SJ5W78 - Journalism Work Placement (2024/25)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Journalism Work Placement | ||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Computing and Digital Media | ||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module provides opportunities for students to gain experience of the journalistic working environment and to enhance and extend their learning by applying and building on their academic and journalistic skills. It is core for all journalism-related courses.
Students must find their three–week placement (the number of working days stipulated for accreditation by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council) themselves, deploying employability and professional skills and their own developing portfolios. These will be measured and supported by the assessments.
Placements of fifteen working days with one employer (or fifteen working days divided between two employers) will be supported by a session of workshops, of which students must attend the majority.
Assessment will be by a reflective learning log, including ethical considerations and remarks by employers; a presentation to class and on the class blog; self-assessed engagement with classes when not on placement, measured by online journals.
Prior learning requirements
Yes, available for Study Abroad
Syllabus
Pre-placement induction sessions will introduce students to the requirements and demands of work placement, assist them in the diagnosis of their abilities; help them make decisions about suitable work areas; and ensure they produce a suitable CV for placement applications. LO 1, 2,
Induction will include briefing on the feedback form students will share with employers at the end of the placement, with that completed employer feedback form to be shared with the student and work placement tutor LO 1, 2, 3, 4.
A schedule of guest speakers will underpin learning outcomes in relation to expectations by employers and the realities of in-office and work from home work placements LO 3, 4
Presentation workshops will prepare students for their in-class presentation to group at the end of the work placement LO 4.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Workshops explore and enhance student understanding of the full range of placement opportunities; from newspapers, magazines, TV, indies, and radio to charities, campaign groups, councils, and comms/PR.
Students learn through workshop activities the best websites to access work placement opportunities and gain insider knowledge of how to target the most relevant individuals within organisations.
CV and cover letter workshops help students present themselves to employers in the best possible light based on a Skills-based CV approach.
Workshops help students understand how to conduct themselves during their work placements, and what to do if they encounter situations which are inappropriate or unethical.
Students are supported by the Head of Work Based Learning, Policy and Practice at London Met, and the Employer Engagement Administrator for the School of Computing and Digital Media.
A workshop helps students develop their presentations skills and confidence to speak to a group.
Students reflect on their development through the module and the actual placement through:
Journal posts.
A Reflective Learning Log.
A group presentation.
All reflective elements are embedded in assessment.
Learning and teaching
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, having completed all the tasks set, and in line with course accreditation requirements stipulated by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC), students should be able to:
1. Show they have reached an acceptable level of professional competence in their work setting over a period of fifteen full working days with one employer or fifteen full working days divided between two employers, operateing effectively, both independently and with others, in a structured and routinely supervised work environment;
2. Demonstrate that they have communicated appropriately with colleagues and superiors, and show that they took a rational and organised approach, applying previously known or new techniques and/or methodologies, to the task(s) set;
3. Describe and evaluate the structure, major activities and responsibilities of the organisation;
4. Reflect on and evaluate critically their own performance and abilities.