Studying journalism opens doors to many other careers where creativity, writing, communication and research skills are invaluable.
Jobs include, but are not limited to: Broadcasting, features, editorial assistant, magazine features editor, journalist, political analyst, subeditor and editor, proofreader, web content manager, writer, advertising and digital copywriter, market researcher, public relations officer and many more where common sense is essential.
The Daily Dispatch offers internships where interns get six months of work experience, which satisfies requirements for a qualification for certain institutions like Walter Sisulu University.
An internship is a professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work related to a student’s field of study or career.
An internship offers career exploration and development, while learning new skills.
Lebo Mjangaze, a journalist intern who is studying at WSU and is doing a six-month internship at the Dispatch said: “As challenging as it is, journalism is also fascinating, and where I come from (a rural area) is what made journalism appealing to me.
“I discovered that there is a lot of newsworthy stuff happening in rural areas and it is not always covered.
“As a result, should I get a job in a rural area, I can cover every beat, with a focus on the untold stories about communities.”
Her Dispatch intern colleague, Emihle Mbangatha, also a WSU student, said various aspects of journalism attracted her.
“Looking back from the community I come from, we don’t have journalists who are concerned with reporting about people’s issues and concerns that need to be put out there.
“The lack of information flow is one reason I became more interested in studying journalism than any other degree.
“When I graduate I’ll be the one who gets the opportunity to address and report about issues happening in my community; I can become the voice of my community. And that adds value to their lives,” she said.
Interns should build up a portfolio of published stories from day one, especially while working for a student radio, newspaper or magazine. Alternatively, start a blog.
Interns can make the most out of their work experience by setting clear goals, seeking feedback, networking with colleagues, taking on challenging projects, being proactive, asking questions, and showing enthusiasm for learning.
All this will add value to the internship experience.
It’s a mouthful but the interns who manage to do it will stand out from the crowd, and being favourably noticed will make the time spent without pay very worthwhile. It is also the foundation to securing job offers.
Internships can set individuals apart from the competition, enhance professional skills, and provide real-world experiences which are crucial for determining long-term career goals.
For employers, internships provide a powerful recruitment opportunity.
As an intern, the primary objective in the workplace is to acquire knowledge and gain valuable experience, while also fulfilling educational programme requirements.
To enhance the possibility of a job offer, interns should engage in various work assignments, projects, and activities of varying complexity, structured to enable the intern to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform at a professional level, typically identified with a targeted job.
After a successful internship the intern should appreciate:
- How to put knowledge and skills into practice;
- The benefits of networking;
- Company culture;
- The value of enthusiasm;
- Keeping a daily journal;
- Good communication skills are a ladder to success;
- Accept that criticism is a learning experience;
- That feedback, as an old saying goes, is indeed the “breakfast of champions”; and
- That volunteering for tasks allows interns to stand out from the crowd.
Lastly, there is often a misunderstanding between the demands of internships and apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are long-term, job-specific training programmes with formal education.
Internships, on the other hand, should be relatively short bursts of activity, designed mainly to give the intern a feel of the demands of a career.
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