Factual Research & Standards Researcher (National Geographic)

The Factual Research & Standards Researcher will research factual content for assigned projects to ensure factual accuracy, journalistic integrity, and overall compliance with editorial standards of NGP and NGC’s television & video content. Provide researched/accurate information to guide creation of digital, promotional and other content related to channel programming and NGP digital video products. This may extend to writing primers on a subject matter, “fun facts,” and timelines.

Responsibilities:

• Provide prompt, thorough research analysis on assigned original productions, including fact-checking shooting scripts, rough cuts, fine cuts, and ensuring final programs comply with NGC editorial standards.
• Work with the Directors of Editorial Research and Managers, Editorial Research to diplomatically guide production executives, producers, writers, and production company researchers in addressing factual issues.
• Guide production teams in the creation of a complete annotated script, providing feedback and additional research to get to an acceptable final annotated script and approved video, audio, graphics, and lower-thirds.
• Suggest visual edits and narration changes to address accuracy, premise, context, balance, and character issues. · Fact-check and create annotated scripts for acquired programs. Provide edits suggestions, as needed.
• Research re-versioning projects - working with Yellow Border/NG Studios team to fix programs that are dated or are being re-purposed as a new program
• Evaluate program proposals/treatments and work with Development team, executive producers, and acquisition managers to address accuracy, premise, context, balance, and character issues prior to production.
• Evaluate new program proposals/treatments, as noted above, and write Editorial Research Assessments as part of the greenlight process

Basic Qualifications:

• 2+ years in research discipline
• MS Office (Word, Excel)
• Excellent research, oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Must exercise independent judgment and marshal arguments effectively. Must be organized, self-motivated, and resourceful.
• Must be able to solve editorial problems quickly and creatively; complete multiple, simultaneous assignments under tight deadlines; focus in a fast-paced, busy work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of video editing capabilities and limitations is a plus
• Television/journalism/media industry background preferred.
• Foreign language skills a plus.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience

Preferred Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a research-intensive discipline

The hiring range for this position in Washington, D.C. is $63,500 to $87,500 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.