BTSR guidebook ~ Training & skills self-evaluation
History Channel - Learning & Development for Edit Assistants
| Date: | June 2009 |
|---|---|
| Contact: | Hollie Mann |
| Telephone: | 020 7941 5210 |
Learning & Development for Edit Assistants is a fantastic opportunity for a junior level entrant to get hands-on experience working with broadcast quality edit kit on actual projects. Learning & Development for Edit Assistants is an ongoing on-job training scheme, first introduced at The History Channel in 2005, to maximise use of resources.
The Editing and Post Production Team at The History Channel identified a need to make better use of expensive resources, overbooked during the day and not utilised outside of normal working hours (overnight and weekends). They developed the role of Edit Assistant, an on-job training scheme, which was initially offered as an eleven-month contract, with a weekly review of working schedules based on demand. Now into its fourth year, experience has shown that there is a consistent weekly workload and the most recent recruit has been offered a permanent, full-time contract. Edit Assistants work evening and weekend shifts, during which they have full and unrestricted access to all the edit equipment and carry out assigned tasks. They thus acquire a wide range of editing skills on front line equipment and participate in real projects but without the scheduling pressure of daytime operations.
The scheme is aimed at recent graduates who have shown an interest in production and have some limited experience of video/audio editing, perhaps through an amateur interest e.g. a home edit suite. Four of the five Edit Assistants employed thus far were external candidates, though the most recent was an internal appointment.
The cost of the scheme - the salary of the Edit Assistant - is outweighed by cost savings from resource use, both equipment and staff. All material is digitised into AVID suites and dubbing in the machine room is carried out during the night and weekend shifts, ready for the daytime work of the Editors. Not only does the scheme achieve optimum use of resources and a training role for a new starter, but by taking digitising and dubbing out of the daytime edit sheets, it has had a positive knock-on effect on bookings and what can be achieved by the Editors during the day.
The Edit Assistant role is fully supported by the Senior Editor, who works closely with the Edit Assistant to ensure they have the necessary skills for the assigned projects, a clear understanding of the equipment they are using and edit suite etiquette. During the night and weekend shifts individual initiative in problem solving is encouraged, although there is always someone available to be called if absolutely necessary. The Edit Assistant has email access and a notebook log to record any incidents that occur during their shift. These are then discussed with the Senior Editor at the start of the next shift. The current Edit Assistant attends the bi-weekly team meetings.
There are basic core competencies required of the Edit Assistant during the training scheme. Beyond these basic competencies there are further opportunities for development, such as informal job cover; recently, the current Edit Assistant felt equipped to provide Editor holiday cover, while the Edit Assistant role was covered by the Tape Traffic Co-ordinator, who had completed a self-funded AVID 101 edit course and was looking for additional experience in the Edit Team.
Both substantive (daytime) Editors started as Edit Assistants and have subsequently achieved promotion to their present positions.
