News Editors Evaluate Journalism Courses and Graduate Employability. (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cullen, Trevor
• Is Part Of: Asia Pacific media educator. Volume 24:Number 2(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 209
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: News editors -- journalism education -- journalism graduate skills -- journalism graduate employability -- curriculum development; Journalism -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Study and teaching -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Study and teaching -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Mass media -- Research -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 070.07105
• DOI: 10.1177/1326365X14555283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1326-365X

Abstract

This research project used face-to-face interviews with news editors in Perth, Western Australia, to evaluate journalism courses and student employability in five Perth-based universities that teach journalism. The editors work in print, online, broadcast and television. All of them employ journalism graduates. The project aims to assess whether the journalism programmes provide graduates with the skill set prospective employers seek. Editors are uniquely placed as they employ journalism graduates as interns, or as full-time employees when they complete their studies, and they know what attributes and skills will help journalism graduates to succeed. The editors, for the most part, agreed that there was a key role for universities in Western Australia to provide both an educational background and skills-based training for graduates contemplating a career in journalism and early career journalists. There was, however, some disagreement as to the precise content of an ideal university-based journalism programme.