Page title Name
Jason Bates
Researcher/AP, Development Researcher
United Kingdom

Jason's Biography

I am an extremely hard-working and dedicated individual. My past experience across a diverse range of factual and entertainment formats has seen me become an excellent contributor finder. I also excel in fact-finding and checking which stems from my background in journalism. I am very driven and especially persistent in chasing difficult leads.

I try to work hard in everything I do and never leave work unfinished - I have a true desire to work in this industry. I am personable but tenacious, I fight hard to get the job done.

See my C.V for more info!

Credits

Activision: 'Blur' Viral - The Viral Factory , United Kingdom
2009 - Clearance Co-ordinator
Researched iconic internet clips for a worldwide internet viral for computer-games maker Activision.

Obtained and negotiated licences for clips.
Checked compliance for sign-off with client and compiled sign-off file.

Viral achieved 306,000 hits in its 1st week on Youtube.

Development Team - TwoFour Broadcast , Unspecified
2009 - Development Researcher
Worked within TwoFour's development team alongside my other duties on production.
Contributing to brainstorms/generating ideas and writing treatments.
Pitching to network heads.
Background research towards a number of formats including 'Built from Disaster' (commissioned for FIVE).

Noel's HQ - TwoFour Broadcast , United Kingdom
2009 - Researcher/AP
(4 X 60" & 1 X 90" prime-time entertainment show with Noel Edmonds)

Managed logistics of the 'Noel's Big Band' instrument campaign.

Pivotal in securing the participation of big companies like HMV & Classic FM.

Story sourcing and gate-keeping including tracking viewer correspondence.

Sourcing stills and using legal knowledge to verify stories, concentrating closely on 'right-to-reply's'.

Are You Smarter than a 10-Year-Old - TwoFour Broadcast , United Kingdom
2008 - Researcher
(2nd Series of prime-time and access peak quiz show for Sky One with Noel Edmonds)

Helping to arrange and facilitate a nationwide audition tour for contestants. This involved phone auditioning many hundreds of contestants and booking slots at various venues for those who were successful.

Shooting audition tapes with a Z1, including contestant interviewing and assembling contestant pitch-sheets for network.

Assembling contestant biographies for the questions team and hosts. This particularly involved sourcing and encouraging often cringeworthy memories from contributors about their school days.

In-studio contributor care. Co-ordinating and booking travel for large coach parties to studio.

Saving Ed Mitchell - TwoFour Broadcast , United Kingdom
2008 - Researcher
(1 X 60" prime-time for ITV1 - A gritty TONIGHT special charting the rise & fall of the journalist turned alcoholic)
Background research and developed strands of the pitch document that was sent to ITV.
I secured contact details and access to Ed Mitchell.
The fast turnaround of the documentary meant that I had to be resilient and adapt quickly to change.
I assembled a cuttings file and did pre-research for the P/D to enable him to be fully up to speed with the documentary's heart on start.

Boob Envy & Money Envy - TwoFour Broadcast , United Kingdom
2007 - Researcher
(2 X 60" Individual documentaries for Virgin 1)
Contributor finding for sensitive topics including dealing with contributors in a very discreet manner due to the topics.
Writing log sheets to assist the P/D's with the edit process. Assisting contributors on location and taking vox-pops with a Z1.
'Boob Envy' achieved a rating of 239,000 which up until this point made it the highest rating programme on the channel.

Short Change - BBC Television , United Kingdom
2004 - Researcher
(10 X 25" for CBBC - Series 12 of the kids' consumer show)
Gate-keeping correspondence from children, following up good potential stories with telephone research.
Writing scripts for a short animation strand aiming to teach kids about consumer law.
Planning short story packages. The series was nominated for a children's BAFTA.

Currie Night - ITV1 West of England , United Kingdom
2002 - Researcher
(8 X 60" Late-night Current Affairs show)

Duties included sourcing and researching guests.

Background research of people and issues using Lexis-Nexis and Cameo.

Audience research and publicity.

Employment History

THE VIRAL FACTORY JUL-AUG 2009
Researcher - Activision 'Blur' Viral

TWOFOUR BROADCAST SEPT 2008-MAR 2009
Reearcher - 'Noel's HQ'

TWOFOUR BROADCAST MAR-SEPT 2008
Contestant & Audience Researcher - 'Are you Smarter than a 10-Year-Old'

TWOFOUR BROACAST DEC 2007-JAN 2008
Researcher - 'Saving Ed Mitchell'

TWOFOUR BROADCAST SEPT 2007-MAR 2009
Development Researcher

TWOFOUR BROADCAST OCT-NOV 2007
Researcher - 'Boob Envy' & 'Money Envy'

BBC TELEVISION JAN-MAY 2004
Researcher - 'Short Change'

ITV1 WEST OCT-DEC 2002
Researcher - 'Currie Night'

Education

Sept 1999 - Jul 2002
(Bournemouth University) - BA (Hons) Multi-media Journalism

Sept 1997 - Jul 1999
(Ernulf Community School)
A-Levels : English Language: C, English Literature: C, General Studies: C, Media Studies: A

Sept 1992 - Jul 1997
(Ernulf Community School)
9 GCSE's A*-C including: English Language: A*, Drama: A, History: A

Industry Qualifications

I Graduate From the Channel 4 Reseacher Training Scheme in August 08.
Courses Attended:

Convergence and New Media Skills Lab
Think Bigger June 08

Development Skills Lab
Colin Savage Stand well back April 08

Z1 camera sound and lighting NFTS
March 08

Final Cut Pro
Space Studios March 08

Media Law and Copyright
Sean Mcternan Feb 08

Interview Skills Lab
Think Bigger Jan 08

Archive Skills Lab
Think Bigger Oct 07

Health and safety
Des Stuart and Associates Sep 07


Sept 1999 - Jul 2002
(Bournemouth University)

NCTJ Preliminary Examinations including: Law & Ethics, Handout Journalism, Public Affairs, News Theory

Skills

Microsoft Word
Excel
BBC Upfront

Additional Information

Industries

  • Corporate, 
  • Online, 
  • Radio, 
  • TV

Programme Types

  • Business, 
  • Childrens, 
  • Comedy, 
  • Comedy (Children's), 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Daytime, 
  • Development, 
  • Documentary, 
  • Docusoap, 
  • Entertainment, 
  • Game Show, 
  • Investigative, 
  • Magazine, 
  • News, 
  • Observational Documentary, 
  • Quiz Show, 
  • Reality TV, 
  • Social Action, 
  • Studio Debate, 
  • Training, 
  • Youth

Specialisms

  • Business, 
  • Children's, 
  • Cinema/Film, 
  • Consumer Affairs, 
  • Copyright Clearance, 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Disability/Special Needs, 
  • Finance, 
  • International Affairs, 
  • Journalism, 
  • People Finding, 
  • Programme Development, 
  • Programme Formatting, 
  • Radio, 
  • Rights Acquisition, 
  • Social Issues, 
  • Undercover Investigation

Languages

  • French, 
  • German

Permits

  • EU

Licenses

  • Basic Driving (PLG)