JOU5942 - Professional Development and Placement

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Apply knowledge and skills in the work situation and perform to a satisfactory standard
Critically analyse the aims, structure and activities of a specific organisation or other structured professional experience
Apply and demonstrate an understanding of the laws and legal restrictions governing reporters

Content:

1. A professional development programme, typically two day-long events, with special reference to the journalism sector. The programme will comprise:
– reflection on the nature of work and ethical issues related to it;
– development of group work and team building;
– interviews with Placement Tutor
2. The Law element (Semester 1) in the PDPM module will build on and enhance the study of Law from Level 1, and will normally include topics such as reporting restrictions, contempt of court and defamation.
3. Placement with suitable organisation(s), normally seven weeks in total (including Journalism Week)
4. Critical reflection and evaluation of placement and Journalism Week

Learning and Teaching Information:

The first semester of this module is taught via 1 hour interactive law lectures, designed to ensure students understand the key aspects of defamation law prior to their placement, as well as a series of professional development and employability seminars, where students have given access to key employers and professionals to inspire them as they prepare for the Semester 2 placement. The placement itself is supported via tutor contact time, which can include telephone, email and personal contact.

Lectures: Law semester 1
Contact hours: 10
Intended Group size: 1

Workshops: Work placement: Semester 1
Contact hours: 10
Intended group size: Full cohort

Tutorial interview
Contact hours: 1
Intended Group size: 1

Placement liaison
Contact hours: 1
Intended group size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 178

Further details relating to assessment
An overall numeric mark will be returned for this module. Students must pass all components of assessment in order to pass the module overall. The practical element is normally of seven weeks duration and may comprise an external placement or other structured professional experience which meets the learning objectives of the module and involves an equivalent workload. In either case the placement will be the subject of explicit agreement between the student, supervisor, module coordinator and EPO.
Students are required to take an active part in Journalism Week as part of their professional development. This comprises a portfolio, with individual reports normally handed in at the end of every day of Journalism Week.

Assessment:

001 Law Exam 1 x 1.5 hours (end of semester 2) 50%
002 Work Placement equivalent to 6 weeks (during semester 2) 0%
003 Work placement report 1 x 1500 words (during semester 2) 40%
004 Portfolio of Daily reports during Journalism week 500 words equiv sem 1 10%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Mr Dean Naidoo
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5YL