JOURNALIST, REPORTER & FILMMAKER
Rachel Royce
I have over 35 years experience covering news and current affairs for regional and national print, television and radio. I have carried out assignments for the BBC, Channel One and ITV, covering stories on the environment, politics, social affairs, health, education and business.
In my recent work on BBC’s Inside Out, I uncovered stories on complex topics like the UK care system, homelessness and county line drug issues, conveying them to viewers with incisive clarity. I have worked as both a freelance and in-house video-journalist presenting entertainment shows and human interest stories as well as in-depth feature series on global conflicts. My freelance work has been broadcast on The World Tonight, Eurofile, Newshour, the Today programme and You and Yours.
My Current Role
I currently work as a senior broadcast journalist reporter for East Midlands today, a highly rated regional news show.
hugely experienced
‘A hugely experienced journalist, Rachel could be relied on to cover anything.’
Linda Bell – Series Editor, Inside Out South East 2002-2016
inspiring
‘As a woman at the BBC, it is colleagues like Rachel that I look to for inspiration and guidance.’
Natalie Eacersall – BBC South East
Services & Skills
project management
Pitch, research, copy, reporting, producing, directing & presenting. Constantly delivering to deadline.
broadcasting
Live broadcasting and package pieces on location and in a studio setting.
self shooter
20 years+, currently Cannon XF305, GoPro & Osmos. Filming to broadcast quality.
editing
Knowledge of ingesting, logging and rough cuts. Experienced in Cut Pro and Avid.
MULTI TASKING
Expert manager of multiple, simultaneous projects.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Proven track record of meeting tight deadlines.
NEGOTIATION
Ability to negotiate with contacts, talent and contributors.
BUDGET MANAGEMENT
Planning and working to a set or limited budget.
REPORTING
Reporting for radio and television.
PRESENTING
Presenting on television.
RESEARCHING
First class researching skills.
SCRIPT WRITING
Script writing for long format films.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Up to date with BBC Health & Safety Guidelines.
EDITORIAL POLICY
Up to date with BBC Editorial Policy and Guidelines.
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
French to A Level standard.
Conversational German.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
An interest in and understanding of national and global current affairs.
Work History
2023 – Current
Senior Broadcast Journalist Reporter
East Midlands Today News Show
I am currently a reporter for East Midlands Today, a highly rated regional news show. I contribute ideas to the news team, creating, pitching and presenting these segments live on location. I have returned to news reporting after working on documentaries for the past seven years.
2016 - 2023 Journalist - BBC Inside Out South East
During my time as a journalist on BBC’s Inside Out South East, I produced films on wide ranging topics including social affairs, politics, health and the environment. These documentary news films were often used to lead the programme, disseminating across the BBC on regional and national news, on television and radio.
To create long form current affairs pieces I used my experience in research, storytelling, scriptwriting, camera operating and video editing. I would often self-shoot using a Cannon XF305, GoPro and Osmos, filming reports and capturing interviews. I produced, presented and directed films with strong characters and compelling stories, often generating interest from other outlets and resulting in regular guest appearances on Radio 5 and Radio 4’s the Today programme.
I covered stories with national impact, taking complex matters and distilling them into clear narratives. I created a series of films exploring the issue of county lines drug supply and its misuse of vulnerable people. I made several films about children in the care system and their parents, one of which became a double-length feature for Inside Out. I nurtured, initially unwilling, contributors, winning their trust and faithfully portraying the reality of their situations.
A piece that garnered much national attention was an investigative story looking into the potential consequences of Brexit on traffic from Dover. On behalf of the BBC I commissioned research from Imperial College London, the alarming findings of which resulted in headlines in the Financial Times, the Evening Standard and a segment on the BBC News. The findings were also referred to in parliamentary discussions about potential post Brexit problems.
During my time at Inside Out I enjoyed curating human-interest stories. Highlights include; a film about the only winemaking degree course in the UK, a farmer training sheep to follow a drone, and an environmental segment on no-till farming, shot using drone cameras. I presented the majority of these films but was also privileged to direct Natalie Graham and a number of other presenters. I project managed the films I produced, working to strict budgets, negotiating costs and adhering to tight deadlines.
I mentored interns working on Inside Out, helping them develop research skills and teaching them ingesting, logging and camera skills. I also represented the BBC at the University of Kent on a number of occasions, speaking to media students about journalistic filmmaking and my experiences working for the BBC.
2009 - 2013 Freelance Television / Radio Reporter BBC (Various Locations)
My freelance reporting and producing contracts during this period included BBC Inside Out South East, BBC Jersey and BBC Wiltshire. At Radio Wiltshire I reported general news including local politics, education, health, crime and court reporting as well as local events. I reported live as well as producing video packages. At BBC Jersey I was an on-screen reporter and video-journalist. I reported general news, usually a package a day.
1999 - 2009 Reporter / Bulletin Presenter / Video Journalist ITV West & HTV (Bristol & Wiltshire)
I researched, filmed and edited reports daily, providing live two-way and newsroom commentary and analysis on breaking stories. During my time in the ITV West newsroom I was the Wiltshire reporter covering general news stories including crime, politics, education, health and live news events.
Due to Wiltshire’s large army and RAF presence, I took on many stories associated with the armed forces, receiving hostile environment training and completing several overseas assignments. In 2009 I travelled to Helmand Province with One Rifles at the height of the conflict, subsequently filing news reports and producing four in-depth features for ITV news.
1994 - 1998 Presenter / Reporter Channel One Television (London)
I was among the first UK journalists to train as a video journalist for Channel One Television. I was a general news video-journalist initially and went on to report on entertainment and fashion. I presented and produced news bulletins as well as three, half-hour shows: The Catwalk Show, Off The Peg and The A-Z of Food. I helped devise and later produce all three shows.
I managed a large production team for the making of The Catwalk Show twice yearly during London Fashion Week, collecting footage and interviews with designers, celebrities, models and backstage staff. This material was incorporated into my studio-based programme where I interviewed designers on set. The A-Z of Food was, at the time, a ground-breaking 30 minute programme. Scenes of celebrity chefs demonstrating recipes in a studio were interspersed with footage of presenters touring picturesque parts of the UK.
1991 - 1994 Freelance Radio Reporter / Producer BBC Radio 4 & World Service (London)
I worked as a business presenter and reporter for World Business report, a ten minute radio show broadcast on BBC World Service radio. This involved researching and putting together reports and clips, conducting interviews and presenting the show. During this period I went on self-commissioned reporting tours of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia investigating leads, nurturing contacts, using a translator and local fixer all while navigating a precarious warzone.
I filed stories on these conflicts which were broadcast on The World Tonight, Eurofile, Newshour, the Today Programme and You and Yours. For one story I investigated ‘ethnic cleansing by stealth’, another involved following a Muslim refugee’s journey as he fled to Sweden. This work resulted in a radio documentary for BBC World Service. I also made several reports from Serbia, when it was under sanctions, that aired on Today and the World Tonight.
1990 - 1991 Researcher Thames Television (London)
I was a researcher for respected weekly business programme The City, finding and researching exclusive stories for the show, writing scripts and assisting on shoots.
1989 - 1990 Assistant Producer European Business Channel (Zurich)
Working as an assistant producer for the European Business Channel was my first job in television. I researched stories, wrote scripts and helped produce the show. It served as an interesting introduction to working in television and good life experience living and working abroad.
1986 - 1989 Personal Finance Editor The Scotsman Newspaper (London)
I established and curated a two page weekly personal finance section for The Scotsman, writing most of the articles myself. I also covered daily general financial news. I attended press conferences in London and interviewed high-level executives. I broke a national exclusive story about Lloyds Names suing Lloyds Bank.
1985 - 1986 Reporter Post Magazine (London)
I was a reporter for Post Magazine, a weekly insurance magazine. My job involved finding exclusive stories, writing general industry news, attending press conferences and events, as well as generating and maintaining industry contacts.
1985 - 1986 Reporter The Richmond and Twickenham Times (London)
My first job as a journalist was for this respected traditional weekly newspaper. I gained a breadth of experience in a short time covering everything from local councils and court cases, to the death of a famous celebrity and Richmond resident.
Education
1984 – 1985
Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism: Journalism, Print
City University – London
1981 – 1984
Bachelor of Arts: History – Medieval And Modern
Manchester University – Manchester
References
“Inside Out South East was the best performing series out of all the regions and Rachel Royce played a key part in its success. She worked for me over roughly a five year period, initially as a freelance producer/director (SBJ) and then staff as soon as a post became available.
Rachel mostly covered the top items. She had the ability to come up with original stories dealing with tough subjects, getting right to the heart of the subject. I always think of her stories being “gritty”, interviews late at night in grotty subways with homeless young people; young adults coming out of the care system – people who were difficult to even get to talk let alone pin down to some sort of schedule. She discovered a network of people helping mothers “escape” from social services, mothers with a history of abusive relationships. Inevitably such stories made it to network news as well as radio, with her making appearances on the Today programme and Radio 5 live, as well as local radio.
A hugely experienced journalist, Rachel could be relied on to cover anything, whether it be local house building disputes, or the usual news fare of weather extremes. She was a great team player, always ready to help out and fun to have around. She put in many antisocial hours to get her story and could always be relied on to deliver on time and on budget.”
Linda Bell – Series Editor Inside Out South East 2002-2016
“ Shortly after joining the BBC in 2013, I worked with Rachel at Inside Out as her Researcher/AP. Working alongside a journalist and broadcaster with such experience and knowledge was invaluable in those early days of my BBC journey. Rachel was a mentor in every sense of the word – she taught me practical skills, gave me opportunities to have a real input into stories, offered career advice and helped to build my confidence.
As a woman at the BBC, it is colleagues like Rachel that I look to for inspiration and guidance. I look forward to following her future work in Broadcasting with interest.”
Natalie Eacersall BBC South East
Some Of My Work
A farmer and a scientist train sheep to follow a drone – a friendly way to round them up without a sheep dog.
But there is animal behavior science behind the unusual technique.
Britain’s only degree in wine making at Plumton College on the South Downs.
A 15 minute film investigating why the UK has more forced adoptions than other EU countries.
An investigation into the women who flee aborad to avoid having their children taken into care. One young woman returns to find a “final demand” letter from social services. Many of the women in these situations have been victims of domestic abuse themselves.
Inside Out commissioned research from the University College London into the potential impact of delays at the border in Dover after Brexit. Their results showed some alarming potential traffic jams even with short delays.
Dean is a character with an alcohol problem living in a block of flats in Folkestone. He has been the victim of county lines cuckooing where drug dealers took over his flat to sell illegal drugs.
A film about the governments decision to cull badgers to curb TB in cattle. The government based their decision on research by Lord Krebb.
But in an interview with BBc Inside Out Lord Krebb tells us that in his view the government are wrong to use his trial to condone culling.
No till farming has taken off in the US as a way to prevent soil erosion and reduce carbon emissions from farming. A farmer in Kent is an enthusiastic advocate but what is the science behind it?