The good, bad and inbetween of reality TV

We are looking to speak to participants who have worked as media psychologists within production of reality TV, who are willing to be interviewed about their experiences of care. 

We are academic researchers working on the ReCARE TV project. This project is seeking to explore reality television, working practices and duties of care. The project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.  

We're interested in all kinds of media psychologist and all kinds of experiences – good, bad and everything in between. The aim is to build up a picture of issues, challenges and good practice within the industry, from the point of view of the people working 'on the ground'. 

Reality TV is a significant and highly controversial site of media production that has rapidly expanded over the last two decades with an increasing share of the UK's £1.48bn global TV export market. High profile concerns around mental health risks have led to changes to Ofcom's Broadcasting Code around improved welfare for participants, whilst broadcasters increasingly understand a need for the continued evolution of care practices across the sector. 

 The ReCARE TV project team will be interviewing policy makers, broadcasters, production crew, psychologists and participants to investigate how care is understood and experienced across reality television. We are seeking to answer two key research questions through our work package focused on production; 

1. How is care understood, inscribed and implemented in policy and industry decision-making? and 
2. How can the analysis of care be incorporated into theorisations of cultural labour in the creative industries? 

The findings from the research will be used to improve practices within the industry and be made available to the project partners, including BECTU, Equity and DCMS Select Committee.

Involvement in the research would require a roughly 60 to 90 minute interview conducted online at a date and time convenient to you. The research team are committed to the welfare of our interviewees, and we have completed trauma-informed interview training. All data from participants will be de-identified and information reported in such a way which protects the identities of individuals, companies, and IP.   

The interview will be invaluable in contributing to a project which aims to improve care in Reality TV production. You will be offered a £20 voucher to thank you for your time.   

If you would be interested in being involved, please email [email protected] and [email protected].

If you have any additional questions or require any further information, then please do not hesitate to get in touch via email. Please also feel free to share this call for participation far and wide across your networks!   

Dr Jack Newsinger (Co-investigator/ Associate Professor in Cultural Industries at University of Nottingham) and Dr Nina Willment (Research Associate at the University of Nottingham)