Welcome to VERCIDA website.

Skip to main content
Enable Recite to make this website accessible

Visit website

The BBC Academy in conjunction with BBC News and Women in Film and Television UK is holding a free media familiarisation day for women with particular expertise who are interested in appearing on television, radio and online as contributors or presenters. The aim is to offer an introduction to the media, including practical experiences in front of a camera and in a radio studio, as well as masterclasses with industry professionals including experienced programme makers. If you have expertise in any of the following areas, and you are interested in contributing to television, radio and online content, and you can also be at BBC Broadcasting House, London, W1A 1AA on Friday 31 March 2017, then we want to hear from you. What we are looking for We welcome applicants from any area of expertise, including the following:
  • International relations and politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Terrorism
  • EU negotiations
  • Local government / social care
  • Politics – particularly from the North of England
  • Policing / security / intelligence / military
  • Senior police officers
  • Law/constitution, particularly Brexit
  • Radicalisation/extremism
  • Women in music – production rather than performance
  • Economics
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Apprenticeship trades, especially building
  • Football
  • Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
  • Health
  • Classical music
If you would like to discuss whether your specialism would be appropriate for any of these subject areas or any other area then please contact us at [email protected] How to apply You will need to send us your CV and a short film of no more than two minutes duration. The film is very straightforward and can be as simple as a friend recording you on a smartphone. The film should show you talking about yourself and your broad area of specialism. We would also like you to tell us about an idea you have for a story in your area of expertise which you think that the general public would find interesting. Your film should be uploaded to YouTube or similar and sent as a link in your entry email. Closing date The closing date for applications is 23:59 Sunday 26 February 2017 and successful applicants will be notified by Wednesday 15 March 2017. Only apply if you are able to be at BBC Broadcasting House in London on Friday 31 March 2017. Please note that the BBC is unable to refund any expenses incurred in applying for, or attending the day. Application Checklist Please send an email containing the following:
  1. Personal details:
  • Name
  • Field of expertise
  • Mobile phone number
  • Email address
  • Job title: In lay person’s terms, clarify what your job involves
  1. A link to your two minute video on YouTube or similar of yourself talking about your area of expertise and outlining your idea
  2. One written paragraph explaining the story/issue you have chosen to talk about. Why does this story need airtime? Why you are passionate about it? (250 words max)
  3. Your CV as an attachment. Please name your CV file in the following format: firstnamesurname_CV
  4. The following paragraph, deleted as applicable (see Privacy Policy, below)
do/don’t give my permission to be informed if the BBC Academy holds further masterclasses. I do/don’t give the BBC Academy my permission to share my details with other producers or broadcasters. I do/don’t give my permission to the BBC Academy possibly including my video in an Expert Women YouTube channel and playlist. All to be emailed to [email protected] Making your short film
  1. We are looking for people who can really bring their subject to life in a way that would appeal to a broad audience
  2. Keep a mainstream audience in mind and avoid complicated terminology
  3. Convey your enthusiasm and passion for your subject
  4. Don’t worry about producing a super-slick film; you can make your film on a smartphone. Just keep it simple - we aren’t evaluating your camera skills. The most important thing is that we can see and hear you clearly.
 So we can see your film  We need you to upload your film a video hosting site and send us the link to it. A simple way to do this is via YouTube. You will need a Gmail email account in order to set up a YouTube account. (Please note that YouTube and Gmail are separate third parties that are not affiliated to the BBC.  You will therefore be subject to their third party terms and conditions.) The privacy setting on your entry video must be set as either public or unlisted in order for us to view your film once you have sent us the link. Please could you title your film in the following format: First name Surname - Subject At the beginning of your film could you also please clearly state your name, job title and area of expertise. For example “Dr. Jo Smith, Physicist, Science” or “Former Detective Chief Inspector Jo Smith, ex-police officer, Crime” or “Jo Smith, consumer gadgets expert, technology”. Please send us a link to your film in your entry email (see guidance below on sharing your video if not sure where the link is). How to upload a video  See the following links on: Creating a YouTube account  Uploading videos Privacy settings  Sharing your video (please select the link to your video and send it to us in your entry email) How we will choose the delegates for this event A panel of experts from the BBC Academy and the wider BBC will view all the material submitted and will select up to 24 delegates, plus up to five for a waiting list, based on the following criteria:
  • Passion for your chosen subject
  • Communication skills
  • Your unique selling point as an expert in your field
  • Your potential as on air talent
  • Relevance and audience awareness
The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background. We will contact you by Wednesday 15 March 2017 if you have been selected. The judges’ decision will be final and we will not be able to give you individual feedback or enter into any correspondence. We will take up references before confirming the final delegates and the people on the waiting list. The event The Expert Women’s day will offer both practical experiences in front of a camera, and in the radio studio, as well as masterclasses with industry professionals including experienced programme makers. The initiative It’s been acknowledged by broadcasters across the industry that there aren't enough expert female contributors appearing on air. BBC Expert Women is our attempt to redress the balance via a series of free training days that provide experiences, insight and networking opportunities that help demystify the media and boost skills. Privacy Policy (see application checklist) As we hope to run more days like this in the future, there may be other opportunities to attend master classes even if you are not successful on this occasion.
  • We would like to add you to our mailing list so that we could contact you about future BBC events.  Please indicate whether you agree or disagree to this in your application.
  • We will also make your contact details and your clips available to producers across the industry who may contact you. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree to this in your application.
  • We may include clips on a BBC Expert Women YouTube Channel. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree to this in your application.

Thank you for registering on VERCIDA - the leading job site for companies that are passionate about diversity and inclusion.

  • Check out our client profiles to get the latest on their DE&I credentials
  • Look out for client benefits next to all our job specs
  • Sign up for job alerts to keep up to date on new roles as they come in
  • Search 1000s of roles from the biggest brands

Please proceed to the next step. If you are unable to complete the next stage of application please use the contact form HERE.

You will receive an email with link to reset your password.

Enter your new password