Viki Carter on LinkedIn: #unscriptedtv #goodmanagement #managementintv (2025)

Fascinating article. Foreshadows many of our findings on human rights risks in post production as well (due to launch later this year).See for example: "Managers in television production, on the whole, do not primarily identify as such, but rather foreground their role in relation to the ‘creative’ process of production. This reflects a broader industry tendency to overlook and undervalue management skills."

What does it mean to be a good manager in TV? Our latest free-to-access research article is based on interviews with TV middle management. It examines challenges in management of a freelance workforce whose experience is characterised by financial insecurity, poor work-life balance and lack of coherent career structure and support, within a system that predicates against diversity.https://lnkd.in/eU8uTZ7z

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🚨THIS JUST IN!🚨Companies everywhere are experiencing extreme regret fornothiring TV journalists—and the panic is real.Reports are flooding in from HR departments nationwide as businesses realize they’ve been missing out oncriticalskills. “We thought we were fine until the board meeting went off the rails,” said one anonymous CEO. “Turns out weneeded someone who could break down complex topics in seconds while keeping the room engaged—aka, a TV journalist.”Sources say companies are scrambling to fill gaps in leadership, creativity, and—get this—time management. *Laughs in news desk*Apparently, not having someone who’s used to meeting insane deadlines and staying calm in total chaos has been a huge oversight. “We had a situation where the weather was awful, the Wi-Fi cut out, and half our team was running late to a live event. We didn’t know what to do,” admitted one event manager. “We could’vereallyused someone who could keep calm under pressure and solve problems on the fly. Turns out TV journalists are pros at that.”Another major regret? Missing out on top-tier negotiation skills. “We can’t even get a supplier to cut us a deal, but these journalists are out here cold-calling people and getting exclusive interviews in minutes?!”And don’t even get them started on leadership. “We hired someone to manage our creative team, but we should’ve gone with a journalist. They manage producers, photographers, and editors while delivering polished work under intense deadlines. What were we thinking?!”In summary: if your companyhasn’thired a TV journalist yet, expect the regret to hitrealsoon. You’re missing out on top-notch storytelling, flawless multitasking, and a level of crisis management that would make anyone jealous. Stay tuned for updates as companies rush to make their next big hire… a TV journalist.(You heard it here first!)#hireajournalist #communications #mediatraining #opentowork #publicrelations #prstrategy #hireme #brandjournalism #news #contentmarketing #directorofcommunications #mediastrategy #storytelling

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Lessons from the job search…No one outside of daytime tv has any idea what a daytime tv producer does. We know that we are unicorns that are literally capable of doing anything, but no one else does.We are the creatives coming up with the ideas.Finding stories to tell, creating innovative ways to tell them, deciding what questions to ask, creating games, lessons, entire worlds on a set.We’re creative writers.We break down brand briefs and find creative ways to integrate branded products, you know, like creative directors at agencies! We negotiate tradeouts with companies for products we need to make a segment perfect.We are casting agents finding the best guests.We are experts in different fields every single day because we become experts in whatever we’re producing- beauty, fashion, food, medical, home, finance- we do it all!We’re expert communicators who have to convince higher ups that our ideas are great, and get our guests to be open and energetic on set.We’re media trainers who get experts to communicate clearly and with authority on any given topic.We help experts break down topics they’ve spent their lives studying into digestible 4-7 minute long segments that regular people can learn from!We collaborate with every department- directors, props, scripts, travel, hair and makeup, graphics, marketing, digital, etc- to make sure everyone is on the same page and segments go off without a hitch!We train, mentor, and manage teams! At the end of the day, a producer’s job is to get things done!To find creative solutions around the road blocks.To entertain.To teach.To put out quality tv even when resources are tight.We get it done, whatever “it” is.Frankly, there’s nothing we can’t do.#hireproducers #opentowork #pivot

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My Transferrable TV Skills For A Non-TV Career In Non-TV Terms!Having worked in #BroadcastTVNews & #DocumentaryFilms for several years, I have a treasure trove of transferable skills - as the #MediaLandscape changes rapidly, I am planning to use them to attract professional opportunities both inside & outside the #Media domain.So if you think you can benefit from my expertise, do get in touch. I promise, apart from this incredible list, I have tons of fabulous #TV #Stories & #DocumentaryFilms to entertain you 😊. Below is a list of transferable skills what exactly we can take from our TV careers to a new job. It is by no means exhaustive as its mainly from a production point of view. Every role will have its own unique skills.1. #CONTENT CREATION & STORYTELLING:• Bi-Lingual Storytelling English<>Urdu: Crafting compelling visual & written narratives that resonate with broad audiences, especially in fields like marketing, content creation, and journalism.• Content Production: Skills in producing, shooting, editing, and publishing engaging content across various media platforms (documentary films, television, social media, podcasts, etc.).• Bi-lingual Copywriting: Writing factually correct, compelling scripts and content tailored to specific audiences.2. #COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT• Pitching & Expressing Ideas: Conceive, develop & communicate project ideas, negotiate deals, and maintain clarity with clients.• Building Relationships: Ability to work with diverse people, from high-profile clients to team members, helps freelancers manage client relations and build strong professional networks.3. #PROJECT & TEAM MANAGEMENT• Managing Teams: Experience in leading teams of producers, cinematographers, sound techs, researchers etc. and delegating tasks, and collaborating with stakeholders. • Staff Coordination & Team Building: Managing remote teams or subcontractors on larger projects.• Problem Solving & Multi-tasking: Handling multiple clients or projects, often simultaneously, while troubleshooting issues efficiently.4. #MENTORING & TRAINING FACULTY: Sharing expertise and mentoring as a consultant and Adjunct Faculty at the universities.5. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND #RISKASSESSMENTS: Understanding events and filming challenges and risks. Leading H&S advice and responsible of crew and contributor care.6. ADAPTABILITY & INDUSTRY VERSATILITYBroad skill set adaptable to various industries, including media, corporate, and consulting.People are often surprised at how versatile and multi-skilled we #Journalists & #Filmmakers are when they see it all written down. Then its just a question of us proving we can do that specific job.PS: I researched & compiled this personal list with the help of a list prepared by UK based media practitioner. Feel free to modify and adopt it.Cheers.Photo Courtesy: Myself at the #Documentary Master Class Institute of Business Management led by US filmmakers in Karachi.

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Mastering the Spotlight: The Art and Skill of Television Anchoring The captivating presence that commands attention, the unwavering poise under pressure, the ability to deliver news with clarity and authority – these are the hallmarks of a successful television anchor. But beyond the polished on-air persona lies a world of dedication, meticulous preparation, and a deep understanding of the ever-evolving media landscape. Television anchoring is more than just having a pretty face. Exceptional anchors possess a robust skillset that goes far beyond aesthetics. Vocal control, strong pronunciation, and the ability to modulate one's voice for emphasis are crucial tools in an anchor's arsenal. The ability to think on their feet is paramount, as live television is a dynamic environment. Eliciting insightful and engaging responses from interviewees is an art form that successful anchors have mastered. Strong questioning skills, active listening abilities, and the ability to navigate tense or challenging interviews are all essential. Establishing credibility and trust is perhaps the most valuable asset an anchor can possess However, technical skills alone do not define a great anchor. Certain intangible qualities are equally important. A genuine passion and a desire to communicate with the public are driving forces in this profession. Anchors also possess a thirst for knowledge and a natural curiosity that compels them to get to the bottom of the story. Empathy and emotional intelligence allow anchors to connect with viewers on an emotional level, fostering trust and engagement. Therefore, the core skills of clear communication, critical thinking, and a commitment to the integrity remain essential.#Storytelling #CommunicationSkills #PublicSpeaking #MediaIndustry#ContentCreation #SocialMediaSavvy#DigitalStorytelling

Dear non-Entertainment Industry executives: Read this. Oh, you’ve launched 3 startups? Cool cool. Try launching several new shows shows per year, every year, for 20 years. Each show is a new startup- new budgets, staff, office space, equipment, vendors, HR, accounting, development, production, delivery, wrap out… Do it again…And again…And again…For decades. Producers move mountains. If you want a badass who will show up, crush sh$t and make you look great, hire a Producer like Paulina Williams , Deborah (Debbie) Mitchell or thousands of other brilliant souls who are now out of work.Ps- yes, I’ve produced over 200 shows in my career. And I’ve launched 3 startups. And now I coach businesses and executives on how to crush business and life.Hire producers- They will be the best hires you’ve ever made.#timduffyconsulting#mediapocalypse#mindfulnessatwork#hireproducers

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My advice for anyone applying for entry-level TV 🎥 Schemes:After recently shortlisting for the Channel 4 Production Training Scheme, which is something I’ve done on occasion ever since I worked there as an apprentice, here’s my advice:1) Answer the question ❗ If the question asks why you want to be on the scheme/work for that company tell us specifically why you want to work for that particular Broadcaster at that particular company and what you’ll get out of both that specific role and the associated training.2) Give examples with your answer 💬 If the job spec says you have to watch a wide range of content then don’t just list some of the things you watch but mention specifically what you love about those shows, again if the spec says ‘maintains good general knowledge about the world around them’ explain to us how you do this - do you watch the news, listen to podcasts etc?3) Proofread your application 👩🏾💻 There were quite a few applications I read where there were repeat spelling mistakes and I understand that for certain people they might have conditions that makes spelling difficult etc but generally it’s always a good rule of thumb to proofread your application a few times and maybe get someone else to proofread it as well.I hope that helps! 🤞🏾 These schemes can get thousands of applications so you really have to do all of the above to make sure you stand out.Good to luck to anyone looking to get into the industry at the moment! I know times are dire but I truly believe the industry will bounce back 🤗 #CareerAdvice #TVJobs #TVJob #TVProduction #TVCrisis #EntryLevel #TVScheme

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A strong pitch is key to selling a show, which is why TV writers put so much effort in preparing one. Now they want to get paid for that — and increasingly are. In a trend that started after the pandemic and took hold after the strike, many writers are earning a fee ranging from $5K-$25K to develop a pitch for a series.Traditionally, production companies and studios make “if come” deals with writers for a project, guaranteeing them a script fee, typically in the low six figures, which is only paid if the project sells. Writers spend time to prepare what is referred to as “development material,” which they use during the pitch meetings to better present their vision for the series with the goal of securing a buyer. If that does not happen, they don’t get any money.This was not a major issue during the golden age of broadcast when the five networks would order a combined 100 pilots a year, purchasing several times as many scripts, and during the feeding frenzy era of Peak TV that followed, which kept 500-600 scripted series going at any time. There were always buyers looking for content, giving writers and studios plenty of options. That started to change after the pandemic. And with the Hollywood contraction accelerating post-strike, selling a show has become extremely difficult, making the preparation of a pitch a high-risk proposition.

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As a college freshman, I first stepped into a TV newsroom. Hired initially as a production assistant, I went on to earn my stripes as a producer (and later as Director of Community Relations). I was back at the station last week with clients and was reminded of lessons that fast-paced environment taught me—knowledge that has shaped my entire career:👉🏽Be nimble and able to pivot. In live TV, there’s no time to panic. That skill serves me well, especially in crisis PR.👉🏽Optics matter. How things look influences how they're perceived—visuals always count.👉🏽Good content is king. Before social media, I learned what makes content compelling, a lesson I still apply.👉🏽Work with diverse personalities. From celebrities to everyday people, I learned how to communicate with people from all walks of life.👉🏽Write for impact. I've seen bad press releases get ignored—now I know how to make mine stand out. And a :30 or :60 spot? I can write one like nobody’s business.👉🏽Be succinct. In TV, every second counts. You learn to deliver the most critical information in the fewest words possible. That skill has been invaluable in my work today—whether it’s writing copy, crafting key messages, or presenting to clients.————So, if you're just starting out in your career, embrace the early lessons—because they can shape your future!#TVnews #businessadvice #comms #prlife #exectiveadvice #prtips #motivation #encouragement #inspiration

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