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- I have to publish my research before anything goes public. So how can I make a programme about it?
Our institution has a press office, how is this different?
Press offices usually specialise in dealing with journalists and responding to enquiries. They produce press releases to publicise research findings, and help their institution react to news stories about them, whether positive or negative. They may provide training to prepare academics to be interviewed on a news programme or by a newspaper journalist.
Ideas Lab specialises in dealing with factual programme makers, and we work in a proactive way. We stimulate radio and TV documentaries based in new research, by creating proactive collaborations between academics and producers, giving academics control and input right from the very start of the process. We provide training and contacts to develop academics as new presenters of their subjects on TV and radio. And we help academics and institutions sift and respond to enquiries from production companies. We do this using our experience and contacts in specialist factual broadcast.
Ideas Lab is used to working with teams in universities including press offices, business and enterprise, knowledge transfer/exchange and impact, public engagement and academic consultancy – and can coordinate with your institution’s own teams in the way that works best for you.
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Press offices usually specialise in dealing with journalists and responding to enquiries. They produce press releases to publicise research findings, and help their institution react to news stories about them, whether positive or negative. They may provide training to prepare academics to be interviewed on a news programme or by a newspaper journalist.
Ideas Lab specialises in dealing with factual programme makers, and we work in a proactive way. We stimulate radio and TV documentaries based in new research, by creating proactive collaborations between academics and producers, giving academics control and input right from the very start of the process. We provide training and contacts to develop academics as new presenters of their subjects on TV and radio. And we help academics and institutions sift and respond to enquiries from production companies. We do this using our experience and contacts in specialist factual broadcast.
Ideas Lab is used to working with teams in universities including press offices, business and enterprise, knowledge transfer/exchange and impact, public engagement and academic consultancy – and can coordinate with your institution’s own teams in the way that works best for you.
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I have to publish my research before anything goes public. So how can I make a programme about it?
This is usually the case. It is entirely possible with the right advice and planning, so that the timing of the requirements of the various elements can be factored in. Waiting until your research is published before approaching a producer could be too late, as once the research process is finished there may be nothing left to film.
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This is usually the case. It is entirely possible with the right advice and planning, so that the timing of the requirements of the various elements can be factored in. Waiting until your research is published before approaching a producer could be too late, as once the research process is finished there may be nothing left to film.
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What makes a good TV or radio programme? How do I know if my idea would work?
You don’t need to have an idea for a programme, that comes later on in the process. It’s more about the nature of your expertise and the research itself. Not everything is suitable for broadcast development, and sometimes even if the research might work for TV or radio, it’s not quite the right time to pitch it. An initial short chat with Ideas Lab will be sufficient to assess whether it might be worth taking things further. We’ll provide straightforward feedback – there’s no point wasting your time or ours. We only take forward strong propositions.
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You don’t need to have an idea for a programme, that comes later on in the process. It’s more about the nature of your expertise and the research itself. Not everything is suitable for broadcast development, and sometimes even if the research might work for TV or radio, it’s not quite the right time to pitch it. An initial short chat with Ideas Lab will be sufficient to assess whether it might be worth taking things further. We’ll provide straightforward feedback – there’s no point wasting your time or ours. We only take forward strong propositions.
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Who produces the research-based radio and TV programmes?
Ideas Lab listens to you to understand the nature of your research and your ambitions, and discusses with you the potential broadcast opportunities. We identify the best production company for your research, and if you are in agreement we then approach them. We take into account a range of factors when selecting a production company, including their standing in the industry and reputation with commissioners, their track record making programmes in similar areas, their experience with ethical issues and vulnerable contributors (where relevant), and just how nice they are to work with. We then begin a collaboration which is aimed at creating a mainstream broadcast programme that is based in your research. If successful, the production company makes the programme.
Ideas Lab works with some of the very top companies in the UK, indeed in the world, including large well-known names such as Endemol, Maverick and in-house BBC, top performers in their fields such as Oxford Scientific Films and October Films, and smaller producers run by internationally award-winning executives such as Arrow Media.
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Ideas Lab listens to you to understand the nature of your research and your ambitions, and discusses with you the potential broadcast opportunities. We identify the best production company for your research, and if you are in agreement we then approach them. We take into account a range of factors when selecting a production company, including their standing in the industry and reputation with commissioners, their track record making programmes in similar areas, their experience with ethical issues and vulnerable contributors (where relevant), and just how nice they are to work with. We then begin a collaboration which is aimed at creating a mainstream broadcast programme that is based in your research. If successful, the production company makes the programme.
Ideas Lab works with some of the very top companies in the UK, indeed in the world, including large well-known names such as Endemol, Maverick and in-house BBC, top performers in their fields such as Oxford Scientific Films and October Films, and smaller producers run by internationally award-winning executives such as Arrow Media.
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At what stage do I need to approach The Academic Ideas Lab?
The earlier the better. Grant proposal stage is ideal. At proposal stage we can match you with a producer who can contribute a letter to your case for support, with a commitment to work with you should your research be funded. Then the collaboration can begin as soon as your research does.
There is still scope at other stages – and it’s worth bearing in mind that what may be already well known in your field to a general audience may still be new and exciting.
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The earlier the better. Grant proposal stage is ideal. At proposal stage we can match you with a producer who can contribute a letter to your case for support, with a commitment to work with you should your research be funded. Then the collaboration can begin as soon as your research does.
There is still scope at other stages – and it’s worth bearing in mind that what may be already well known in your field to a general audience may still be new and exciting.
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My research is very sensitive – how will it be possible to make something about it for broadcast?
Many producers are experienced in making programmes about difficult and controversial issues and in working with children, patients, and other vulnerable people who need special consideration and concern. Ideas Lab selects producers on the basis of their experience and reputation, and can find a producer with the required track record in handling delicate or confidential content to make a successful programme while caring for those involved. In most cases it is possible to work with highly sensitive issues – but not all.
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Many producers are experienced in making programmes about difficult and controversial issues and in working with children, patients, and other vulnerable people who need special consideration and concern. Ideas Lab selects producers on the basis of their experience and reputation, and can find a producer with the required track record in handling delicate or confidential content to make a successful programme while caring for those involved. In most cases it is possible to work with highly sensitive issues – but not all.
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If I work with a producer to develop a programme based on my research, what are the chances it will actually go ahead?
Pitching a programme to TV or radio is akin to writing a bid for research funding. There are no guarantees. Ideas Lab helps to increase the chances of a programme going ahead by initially only picking strong ideas to take forward, and then by selecting the very best producers to work with, who themselves have good relationships with commissioners. As academics’ time is precious, the effort required at the beginning is small, and more input is requested from you only as the idea progresses and becomes more and more likely to become a reality.
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Pitching a programme to TV or radio is akin to writing a bid for research funding. There are no guarantees. Ideas Lab helps to increase the chances of a programme going ahead by initially only picking strong ideas to take forward, and then by selecting the very best producers to work with, who themselves have good relationships with commissioners. As academics’ time is precious, the effort required at the beginning is small, and more input is requested from you only as the idea progresses and becomes more and more likely to become a reality.
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,How much does it cost?
The cost involved is only to cover Ideas Lab’s services. Producers do not charge for collaborating with you on programme ideas. If collaborating with a producer results in a programme being commissioned, all the costs of production are met by other parties (usually the broadcaster, or combined broadcasters in the case of international transmissions). Any costs of participating (for example, the use of lab time or consumables for doing experiments on camera) will also be covered by the programme budget, and your institution should be paid for this. You may also receive payment for taking part or for consulting behind the scenes.
If you take part as a presenter, or as a key contributor, this should be paid as well.
The Academic Ideas Lab can work with you at grant proposal stage to put forward our work as part of the public engagement/impact creation element of the research project, in which case it can be covered by the research funding awarded.
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The cost involved is only to cover Ideas Lab’s services. Producers do not charge for collaborating with you on programme ideas. If collaborating with a producer results in a programme being commissioned, all the costs of production are met by other parties (usually the broadcaster, or combined broadcasters in the case of international transmissions). Any costs of participating (for example, the use of lab time or consumables for doing experiments on camera) will also be covered by the programme budget, and your institution should be paid for this. You may also receive payment for taking part or for consulting behind the scenes.
If you take part as a presenter, or as a key contributor, this should be paid as well.
The Academic Ideas Lab can work with you at grant proposal stage to put forward our work as part of the public engagement/impact creation element of the research project, in which case it can be covered by the research funding awarded.
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Why doesn’t The Academic Ideas Lab charge producers – aren’t you giving them ideas for free?
Production companies have many more good ideas than they can pitch to commissioners, and commissioners have more good ideas than they can commission. Every idea a production company develops costs them, as broadcasters expect them to fund this stage themselves. So to get one of the top companies to accept your idea, it needs to compete against their own ideas, and by accepting it for development they are already investing money in it. Trying to charge producers is an unhelpful disincentive.
At one stage of its development Ideas Lab did have a tie-in with a specific producer, but that didn’t work very well. Experience has shown us that it’s much better to be independent, as this allows us to select the best producer and best outlet for each research project. Our job is to act on behalf of academics and research institutions, picking the right partners, and providing advice and support throughout the production process to make sure the programme represents accurately the research, academics and institutions involved.
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Production companies have many more good ideas than they can pitch to commissioners, and commissioners have more good ideas than they can commission. Every idea a production company develops costs them, as broadcasters expect them to fund this stage themselves. So to get one of the top companies to accept your idea, it needs to compete against their own ideas, and by accepting it for development they are already investing money in it. Trying to charge producers is an unhelpful disincentive.
At one stage of its development Ideas Lab did have a tie-in with a specific producer, but that didn’t work very well. Experience has shown us that it’s much better to be independent, as this allows us to select the best producer and best outlet for each research project. Our job is to act on behalf of academics and research institutions, picking the right partners, and providing advice and support throughout the production process to make sure the programme represents accurately the research, academics and institutions involved.
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If I collaborate on a programme, can I have editorial control?
If the programme is for broadcast by a TV channel or radio station, the commissioning editor at that channel is the person with editorial control. The producers have to respond to the desires of the commissioning editor – the commissioner is their client. Editorial control is never delegated elsewhere.
However, by being part of the team behind the design and development of the programme right from the beginning, you have a high degree of editorial input throughout the process. Ideas Lab will support your input as the programme comes together, and usually you will be asked to give feedback to the executive producer once there is a ‘rough cut’ to watch. This is to make sure the programme is correct, and is particularly important when your work involves patients, children, or other vulnerable people, as you need to be able to make comments on their behalf as well as your own. The producer will be keen to make sure the programme doesn’t contain any mistakes, and as you will have been involved from beginning to end, there shouldn’t be any surprises.
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If the programme is for broadcast by a TV channel or radio station, the commissioning editor at that channel is the person with editorial control. The producers have to respond to the desires of the commissioning editor – the commissioner is their client. Editorial control is never delegated elsewhere.
However, by being part of the team behind the design and development of the programme right from the beginning, you have a high degree of editorial input throughout the process. Ideas Lab will support your input as the programme comes together, and usually you will be asked to give feedback to the executive producer once there is a ‘rough cut’ to watch. This is to make sure the programme is correct, and is particularly important when your work involves patients, children, or other vulnerable people, as you need to be able to make comments on their behalf as well as your own. The producer will be keen to make sure the programme doesn’t contain any mistakes, and as you will have been involved from beginning to end, there shouldn’t be any surprises.
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If a programme is made about my research, do I have to appear on it?
Not necessarily. It depends on the research and on the programme. If you are very keen not to appear, it’s good to know this as soon as possible – but it’s not necessarily a problem.
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Not necessarily. It depends on the research and on the programme. If you are very keen not to appear, it’s good to know this as soon as possible – but it’s not necessarily a problem.
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If a programme is made about my research, do I get to present it?
Presenting a programme requires a different set of skills from teaching, even from on-camera lecturing for MOOCs. There are benefits to using an established presenter rather than attempting to present something yourself – for example they can bring a large audience with them. If you are keen to explore presenting, Ideas Lab can work with you on your presenting skills, experience and profile. It takes time to build up a reputation and becoming a presenter usually starts with a few smaller appearances on programmes presented by already established presenters. Getting your own show as a main presenter usually requires a showreel of these previous appearances. If you are already at this stage, we can help you put this showreel together and take it to producers and broadcasters. See the 'presenter talent training' page under 'what we do' for more info.
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Presenting a programme requires a different set of skills from teaching, even from on-camera lecturing for MOOCs. There are benefits to using an established presenter rather than attempting to present something yourself – for example they can bring a large audience with them. If you are keen to explore presenting, Ideas Lab can work with you on your presenting skills, experience and profile. It takes time to build up a reputation and becoming a presenter usually starts with a few smaller appearances on programmes presented by already established presenters. Getting your own show as a main presenter usually requires a showreel of these previous appearances. If you are already at this stage, we can help you put this showreel together and take it to producers and broadcasters. See the 'presenter talent training' page under 'what we do' for more info.
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Can you make a video for our website?
Ideas Lab specialises in developing content for major national broadcasters. We do make video taster tapes to help pitch ideas, and showreels to demonstrate academics’ presenting talent. All these are targeted at producers and commissioning editors, not for viewing by the public. We don’t usually make video for university websites, with a few exceptions for very strongly research- and impact-linked videos.
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Ideas Lab specialises in developing content for major national broadcasters. We do make video taster tapes to help pitch ideas, and showreels to demonstrate academics’ presenting talent. All these are targeted at producers and commissioning editors, not for viewing by the public. We don’t usually make video for university websites, with a few exceptions for very strongly research- and impact-linked videos.
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Can we use the programme or parts of what is filmed for teaching/research purposes?
We can usually agree this as part of our negotiations with the producer and broadcaster.
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We can usually agree this as part of our negotiations with the producer and broadcaster.
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Does Ideas Lab only work with universities?
Our expertise is available to other research-based institutions, such as learned societies and academic associations, research councils, funding bodies and charities.
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Our expertise is available to other research-based institutions, such as learned societies and academic associations, research councils, funding bodies and charities.
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