Former Dare Pictures exec Derren Lawford has taken up an executive producer role at The Guardian’s new production arm Guardian Studios.
Lawford joined the creative hub this week and will develop video-first, personality-led journalism with the values of the news provider’s brand. He will steer the creation of new visual contacts and foster on-screen talent.
The hub is headed by Leah Green, a former freelancer and ex-commissioning editor of Channel 4's Dispatches, who took up the role in February.
“I’ve always loved development whether it’s for TV or digital platforms and I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in launches in both spaces,” said Lawford. “So the opportunity to join The Guardian as it reimagines how its journalism reaches new audiences with compelling, convergent and curious new formats is a dream job for me.”
Lawford announced the closure of Dare in March, six years after he founded the diversity and inclusion-focused production company, which was named best emerging indie at last year's Broadcast Awards.
He previously spent seven years at Woodcut Media and commissioned documentaries with new, diverse and online talent as one of the founders of London Live.
Lawford began his career as a journalist, spending more than 10 years at the BBC.
Guardian Studios is a new production arm within the organisation which will create compelling new visual formats, reach new audiences and foster on-screen talent. It also represents a cornerstone of the news brand’s multi-year transformation programme.
Guardian Studios head Leah Green said of Lawford’s appointment: “We are extremely lucky to have someone with such deep experience in both television and digital platforms, who understands the audience and on-screen talent as much as he does.”
Derren Lawford photo: Image1st.co.uk for The Guardian
