Bachelor of Communication Studies: Journalism Major Field Placements (Fall 2022)
Categories
Public relations Communications Copy writing MediaSkills
research skills interviewing reporting and news writing photojournalism news editorial skillsIs your organization looking for communications support related to journalism tasks such as writing stories, news layout, researching, interviewing, editing in print or online, or a combination of all?
The MacEwan University Bachelor of Communication Studies, Journalism Major, program of study requires all students to complete a professional field placement course of unpaid or paid entry-level work; however, paid placements are more likely to be chosen.
Note: having your placement opportunity accepted into this Riipen internship program does not guarantee you a student match. Students will apply on their own.
Host organizations set the objectives of the field placement to determine scope, goals and deliverables.
Project Examples
The field placement is normally completed before students enter their fourth and final year, although some students may complete their placement while concurrently taking fourth-year classes.
A full-time placement is normally completed over a 6 to 8 week period (Spring or Summer) while a part-time placement is normally completed over a 12 to 14 week period (Fall or Winter).
Students can demonstrate the following skills:
• Reporting and news writing skills including hard news and feature treatments for beats such as crime, courts, and education
• Interviewing and research skills for a variety of story treatments
• Photojournalism skills
• News editorial skills, including story selection, copy-editing and proofreading skills, and photo selection
• Newspaper layout skills
• Online news production skills, including news writing for the web, online story construction, online layout /design, multimedia (familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite)
• Creative thinking skills
• Story pitching skills
• Practical and persuasive compositional skills
• Detailed and accurate editing
• Extensive knowledge of grammar
• Targeted research skills
• Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
• Logical and effective organizational skills
• Proficiency in both PC and Mac platforms
• Understanding of contemporary Canadian law and communication technologies within a communication global context
• Understanding of ethics, fairness, interpersonal, and professional conduct in the workplace
By the end of the third year individual students may also possess:
• Arts & Culture reporting
• Political reporting
• Periodical writing
• Writing for radio
• Writing for television
• Literary journalism
• Experience covering sports
Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:
Provide orientation, supervision and mentorship to the student as needed and manage all aspects of the field placement with him/her.
Sign a Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) Agreement. MacEwan University uses WIL Agreements to protect host organizations collaborating with us in WIL Field Placement activities. The Agreement formalizes student placements and clarifies roles/expectations for all parties involved to ensure a positive/rewarding experience for host organizations and high-quality learning outcomes for students.
Complete a host organization evaluation feedback form.
Treat the student fairly and ethically and inform the program of any lapses in a student’s professional behaviour.
Confirm your field placement position scope is an appropriate fit and relates to the Journalism major (i.e. writing stories, news layout, researching, interviewing, editing in print or online, or a combination of all).
Inform the program or MacEwan University’s Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) Office at 780-633-3046 in the case of a student being injured while on field placement.
Would your organization be willing to compensate the student for their work, either in an hourly wage or a single payment honorarium? Please note: most students have the option to work with organizations that will compensate them for their labour in some fashion. If your organization is not willing or able to compensate the student in some manner, the possibility that one of our students will choose to work with your organization is very low.