The Linguist

FEATURES 10 The Linguist Vol/61 No/5 thelinguist.uberflip.com Ben Kohn on the world of media fixing W hen we hear about fixers for the media, it is often about supporting foreign journalists in conflict zones. However, another area of the media that makes extensive use of bilingual fixers is TV (and radio) coverage of sports events. This can represent a rich opportunity for work and memorable experiences for linguists – especially if, like me, you're also a sports fan. A translator and interpreter by trade, I first worked as a fixer at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil – a warm-up tournament for the following year's World Cup. I approached BBC Sport to pitch for interpreting work, which I thought they may need at the World Cup. In fact, what they really needed were fixers who could "look after a team, using local knowledge and language skills to resolve practical and logistical issues to allow the 'talent' to concentrate on their job". I was assigned to their lead commentary team and contracted to provide fixers for the other four commentary and film crews sent to cover the tournament. This was my dream assignment: working in Brazil (where I had lived for 14 years) alongside former international footballers and well-known TV broadcasters, being paid to look after this team, and watching and talking about football all day! This introduction to fixing was an important lesson in understanding what it takes to be a good fixer. I became the BBC's lead fixer for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and 2016 Rio Olympics, providing teams of roughly a dozen fixers, plus runners and drivers, to support their broadcast operations. I performed a similar role for Channel 4 at the 2016 Paralympic Games, worked at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and continue to project manage fixer teams for production companies at events including the World Boxing Super Series. So what does a fixer actually do? It is a combination of being a guide, translator and planner (and in some instances, a nanny too). Good language skills and local knowledge are essential, as interacting with locals is the core function of the job – whether making arrangements with drivers, ensuring smooth airport check-ins, setting up interviews or film shoots, contacting authorities for film permits, or simply translating at restaurants so everyone is served the meal they want. In addition to language skills, there are other key attributes and skills – many of which are common to professional linguists: Team player. A fixer works closely with others for long periods. If it's an itinerant team, e.g. a TV commentary or roving film crew, you are living in each other's pockets for weeks on end, often in a perpetual cycle of airport-hotel- stadium-airport. So interpersonal skills, such as being a good listener and communicator, are essential. You also need to understand the temperament of your teammates to sense when someone might need space, or might have 'hit the wall' after three weeks of flights and indistinct hotel rooms, and to judge different characters and appreciate how some (former professional footballers) may occasionally need their ego stroking to keep them happy! But it's not only on the road that these interpersonal skills are fundamental. At the 2016 Olympics, for example, BBC Sport had over 150 staff in Rio, and the whole operation was dependent on the team of local minibus drivers I had assembled. I coordinated the drivers, whose schedules would change from hour to hour depending on the progress of the British athletes at various venues. This interaction required a great deal of sensitivity and cultural mediation to bridge the gap between BBC management's expectations and local drivers' ideas about how their work needed to be organised. Knowing how to treat these different characters was vital to keeping the drivers happy and willing – which was crucial to the whole operation. Problem solver. Unforeseen problems are inevitable, especially when covering live events. You must think on your feet and solve problems without causing concern and distracting other team members from their jobs. Being PITCHSIDE Ben Kohn in the commentary box with his team, including football pundits Guy Mowbray and Martin Keown (above); and (below) with British gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill at Rio 2016 Finding a fix

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