ABSTRACT
This handbook on television production comes at a time when production is in a state of flux, as traditional craft skills are transformed by evolving technologies. Someone trained in digital media may decide to work on video effects or advertising, or may produce material for one of the many websites associated with programmes. YouTube and the internet are providing an alternative outlet for both aspiring and established filmmakers, while jobs are opening up in companies providing internet streaming for conferences and events. Yet all of these are related to the medium of television in various ways, and make an important contribution to the television experience. While much programme-making continues within the rules and practices that are well established within each genre, changing technology means that practices shift in unexpected ways. A different type of training is needed, together with adaptability and regular retraining, as new techniques are introduced with remarkable frequency. In addition, the secure careers that characterised earlier decades are no longer common practice, and those who wish to work in the industry find themselves on uncertain ground. Yet part of the excitement about being new to television is the opportunity to make a contribution to the changing shape of the medium.
