC Academy’s Fast Train event in Glasgow, October 2013, looks at how to approach thinking about your programme as a brand and capitalising on the full use of content. The panel of industry experts included Matt Roper, digital media editor at STV, Stephen Noble, art director at digital agency Equator, and Tom Hodgkinson, senior content producer, BBC Scotland. In the chair is Dr Jillian Ney, Doctor of Social Media, Strathclyde University.

What are the trends in specialist factual television and how do they get commissioned? How do you choose your talent and what do broadcasters want? In this session, recorded at the the BBC Academy’s Fast Train event in Glasgow, October 2013, Craig Hunter, executive producer for BBC Scotland, Ross Wilson, creative director for Matchlight, Ed Crick, creative director at Tern TV, and Anne Laking, head of specialist factual at STV discuss the current and next big things in factual production. The discussion is chaired by BBC Radio Scotland presenter Kaye Adams.

Forging a career in TV, online or radio production is difficult enough, so it’s understandable how the addition of a disability might make someone reluctant to enter the industry. Emma Tracey, Claire Burgess and Dominic Hyams talk to Ben Toone about how they manage their broadcasting careers while also dealing with a disability.

You never know what a radio phone-in might bring, so how do you stop debates going awry and keep unpredictable callers in line? Paul Buller is joined by Julian Worricker, Gabriella Incalza and Tim Wheeler to discuss how radio phone-ins work, and how the teams involved handle the unexpected.

Summer festivals have become a British institution and now festival radio is very much a part of that. Independent production company Folded Wing, the team behind Field Day Radio, share their advice on creating and distributing audio content from festivals. We spoke to Karen Pearson, Jim Lister, Tom Baker and Milly Chowles from Folded Wing to find out about the planning, production, edit and distribution of a radio show based on audio content from a music festival.