Led by two professional radio producers with over 40 years of pitching and documentary-making experience between them, this session will offer insider insights into radio, and how to pitch your ideas to BBC networks. Participants will be sent details regarding the deadlines for submission of pitches.
The following questions will be addressed in a workshop setting: how does radio ‘work’?; what is pitching?; how might I turn my research into a radio programme?; what are radio commissioners looking for? The workshop leaders will present practical information relating specifically to BBC Radio 4, including relevant contacts and pitching deadlines.
Competition for Radio 4 commissions is fierce, with thousands of ideas pitched from all over the UK (and further afield) for a small number of available programmes each year. Despite this, over the two previous years that these sessions have been run there have been two successful commissions with Radio 4 and one with the World Service. In addition, one idea has featured on Something Understood on Radio 4.
Open to all researchers in MPLS and Medical Sciences Divisions, from DPhil students upwards.