Course overview
In recognition of the importance of combining theory and practice, our students must complete a 12-week professional internship before graduating. Learning on the job is a crucial part of a professional degree program since there are many aspects of journalism that cannot be addressed solely in the classroom. The internship is usually undertaken in the spring and summer after the first two terms of the program are completed. After the internship experience, news organizations provide written evaluations as do students who also share their experience and offer advice to incoming students.
Internships provide students with an opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom, both the theoretical and craft aspects of journalism, to the actual day-to-day work of reporting and writing and producing news and information for an audience. In addition to helping students enhance their journalism skills, the internship placement has proven to be an opportunity for students to acquire a portfolio of work and to develop professional relationships with editors and reporters.
Students have interned in Canada and around the world having won placements in organizations such as:
- CBC radio, television and online
- The Globe and Mail
- South China Morning Post
- The Georgia Straight
- Canadian Geographic
- Business in Vancouver
- VICE Canada
- The Tyee
- The Saudi Gazette
- Greenpeace
- Al Jazeera
- The Narwhal
Students have worked as reporters, researchers, associate producers, online editors, field producers and copy editors.