Researcher, National Geographic Content

Job Summary:

National Geographic is looking for a Researcher to join their Editorial Research team! This person will research television and video content to ensure factual accuracy, journalistic integrity, and overall compliance with National Geographic’s editorial standards.

What You Will Do:

• Provide prompt, thorough research analysis on assigned original productions, including fact-checking shooting scripts, rough cuts, fine cuts, and ensuring final programs follow NGC 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 fact-checking to ensure the accuracy of all final content (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 edit suggestions, as needed.
• Research re-versioning projects. Work with our in-house production team to update older programs with accurate information or repurpose them as part of new content.
• Evaluate program proposals/treatments and prepare written assessments of the accuracy, premise, context, balance, and characters.
• Fact-check, edit, and/or write copy to serve the digital, social, marketing/PR, communications, and editorial needs of assigned NGC projects.
• Update database and associated research files for assigned projects.
• Work with production management and Research Directors to track schedules and workload peaks.
• Provide researched/accurate information to guide creation of digital, promotional and other content related to National Geographic’s television, film, and digital video products. This may extend to writing primers on a subject matter, “fun facts,” and timelines.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• 1 year of experience in the television, journalism, media or other research-intensive field.
• 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 and audio editing capabilities and limitations is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Foreign language skills a plus.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

National Geographic Content is devoted to illuminating the wonder of our world and inspiring people to protect it through our storytelling across platforms, including television and film in linear and streaming, print and digital experiences, and social media, where we have more followers than any other brand in the world. The National Geographic Editorial team is responsible for engaging both new and existing audiences through the creation and distribution of best-in-class content for our magazines (National Geographic, National Geographic Kids and Little Kids, National Geographic History, and single-topic newsstand specials), digital platforms (NationalGeographic.com and our app), and social accounts. We work across all media types, including photography, video, text, graphics and data visualization, cartography, and interactive digital experiences. Our primary aim is to use our storytelling to drive growth in followers, engaged newsletter audiences, subscribers, and loyal users who stay with us because they love how we inspire, entertain, and inform them. 

About Disney Entertainment Television:

Disney Entertainment Television is a collection of renowned content brands at The Walt Disney Company creating original entertainment and news programming for the company’s streaming platforms Disney+, Hulu and Star, and its broadcast and cable networks. Its extensive portfolio is comprised of ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content and Onyx Collective, in addition to Disney Television Studios, which include 20th Television, 20th Television Animation, ABC Signature and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Responsible for over 4,500 hours of programming a year across more than 300 programs of all genres, Disney Entertainment Television’s creative brands are at the forefront of groundbreaking storytelling, captivating audiences and generating critical acclaim. In 2023, Disney Entertainment Television’s programming excellence earned 163 Emmy® nominations across daytime, primetime, news & documentary, and children’s & family categories.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with National Geographic Partners PAY SVC, which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment Television.

National Geographic Partners PAY SVC is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney fosters a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a rapidly changing world.