SWNS
Casting Researcher
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(Fixed Term Contract – 3 to 6 months)
SWNS Originals
Contract: Fixed-term (3–6 months)
Location: Bristol hybrid (We operate on a 3 day office, 2 day WFH week)
Start Date: ASAP
Salary: Dependent on experience. This is an early-career opportunity.
Applications should be sent to jobs@swns.com
About the Role
The UK's largest independent news agency in the UK is looking for a resourceful and highly motivated Researcher to join the SWNS Originals team.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone with early-career experience in casting, journalism, documentary development, factual entertainment or contributor research who thrives on finding untold stories and building trust with people from all walks of life, at the UK's most trusted news organisation.
While the immediate priority will be casting and research for a number of new and existing formats on the Key Witness channel, https://www.youtube.com/@Key_Witness, the successful candidate will also support wider development activity across SWNS Originals, helping identify stories, talent and access opportunities for documentaries, factual formats and video-first productions.
We hope this may become a full-time, permanent role for the right candidate, should business need remain.
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Experience in journalism, documentary casting, factual television, development or production
- Proven ability to find and secure contributors with compelling real-life stories
- Strong interviewing skills
- Excellent research skills and attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience handling sensitive and emotionally challenging subjects with empathy and professionalism
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- A proactive, persistent and self-motivated approach to work
- An interest in true crime and human-interest content
- Not afraid to pick up the phone and call people who may not be expecting to hear from you
- Able and willing to hit the road, and go out on location to source contributors and do research
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Desirable
- Experience casting for documentaries, factual entertainment, podcasts or digital formats
- Understanding of duty of care, contributor welfare and editorial compliance
- Experience working with vulnerable contributors
- Knowledge of true crime, human interest and documentary storytelling
- Experience creating contributor briefs, casting documents and development materials
- Understanding of media law
- Experience in video production
- Able to drive and have a car
Key Responsibilities
- Find and secure compelling contributors at the centre of extraordinary real-life events, for Key Witness and other original video-first formats
- Conduct contributor outreach, pre-interviews and suitability assessments
- Build relationships with charities, support groups and key contacts to uncover new stories
- Research stories, gather supporting information and identify strong editorial angles
- Prepare contributor summaries and briefing materials
- Work closely with the production team to support filming and development
- Ensure all contributors are assessed with appropriate editorial and duty-of-care considerations
- Help build a pipeline of exclusive stories and contributors for future series and formats
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Personal Qualities
We're looking for someone who:
- Loves finding stories
- Enjoys speaking to people and building trust quickly
- Has excellent instincts for what makes compelling factual content
- Is resilient and comfortable making high volumes of approaches
- Can work independently while collaborating effectively with a wider team
- Is empathetic, conscientious and professional
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to help shape the next phase of original factual video-led content at the UK's largest independent news agency.
You'll play a central role in finding extraordinary contributors and helping bring their stories to screen, working alongside experienced journalists, producers and development executives.
The role offers the chance to make a genuine impact from day one, with responsibility, autonomy and exposure to projects at the earliest stages of development.
To Apply
Please send:
- Your CV
- A short cover note explaining why you're interested in the role
- Examples of contributors, stories or investigations you have sourced, researched or cast
Applications should be sent to jobs@swns.com with the title RESEARCHER for the attention of Katie Pearson
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