JOU4402 - Professional Development and Placement

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge of professional skills.
Demonstrate and reflect on transferrable skills required for employment and assess level of preparedness for the working world.
Reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses.
Demonstrate sector knowledge and understanding, particularly in the context of employment opportunities.
Apply knowledge and skills in the workplace and perform to a satisfactory standard during the placement block.
Demonstrate a proficiency in accurate and comprehensive note-taking.

Content:

This module supports students in understanding the different opportunities open to them in the workplace and the skills employers are looking for and helps them develop the employability skills required in the workplace.

At the end of this module students will take part in an intensive two-week professional skills preparation block before undertaking an industry placement.

As part of this module, students will also embark on intensive training in fast note taking using the journalism industry standard shorthand, Teeline, and be required to work towards speeds of 60-100 wpm.

Learning and Teaching Information:

This module will be taught in interactive workshop sessions.

Placement preparation workshops
Hours: 20
Intended Group size: Cohort

Shorthand
Hours: 40 minimum
Intended Group Size: 25

Placement preparation block
Hours: 20
Intended Group size: Cohort

Placement
Hours: 110 minimum

Guided independent study
Hours: 10

Further details relating to assessment
In order to pass this modules students will need to:

1) Achieve an overall numeric pass mark for the written elements of assessment. This will be the combined mark from the Integrated Assessment, Portfolio 1 and the weekly work reflections.
2) Pass the professional placement
3) Comply with the shorthand requirements for their programme of study (see notes under shorthand section below).

Portfolio 1 will typically include a CV and application letter, a mock professional interview and sector analysis.

SHORTHAND
Students on BA (Hons) Journalism must attend shorthand classes in Semesters 1 & 2 and work towards speed assessments as a condition of being on a programme which is professionally-accredited by the NCTJ. The minimum speed students are expected to attain is 60wpm. In order to achieve a pass in this module, students on the BA (Hons) Journalism programme must make a serious attempt at a 60wpm speed assessment. This requirement is in place for students on this programme as part of the professional accreditation by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

The teaching of Teeline Shorthand is informed by professional expectations in industry that all trainee journalists learn shorthand. Students will be assessed via NCTJ shorthand examinations.

Shorthand is one of the core examinations in the NCTJ Diploma and students MUST obtain shorthand at a speed of at least 60wpm in a NCTJ exam in order to be eligible for the NCTJ Diploma. To be eligible for the Gold Standard Diploma, students must achieve 100wpm.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Jennifer Kean
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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