Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Students participate in the workday routine of a news media organisation for the specified period, undertaking those tasks assigned to them and seeking to display initiative, enthusiasm, professionalism and a willingness to learn. You will, where opportunity allows, contribute to the published or broadcast news output of the organisation, working under the supervision of a professional journalist. Upon completion, students submit an electronic portfolio and an online self-assessment. You will plan, observe and analyse; submitting your planning prior to the placement, and summarising your observations and analysis at the conclusion of your internship.
The course offers students the opportunity to experience work-integrated learning in journalism.ﾠ
PLEASE BE AWARE, WHILE WE ENDEAVOUR TO FIND YOU A PLACEMENT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.
The School has internship arrangements with journalism and communications organisations. Students can also arrange their own placements, in consultation with the course coordinator, in Brisbane Metropolitan, regional Queensland, interstate and overseas.
Interns must manage the impact of placements onﾠyour other semester study commitments. You cannot use the performance and assessment requirements of this courseﾠto vary the requirements of other courses.
Internships in the following organisations are governed by a roster of dates agreed between the participating universities and the respective media organisations. UQ has standing arrangements in place with all of these organisations:
ABC Radio (including Radio News, Local Radio, RN, and JJJ), Channel 9 News, ABC Online, Channel 10 News, ABCTV News, Channel 7 News, ABC Landline, SBS News, News Ltd (The Courier-Mail; The Australian).
The process for gaining a journalism internship is:
STEP 1. Complete the Internship Expression of Interest electronic form,ﾠand return it to the Placements Administrator scaplacements@uq.edu.au ahead of the due date.
The form can be found here:ﾠhttps://communication-arts.uq.edu.au/files/15461/PLACEMENT%20APPLICATION%20FORM.docx
STEP 2. Upon receiving written advice that you are eligible and have been added to theﾠpermission listﾠfor JOUR3801, add the course toﾠyour enrolment through mySI-net.
STEP 3. Attend the compulsory Internships Briefing Session at the beginning of the semester.
STEP 4. Attend drop in sessions scheduled throughout the Semester as necessary.
STEP 5. Once you have received placement approval from the JOUR3801 course coordinator and any necessary insurance has been issued, attend your placement for the required 80 hours (These can be consecutive days; one day pw, multi days pw, or part days). You are only obliged to attend for 80 hours.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Admission to this course requiresﾠa cumulative GPA of 5 or aboveﾠand the completion of pre-requisites.
Enrolment requires the written permission of the Course Co-odinator. Once permission has been obtained itﾠis thenﾠthe responsibility of the student to formally enrol in the course.ﾠInternships are then offered only on the basis of the availability of suitable industry placements.
Retrospective credit is not available for previous work. You must be enrolled in JOUR3801 and have the required university insurance prior to commencing your internship.
Internships can be undertaken interstate and offshore, but the onus is on the student to identify such opportunities.
This course is not available to students undertaking the Journalism and Mass Communication major in the Bachelor of Arts.
While we strive to find you the placement you want, this isn't always possible. If we cannot place you, please be proactive and source your own opportunities.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
JOUR2711 or WRIT2000 + JOUR2811 or COMU2120 + JOUR2822 or COMU1140 + JOUR2833 or JOUR2000
Restrictions
Permission is required for enrolment and is restricted to students in the Bachelor of Journalism and associated dual degrees with a cumulative GPA of 5.
Course contact
Placements officer
Mr Sven Fea
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Richard Murray
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The three allocated lectures for this course are COMPULSORY. An attendance register will be taken at these lectures. Further drop-in sessions will be held throughout the semester. These sessionsﾠARE NOT COMPULSORY but are made available to you to discuss any details or issues about your workplace internship.
Aims and outcomes
The courseﾠoffers studentsﾠwork-integrated learning in journalism andﾠ the opportunity to develop and exhibit journalistic skills and media-industry knowledge, develop contacts, and explore career opportunities.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Observe and reflect upon journalism practice and newsroom culture
LO2.
Identify the skills and attributes required for you to practice journalism
LO3.
Participate in the production of media content
LO4.
Create a diverse portfolio of journalistic work
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay/ Critique | Industry placement plan | 25% |
14/03/2025 4:00 pm |
| Reflection | Critical reflection of practice | 40% 1200 words |
23/05/2025 4:00 pm |
| Portfolio | Workplace portfolio | 35% |
30/05/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Industry placement plan
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
14/03/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
The Industry Placement Plan assessment is designed to prepare you for your workplace internship. Internships are important for gaining valuable practical experience. They also have the potential to be pivotal experiences that can define a career trajectory after graduation. Being prepared for your placement/s is critical for your success. The assessment task is a planning report designed to ensure your placement is worthwhile, engaging and stimulating.
The task:
Section 1: Introduction
- Conduct research into the workplace where you will be conducting your internship. Provide an overview of the workplace, including its aim/audience, the style of journalism conducted, the key players within the organisation and how the organisation fits within the Australian media market (400 words).
Section 2: Rationale for internship
- Outline why you have chosen to do a work placement at the news organisation. Consider medium, professional credibility and reputation, personal passions etc (200 words).
Section 3: Objectives
- Before starting an internship it is important to have clear and measurable goals. These can be personal, professional, practical. Please outline five objectives you have as you start your internship (you will need to reflect on these in your final assessment task) (100 words).
Section 4: Story ideas
- It is critical work placements meet industry expectations. Outline three story ideas, including contact, you propose to cover during your internship. Each story idea should be 150-180 words (max).
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Critical reflection of practice
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 40% 1200 words
- Due date
23/05/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
The notion of reflexivity is critical in journalistic practice. Reflexivity can be used to critique and analyse how stories are produced and written. It can also be used to analyse experiences. It's not only an academic exercise, it is a practice that has been embedded in practical professions such as teaching, medicine and nursing for decades. In this task you are required to critically reflect on your workplace internship.
The reflection will demonstrate an understanding of the reflexivity practice taught in this course and will relate directly to your work placement conducted in this course.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Workplace portfolio
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Portfolio
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
The workplace portfolio is evidence of your outputs and your engagement during the internship. The portfolio is to be written in a report style with sub-headings. A template will be provided on the course Blackboard site.
The portfolio should include:
- Introduction: Outlining the nature of the internship (e.g. a summary of activities completed) and where the internship took place and for how long.
- Workplace overview: This will include details such as the number of staff at the workplace and a map of the newsroom layout. It will outline the news production process (e.g. the production chain from story submission to publication).
- Workplace diary: Brief diary notes of what you did each day. Diary notes for each day should be 50-100 words.
- Workplace outputs: Examples of published work during the internship. If your work was not published please include copies of stories completed during the internship, as well as story ideas you pitched.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 1: Lecture Course introduction and overview. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
General contact hours |
Week 2: Drop-in session |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 3: NO CLASSES |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 4: Lecture In this class, we explore the ins and outs of doing international journalism through the lens of working in South Korean journalism. We look a what it takes to land a job in Korean journalism as a young journalist. This lecture will include how to navigate the inter-cultural aspects of working in Korean journalism, the practice of Korean journalism, and the differences in dealing with sources. |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
General contact hours |
Week 5: Drop-in session 2 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 6: NO CLASSES |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 7: NO CLASSES |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
Week 8: Lecture Developing a practice-led portfolio and developing a reflective essay. |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 9: NO CLASSES |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 10: NO CLASSES |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Week 11: Lecture Developing a practice-led portfolio and developing a reflective essay. |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Week 12: Lecture Developing a freelance career and answering questions on the assignments. |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
General contact hours |
Week 13: Drop-in session 3 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.