In January, I had the privilege of chairing an inspiring discussion with Fiona Campbell, Interim Director of Unscripted Content at BBC, as part of an RTS Futures Northern Ireland event.
As Chair of RTS Futures NI, moments like this are refreshing and show me exactly why these events are extremely important. The room was full of emerging talent: students, early-career creatives, and people looking for an exact formula for breaking into television without the “right” contacts. Fiona’s presence and her candour were energising. We were lucky to have her take time out of her busy schedule to share her expertise with us.
What struck me most was how directly Fiona spoke about access. She was clear: she didn’t come from a media family, didn’t have an easy route in, and didn’t follow a neat career path. She talked about writing to strangers, volunteering for the hardest jobs, saying yes before feeling ready, and making herself indispensable by being adaptable, practical, and relentless. She illustrated this with concrete and unglamorous examples which kept the audience engaged and intrigued throughout.
The conversation ranged widely, from commissioning and analytics to socials, AI, and the importance of regional voices but it always came back to one thing: the industry has changed, and if anything, expectations for new entrants are higher than ever. Fiona was refreshingly honest about what she looks for now, which is much different from when she started. She’s looking for proof you can publish, understand audiences, read data, and think like a creator. Running a small YouTube channel or managing a brand’s Instagram? That counts and will get you noticed.
For a Northern Ireland audience, Fiona’s next point really mattered. She was unequivocal: you no longer need to move to London to build a career, but you do need to know the market. That means following commissioners and indies, turning up to events, and actively putting yourself in the mix. Regional voices aren’t a box-ticking exercise; they sit at the heart of the BBC’s public service remit.
Chairing this conversation reinforced why RTS Futures NI exists. Hearing directly from someone making decisions at the highest level gives people clarity, confidence, and momentum. Fiona didn’t sugar-coat rejection, competition, or how tough the industry still is. But she also made it clear that initiative, curiosity, and resilience are still the most valuable currencies we have.
And if there was one takeaway Fiona left us with? Get your driver’s licence. Safe to say, that’s now my New Year’s resolution. However, what I took from the conversation most strongly was how directly applicable Fiona’s advice is to my day-to-day work as a Development Researcher at Spark Media in Belfast. The emphasis on understanding audiences, spotting stories early, thinking beyond the pitch and staying curious about where unscripted is heading all felt immediately relevant.
Chairing the discussion wasn’t just inspiring, it was a useful reminder of the skills and mindset needed to keep developing strong, distinctive ideas. I left the conversation genuinely excited about my ideas and everything that lies ahead for me at Spark Media in 2026!