The talent problem: The policy-framing of media education and skills training for television production in the UK.

Abstract

Since the expansion of television streaming services in the UK from around 2015 there has been consternation about the growing skills gaps and shortages needed to meet the increased demand for content - the so-called ‘Netflix effect’. New opportunities, particularly in ‘high end’ television production, are now thought to be in danger of being lost due to insufficient available talent. Policy-makers have framed this talent shortage as primarily the consequence of a deficit in the quality of education, information and understanding about the media industries within the UK’s schools, colleges and universities - a supply issue. Yet ‘creative’ work in general, and television work in particular, has always had high levels of entry-level wastage and an unremitting stream of highly-motivated young people willing to self-exploit and be exploited in order to work in these industries. The idea of a crisis of talent under-supply, therefore, seems fairly implausible. This paper presents a critique of the policy discourse that has framed the ‘talent pipeline crisis’ as primarily a problem of pipeline supply and argues instead that the problem is one of pipeline leakage. Attempts to frame skills shortages in terms of talent supply is significant, however, because it deftly elides more challenging and systemic retention issues that are deeply rooted in television employment practices. This discourse also plays an important role in policy petitioning.