18 MAKING THE INDUSTRY ACCESSIBLE
Theresa Wise MBE, CEO of the Royal Television Society, talks to Monica Heck about the importance of skilling up, the success of its Mini MBA, and preparing for challenges ahead
With nearly 140 learners signed up since its launch last year, the new RTS CPD-accredited Mini MBA in Television and Streaming Media is rapidly gaining momentum, much to the delight of Theresa Wise MBE, CEO of the Royal Television Society. “We are getting early testimonials at this point and receiving terrifi c feedback from our learners,” she says. “People are fi nding it insightful and enjoying their exposure to industry leaders and practitioners.” Wise is pleased to see more learners signing up all the time from a variety of backgrounds, from entry-level bursary scholars and freelancers sponsored by ScreenSkills, to big hitters such as Channel 4, ITV, the BBC and Sky. Indeed, every year the RTS offers Television Production and Technology bursaries to help those from less affl uent backgrounds get a foothold in the industry, while masterclass sessions bring together students, academics and industry heads. Since the fi rst RTS Bursary Scheme was launched in 2013, the society has supported nearly 400 students from lower-income backgrounds, with 82% of graduates securing employment within TV and related industries. Wise explains that the Mini MBA is about giving participants the inside track on an industry that can have barriers to entry. Delivered online and self-paced through an interactive learning management system, the course provides over 80 hours of learning, case studies and inside business knowledge to current and future industry leaders. “One of the challenges of our industry is there
are an awful lot of people who understand issues but are not explicit about explaining them,” says Wise. “I would describe it as the industry ‘having its arm around its homework’ and we are trying to take barriers away and give people more access to valuable insights.” Aside from education, some of the core activities undertaken by the RTS include an annual agenda-setting Autumn Convention, where global media and technology leaders as well as government ministers gather together in Cambridge or London to consider the key issues impacting the industry. The RTS also delivers a programme of events throughout the year, which consider every aspect of the industry, from practical discussions to behind-the-scenes insights into
RTS CEO Theresa Wise “We are very excited about the
future of the industry, and while only a very brave person can predict a long way ahead, I feel that it’s a huge privilege to be part of and support an industry that creates compelling and engaging content”
hit shows. This includes RTS Futures events and careers fairs, which are aimed at entry-level talent, while a number of student masterclasses are delivered by leading industry practitioners. In addition, 14 regional and national groups curate lively events and awards around the UK and Ireland, with each Centre Committee chaired and directed by local volunteers. At IBC2025, the RTS once again has a strong
presence, including at the IBC Owner Pavilion in Hall 8. “I look forward to meeting attendees there, where I expect our main discussions to be about turbo-charging the industry and skilling up,” says Wise. Visitors can also see Wise and Media Cartographer Evan Shapiro on stage again this year, following an insightful discussion at last year’s show. The session will offer observations
on the past year, as well as insights into the growth of the creator economy, new entrants to the market and, of course, a focus on the need to skill up the industry and make sure it is ready for the challenges ahead. Titled ‘The UK Television Universe in The User Centric Era: Evan Shapiro and Theresa Wise talk business!’, the session takes place today from 15:45-16:30 at the Showcase Theatre in Hall 8. “Sports often lead the way when it comes to driving advances in our industry, and AI continues to make big headlines, partly because of the threats it can pose and linked to concern over intellectual property, but also because of the opportunities it presents,” concludes Wise. “At the RTS, we are very excited about the future of the industry, and while only a very brave person can predict a long way ahead, I feel that it’s a huge privilege to be part of and support an industry that creates compelling and engaging content.”
Theresa Wise MBE is CEO of the Royal Television Society. Visit the organisation throughout the show at the Owner Pavilion in Hall 8.
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