The use of professional internships has long been a defining feature of journalism and mass communication programs, but the practice is also increasingly controversial for the financial burdens it places on marginalized students. This study examined accreditation reports for 120 institutions to gain a better understanding of current practices.…

The purpose of this study is to understand how effectively sports journalism programs and internship experiences are preparing graduates for careers in local TV sportscasting. This study also examines how local sports broadcasters are adjusting to the profession. Results demonstrate the value of a sports journalism education and sports media…

This study seeks to bridge the gap between education and practice by conducting qualitative research with hiring managers at legacy media companies. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 media managers on the East and West coasts of the United States to understand how to prepare students for a dynamic media industry. The…

Broadcast journalism writing and reporting classes are designed to help students develop writing skills for multiple platforms, but many television news professionals think student writing and other necessary skills for the industry need improvement. Television news anchors, reporters, producers, and news directors who completed an online survey…

This mixed-methods study was designed to determine which global competencies are most sought after in college students and recent graduates who are applying for internships and jobs that are international in scope. A survey of 40 mostly U.S.-based global communicators in strategic communication and journalism and subsequent in-depth interviews…

This article focuses on aggregate internship data from an accredited Midwestern mass communications school to illustrate how feedback loops inform curricula and assessment according to standards of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). A sample survey instrument is shared with data directly related to…

This study provides valuable data comprising analysis of existing practices in the sampled media departments of the leading private and public sector universities of Karachi in the context of Wheeler's conceptual model. The research looked into the aims and objectives, the curriculum, the faculty, and industry linkages of the media programs under…

This survey of mass communication programs' attitudes and practices found unpaid student internships are more likely at unaccredited programs and where the highest degree offered is a bachelor's. Advisers at bachelor's programs also are more likely to agree academic credit appropriately substitutes for monetary payment. Although most advisers…

Data from a national survey of U.S. advertising students compared those who planned to seek creative jobs in advertising with those who desired management positions and "Generalists," who chose both. Male and female students were equally likely to aspire to be Creatives, despite current U.S. agency estimates that men outnumber women by…

Increasingly, top-tier journalism and media schools are entering into partnerships with mainstream media organizations to create and distribute student-produced content. While internships have long been a sanctioned way students learn professional practices, downturns in the economy have led to reductions in paid internship programs. On the rise…

Traditionally, journalism majors gain professional experience before graduation through internships, part-time or summer jobs, and campus media. Those avenues are often insufficient to adequately prepare them for the professional workplace and professional standards. This essay explores two of a journalism school's practice-based programs that…

Relates the author's experiences during a five-week faculty internship at the "Colorado Camera" university newspaper. Describes how the author had to refresh her skills and adapt to the technological advances that had been made during her years as a teacher. Concludes that the author enjoyed her return to reporting and considered it a…

Determines what interns do; whether intern tasks reflect training components; and how an internship experience compares with a classroom experience. Surveys student interns. Finds three patterns emerging: students refer to "self development"; training is seen in specific acts (press releases, newsletters); and students in public relations programs…

Describes how the author, a broadcasting educator, worked as a summer intern at a professional TV station in order to keep his instruction current, and to keep up on the latest stylistic and technological changes in the business. Discusses the benefits of doing so, and notes some useful information learned. (SR)

Finds that a majority of advertising and public-relations interns found their internships successful. Indicates that successful internships depend on predictors given the least attention by school programs: quality of supervision was the most important single predictor variable, followed in importance by organizational practices/policies, positive…