ITV Signpost Productions Case Study
In 2020 SignPost, alongside the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT), launched a trainee scheme for two Deaf filmmakers to learn more about all aspects of production.
Two trainees joined ITV SignPost full-time for just over 12 months. They worked on magazine shows and documentaries, were given an industry mentor and were given training days with industry professionals introducing them to various aspects of television production.
In 2021 SignPost are producing a 6 x 30-minute new magazine show for the BSLBT, This is Deaf. As part of this, there will be a role for a trainee who will work with experienced television professionals to hone their skills.
The team at SignPost also produce children’s television programme, Dare Master for CITV. This programme is signed-presented by a Deaf presenter and uses a predominantly Deaf crew but, crucially, sits in the schedule without being tagged as such. It is a fully accessible programme made, and watched, by a mainstream audience.
In the first lockdown of 2020 the show was adapted to make Dare Master @home. This programme was shortlisted in the 2021 Broadcast Awards in the Best Lockdown Programme in the Factual Entertainment, Popular Factual and Kids category.
In early 2021 SignPost received their first commission for ITV4, producing 3 x 60-minute programmes which broadcast in July 2021. The programme sees Robson Green and actor Jim Murray travel across Iceland in search of salmon.
With help from ITV, Giles Bowman, who is Deaf, was supported by members of the ITV Daytime graphics team to produce all of the graphics.
And Raza Hussain - a former trainee who is also Deaf - stepped up to researcher on the programme, mentored by an experienced AP who is guided and supported Raza on his first ITV programme.
If you want to hear more about Diversity & Inclusion at ITV, take a look at our Diversity Acceleration Plan results.