The College of New Jersey

The Journalism and Professional writing program at TCNJ places considerable emphasis on the value of practical experience as preparation for entry into the profession. Journalism/Professional Writing majors are required to do an internship with a media organization in order to graduate. Students taking the journalism minor or the professional writing minor may also complete an internship as part of their minor. Many of our students do more than one internship.

The College allows students to take up to four course units of internship/independent study during the course of your college career. Please note, however, that any internship credits beyond those that are required will count as elective credits toward graduation.

TCNJ requires that a student have junior standing in order to do an internship for credit. All proposed internships must be approved by Prof. Cole, Prof. Pearson, or Prof. Shaw. The internship may be paid or unpaid, and can take place at any time during the year. Although we would prefer that the internship be with a professional media organization, an internship with a campus news organization is acceptable if substantial editorial or project management responsibilities are involved. Students who want to gain academic credit for sustained involvement with a campus news organization without applying internship credits should consider enrolling in the practicum course (JPW 397).

TCNJ journalism/professional writing students have held internships at firms encompassing the full spectrum of media professions, including:

	The Times (Trenton, New Jersey)
	Asbury Park Press
	Atlantic City Press
	New Jersey Network
	Knight Ridder Tribune Wire Services
	Bloomberg, LP
	Dow Jones
	New Jersey Network
	Jane Magazine
	Time Out New York
	Maxim Magazine
	Africa World Press
	Oxford Health Communications
	State of New Jersey (various)
	The White House Press Office

How to find an internship

Check with the faculty for leads: Students interested in a newspaper internship should speak to Profs. Cole and Shaw. For an internship in any other area of journalism or professional writing, speak to Prof. Cole, Shaw and/or Prof. Pearson.

Prepare your resume and portfolio: Be advised that a resumé for a newspaper internship does not look like a resumé for a broadcast, magazine or online internship. Here is a website with good advice on preparing your resume and portfolio, the Detroit Free Press Jobspage. This site is also a gold mine of information about interviewing, newspaper editing tests, and the like.

Visit Career Services: In addition to information about internships, we are working with Career Services to develop a database of alumni and other professionals who are interested in networking with and mentoring journalism and professional writing students.

Begin your web search with a check of these sites:

	JournalismJobs.com
	Mediabistro

There are more web resources listed here.

Arranging credit for your internship

The student discusses the proposed (or desired) internship with Prof. Cole, Shaw or Prof. Pearson. As a rule, Prof. Cole and Shaw handle newspaper internships; Prof. Pearson handles internships in magazines, public relations and new media, but any of us can assist you.
Get an internship enrollment form and an internship proposal form from the English Department office. (You may substitute a job description for the enrollment form. We can discuss this when an internship opportunity has been identified.)
As you are filling out the form, please note that College policy requires internships completed for a major minor be taken for a grade, not pass-fail.
The student arranges the hours for the internship with the employer. TCNJ requires that at least 200 hours of work for the organization in order to receive a full course unit's credit.
After they are filled out, the internship enrollment form form is signed by the student, the faculty supervisor (Prof. Shaw, Prof. Pearson or Dr. Cole )
and the department chair. The internship proposal form is signed by the student and the chair.
The student takes the signed forms to Records and Registration. Enroll in JPW 499b: Media Experience. This must be done as a walk-in procedure. You can not enroll on TESS.
The student and faculty supervisor meet regularly to discuss the student's progress. The schedule for the meetings is set by the student and faculty supervisor. Typically, during these meetings the faculty supervisor looks at copies of your first drafts, as well as any work that is published.
The student is expected to keep a reflective journal that is primarily
designed to capture insights you may be gaining about the field in which
you are working, as well as your career goals. At our meetings, we also discuss any concerns you may have.
Near the end of the internship, we require an evaluation letter from the worksite internship supervisor. This evaluation would consist of a summary of what the student has done during the internship, an assessment of the quality of the student's work, and suggestions that might aid the student's further professional development. Your faculty supervisor may also have reason to communicate with the internship supervisor from time to time.
Grading is based on a portfolio consisting of copies of written work, the journal, the evaluation, and any other assignments outlined in the internship proposal.

The College of New Jersey

Department of English

Journalism /Professional Writing Major

Guidelines for Media Experience and Internships

(DRAFT: January, 2005)