Course Title: Journalism: Professional Placement

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Journalism: Professional Placement

Credit Points: 24.00

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus 

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance. 


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2658

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Dr Stefanie Markidis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7408

Course Coordinator Email: stefanie.markidis@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 9, Level 4

Course Coordinator Availability: Refer to Canvas


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

As this is the capstone course in the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism), to be successful you should have satisfactorily completed all of your discipline-specific courses before you commence this course.

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: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=x94or0ccuu7k


Course Description

This course will give you practical experience working in a media organisation as well the opportunity to undertake an individually negotiated professional practice project.

Your placement in a professional media organisation in Australia or overseas will give you the opportunity to experience how journalism is practiced. Your placement will give you the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge you have developed across your program.

This course is restricted to final year Journalism Program students.

This is the designated Work Integrated Learning (WIL) course for BP220 Bachelor of Communication (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.

A WIL 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:

  • Develop practical and technical skills to quickly adapt to changes in the industry.
  • Apply a body of theoretical and practical knowledge and specific skills in media and communication, particularly in journalism in which to base your professional practice or future study.
  • Apply initiative and judgment in planning, problem solving and decision making in your practice or future study.


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

  1. Critically discuss diverse aspects media and journalistic practice.
  2. Present yourself, and your work, to meet the expectations of professional workplaces and employers.
  3. Investigate and evaluate a particular aspect of journalistic practice and/or the media industry.
  4. Critically reflect on, analyse and synthesise information related to issues affecting journalism/journalists and industry practice.


Overview of Learning Activities

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

You can expect to receive industry/community feedback.


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: http://rmit.libguides.com/journalism

There are services and resources available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student website. 


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. Assessment may include reports, reflective papers, creative projects and presentations, individually and in groups. Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning.

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

Task 1: Pre-placement Preparation [Individual 30% Linked CLO's: 1, 3] 

Task 2: Contemporary Industry Investigation [Individual 35% Linked CLO's: 1, 3, 4] 

Task 3. Post Placement Report [Individual 35% Linked CLO's: 2, 4]