Steve Whitford

Steve Whitford is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth within the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, School of Film, Media and Creative Technologies. With a career spanning over three decades in film and television sound recording, he specializes in documentary sound and has worked on numerous high-profile productions for international broadcasters and independent TV companies. His expertise in location sound recording has earned him industry recognition including Royal Television Society Awards.

Whitford holds a BA (Hons) in Film & TV from West Surrey College of Art & Design (1980-83). His academic journey followed an extensive professional career in the film industry.

Whitford's research focuses on immersive location sound recording methodologies, particularly examining how ambisonic-centered techniques can reinvigorate the observational documentary genre. His work explores the "truth of sound" concept within realist filmmaking, investigating how advanced audio recording practices impact documentary authenticity and audience engagement. He is particularly interested in 360-degree audio field recording techniques and their potential for new storytelling approaches in documentary production.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of audio technology and documentary filmmaking. Whitford's research shows an evolution from traditional sound recording practices toward innovative immersive audio techniques, with particular emphasis on ambisonic recording systems. His work bridges practical film production with academic research, offering valuable insights for both industry professionals and media scholars.

• Royal Television Society Award: Sound - Entertainment Non-Drama Production for "Fighting the War" (2004)
• Royal Television Society: Southern Centre Award for Best Investigative Documentary 2003 for "Afghan Warrior"

Whitford has served as External Examiner for Ravensbourne (2015-2019) and Bangor University (2018-2022). His research projects include "Countering Narratives of Hate and Extremism - The Role of Creative Practices" (2019) and "The Sound of Worthing Pier: an immersive experience of the past" (2023), for which he secured £3,000 seed funding. He is also a Co-Investigator on projects exploring the role of creative practices in addressing social issues.

Whitford is a member of SPRInG (SCREEN PRACTICE RESEARCH and INNOVATION GROUP) at the University of Portsmouth and runs his own production company, Island City Films Ltd., which provides film and screen production services. His professional affiliations include membership in the Institute of Professional Sound (MIPS) and the Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS).