Investigative Researcher & Scriptwriter

Public Records / True Crime We are an established independent media company producing long-form documentary content for a large international audience. We are looking for an experienced investigative researcher and writer who can identify compelling criminal cases, obtain primary-source material and develop thoroughly researched stories into engaging scripts. The Role: You will be responsible for finding suitable cases and managing the research process from the initial pitch through to a completed script. A major part of the role will involve obtaining police, court and other government records through Freedom of Information and public-records legislation. Key Responsibilities: Identify under-reported criminal cases with strong documentary and storytelling potential. Assess whether a case has sufficient reliable information, primary documentation and usable visual material. Identify the correct agencies and records custodians for each case. Draft, submit and track US federal FOIA requests, state and local public-records requests, UK FOI requests and equivalent international applications. Request materials such as police reports, incident records, 911 calls, dispatch logs, body-worn camera footage, interview recordings, photographs, exhibits and coroner or medical-examiner records where publicly available. Communicate with agencies to clarify requests, narrow searches, manage fees and follow up on delayed responses. Review exemptions and redactions and, where appropriate, prepare administrative appeals or internal-review requests. Research court records, judgments, sentencing documents, official statements, archived reporting and other credible sources. Build clear timelines, reconcile contradictory accounts and independently verify names, dates and factual claims. Produce organised research packs containing source links, citations, documents and relevant media. Write accurate, engaging long-form scripts designed for spoken narration. Incorporate editorial feedback and deliver work reliably to agreed deadlines. Flag potential legal, ethical, copyright or factual concerns before publication. What We’re Looking For: Professional experience in investigative journalism, documentary research, public-records research, legal research or a closely related field. Practical experience submitting and managing FOIA or other freedom-of-information/public-records requests. Strong knowledge of US federal and state public-records systems. Familiarity with UK, Australian or other international systems would be advantageous. Confidence researching court dockets and interpreting police, court and government documents. Excellent fact-checking, source-management and organisational skills. The persistence to follow records requests over several weeks or months. Strong writing ability, particularly conversational long-form writing intended to be read aloud. Good editorial judgment when handling victims, allegations, graphic material and incomplete information. The ability to work independently while communicating clearly about progress, delays and potential problems. To Apply: Please send your CV, a short explanation of your experience obtaining public records and two relevant research or writing samples. Please also suggest one under-covered criminal case you believe would make a strong documentary story. Briefly explain which records you would request, which agencies you would approach and why the case is worth pursuing.