Then this high-end TV socials producer training is here to support you to make this next step.
You must have experience of high-end TV unscripted, likely either blue-chip natural history programming or premium docuseries. You will be working at AP level or above, most likely within the editorial team.
The course will be delivered twice over 2 days and we are looking to train a total of 16 participants (maximum 1 person per production / company)
Who is this course for?
This course is open to freelance HETV unscripted professionals who:
- are working at AP level or above with credit(s) in HETV unscripted
- can demonstrate an interest in, or aptitude for, platform-native social storytelling
- have an understanding of editorial judgement, contributor care and audience engagement
- can demonstrate how they intend to apply the learning within their future career development
- are freelance and/or working on short-term contracts
We also welcome applications from those looking to return to work following a career break who have equivalent experience.
We are offering 2 iterations of this course – London and Bristol. Both delivered face-to-face over two days.
London
Bristol
Thursday 28 January: 0930 – 1630
Think like a Socials Producer
Understand where the Socials Producer sits within an HETV unscripted production and the value the role brings across production, post, broadcaster/SVoD, marketing and audience teams. Explore how briefs are shaped, content is commissioned and approved, and how the Socials Producer brings together editorial, production and audience thinking to create a coherent social strategy.
Tell HETV unscripted stories for social audiences
Discover how to translate the storytelling skills you already have into social-first ideas. Using natural history and premium docuseries material, you’ll explore how to identify the strongest stories, characters, moments and hooks, then decide what to tell, where to tell it and how to adapt the approach for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts and other channels, without losing the quality, context or integrity of the original programme.
Stop the scroll without losing the story
Explore what gains attention in a crowded feed and how social storytelling differs from broadcast and streaming. From hooks and first frames to pacing, thumbnails, captions, tone and audience action, you’ll learn how to package premium factual content so that it feels native to the platform while remaining true to the story, rather than simply chasing clicks.
Make confident editorial decisions
Social content can move quickly, but the same editorial responsibilities still apply. Work through the practical considerations around factual accuracy, contributor care, sensitive subjects, archive and music rights, permissions, accessibility, compliance and reputational risk. Learn how to recognise potential problems, build appropriate approval routes and make defensible editorial decisions.
Build, pitch and improve a social strategy
Bring the creative and operational thinking together to develop a credible social campaign. Explore workflows, commissioning, capture lists, versioning, publishing calendars and approvals, alongside the audience data that tells you whether content is working. You’ll use insights such as watch time, retention, reach, shares, saves and engagement to make better creative decisions, and learn how to pitch and defend your strategy to industry stakeholders.
- position yourself for Socials Producer roles in HETV Unscripted.
- add social-first expertise to your existing TV skillset, increasing your value to productions and employers.
- bridge the gap between television and social, bringing strong editorial judgement to platform-native storytelling.
- take on greater responsibility for social strategy, audiences and content across the production lifecycle.
- demonstrate your HETV Unscripted Socials Producer credentials with practical experience across premium natural history and docuseries.
This programme is delivered by Johnny Rickard.
Johnny is an Unscripted Development Producer, Content Creator and digital strategist with over a decade’s experience creating audience-focused content for broadcasters, streamers, brands and digital platforms.
Straddling the worlds of unscripted TV and social-first content, Johnny has developed content and strategies for brands including Top Gear, Channel 4.0, Richard Hammond’s DriveTribe and JBL UK. His experience spans social-first formats, branded campaigns generating millions of views and digital channels reaching audiences of millions.
Johnny specialises in translating television storytelling and production values into compelling, platform-native content, with a particular focus on what captures attention, sustains engagement and connects with audiences across today’s social landscape.
Delivered by
Our Funders
This training is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions.
We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, or would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email: hetv@mission.guru.