Researcher (National Geographic)

At National Geographic we are seeking an organized and naturally curious individual to support our research function. As a Researcher, you will be responsible for factual content for assigned projects to ensure accuracy, journalistic integrity, and overall compliance with editorial standards of National Geographic publications and National Geographic television & video content.

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 National Geographic editorial standards.
• Work with the Directors of Editorial Research and Editorial Research Managers 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/National Geographic 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.
• Fact-check, edit, and/or write materials to serve the digital, social, marketing/PR, communications, and editorial needs of assigned National Geographic Publications projects.
• Update database and associated research files for assigned projects.
• Work with production management and senior directors to track schedules and workload peaks.
• Provide researched/accurate information to guide creation of digital, promotional and other content related to channel programming and National Geographic digital video products. This may extend to writing primers on a subject matter, “fun facts,” and timelines.

Requirements:

• 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.
• Understanding of video editing capabilities and limitations is a plus.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in a research-intensive discipline or equivalent work experience

The hiring range for this position in Washington, DC is $58,700.00 to $78,600.00 per year based on a 40 hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. 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.