Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Journalism Internship

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2712

City Campus

Postgraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Sherine Conyers

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3973

Course Coordinator Email: sherine.conyers@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 9, Level 4

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

Successful completion of the following courses:

  • COMM2801 News Reporting
  • COMM2802 Journalism Innovation

OR

Alternatively you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course. Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. Further information: Apply for Credit


Course Description

This capstone course is designed to enable you to apply your academic learning to a contemporary workplace situation.

In this course you will gain practical experience in a professional newsroom or workplace. In addition to your industry placement, you will attend a series of seminars throughout the semester to prepare you for your placement and for the workplace following graduation.

Limited international placements may be available.

This is a designated Work Integrated Learning (WIL) course for GD074 Graduate Diploma in Journalism. This course includes a work integrated learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/ or community is integral to your experience.

An agreement including schedule and relevant insurance documentation is required to be completed before commencing each placement (local and international). International placements must be registered and processed through RMIT Global Mobility. In the case where a placement ends early, please refer to Changes or cancellation of WIL activities in the WIL Guideline.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

  • Undertake self-directed research and critical appraisal to ensure ethical, balanced reporting.
  • Identify and act within the relevant laws, policies and regulations governing the news media.
  • Acquire and apply knowledge of local and international perspectives and issues about contemporary journalism.
  • Employ appropriate technical skills and theoretical knowledge to solve problems associated with journalism practice.
  • Effectively and professionally communicate your ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Work collaboratively to plan and produce journalism projects appropriate to the needs of industry.
  • Critically reflect on your own work to demonstrate autonomy, good judgement and ethical responsibility.
  • Undertake research into contemporary journalism theory and practice to explore possible industry and career directions.


Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  1. Investigate the demands of the professional workplace and what employers expect in professional journalistic practice.
  2. Identify and apply correct newsroom etiquette.
  3. Evaluate the significance of professional identity and presence in the workplace.
  4. Critically discuss the significance of rapidly changing patterns of news production and consumption across media platforms.
  5. Critically analyse and reflect on how to develop your professional career within a rapidly changing news environment.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities such as project work, tutorials, class discussion, individual and group activities.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

The University Library has extensive resources for Journalism students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies at http://rmit.libguides.com/mjsm.

The Library provides guides on academic referencing: https://www.rmit.edu.au/library/study/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: Assessment


Assessment Tasks

Task 1: Placement Package [Individual 20% Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3]   Task 2: Industry Investigation [Individual 30% Linked CLOs: 1, 3, 4, 5]   Task 3: Professional Package [Individual 50% Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]