Practical Training

	Journalism students have many internship and practicum opportunities in the Tampa Bay area.

Internships

An internship is a semester-long work experience in an approved media-related position. During this time you are under the supervision of the host organization and are expected to carry out your duties like any other employee. An internship during the regular semester is usually three days a week; during the summer semester it is four days a week. Depending upon the arrangement, you may or may not be paid for your work. Interns receive three hours of credit. A student may not receive credit for both a practicum and an internship. The graduate equivalent of the internship (three credit hours) is known as a "professional practicum."  

Practicums  

During the regular semester a practicum a student works one day a week. Hours are arranged to suit the student's class schedule and the needs of the sponsoring organization. The student receives one hour of academic credit for successful completion of the practicum. During the summer semester, a practicum is one and a half days a week. Depending on the arrangement, you may or may not be paid for your work.  

Summary of hours and credits for internships and practicums

Requirements

In most cases, you must be in your senior year to undertake an internship or practicum. You must also have a written statement of approval from both your faculty adviser and the coordinator of internships before applying for a specific position. Please use the following Work Experience Permission Form for this.

Finding an internship or practicum

There are many ways to track down the internship that's right for you. You can start with a telephone call to area newspapers, magazines or other news organization.  

Ask your adviser if he or she knows of any. There are also a wealth of journalism internships and practicums available online. Click here for resources in the Tampa Bay area.

The right opportunity for you

Ideally, the opportunity you have found will fall into your area of professional interest. But sometimes you may want to use an internship or practicum to explore a new area or to simply round out your journalist skills. One of the best ways to determine if an opportunity is right for you is to talk to your adviser about it.  

Applying for an internship or practicum

As a first step, you must get approval from your faculty advisor to undertake an internship or practicum. He or she should sign the Work Experience Permission Form. After receiving approval from your faculty adviser, please bring the signed form to the coordinator of internships, Dr. Mark Walters, who will help you to identify and apply for a program.   Students are not to contact potential intern hosts on their own.  

1. The coordinator if internships will make initial contact with the prospective intern host. If this host expresses the interest to participate, the next step is an interview between the host and the intern.
2. The coordinator of internships will notify the intern that the host has requested an interview. However, it is the intern's responsibility to contact the host and arrange a time and place for the interview.
3. After the interview is completed, the coordinator of internships will check to see if the intern host is still willing to sponsor the internship. (The intern host is under no obligation to accept an intern after the interview.)
4. If the host agrees to the internship, the coordinator of internships will formalize the arrangements either in writing or verbally with the host.
5. An intern may request a particular media assignment and an effort will be made to place the student in that position, assuming that the student is qualified. However, where a student is assigned is at the full discretion of the faculty supervisor.   

Requirements for successful completion of the internship or practicum

1. The sponsoring organization is expected to assign interns work that would be assigned to the typical apprentice. Within this framework, the host will decide specific working assignments, schedules and responsibilities. The coordinator of internships will intervene only if serious problems arise.
2. During the regular semester, an internship involves working three days a week, while a practicum would involve working one day a week. During the summer semester, an internship would require working fours days a week, while a practicum requires working   one and a half days a week .  
3. Interns are subject to the authority of their intern hosts. Interns are expected to exhibit professional attitudes and work habits. Intern hosts have the right to demand that interns adhere to the same rigorous standards set for their full-time, salaries staff.  
4. If an intern fails to comply with any of these guidelines or requirements, the internship may be terminated without credit. If the host or the intern decides to terminate the internship or practicum for cause before the semester is over, the intern will receive an incomplete and will be required to restart the internship in another semester.  

Evaluation of internships and practicums

The final grade for the internship will be determined partly by the host's evaluation of the intern's performance. The faculty supervisor will also evaluate the intern's performance based on conferences with the intern and with the intern host, and evaluation of the intern's work and portfolio. The portfolio includes a clip file, a journal or diary, and a related research paper. It is possible to fail the internship. An evaluation form is provided. A standard form is used to evaluate internship or practicum performance. Performance is deemed unsatisfactory, needs improvement, meets requirements, exceeds expectations or outstanding.