What is an internship portfolio?

*** See updated information at the post "Important New Rules for JMC Interns" dated 9/8/2010 ***

The final step in completing your JMC internship is submitting an internship portfolio to the JMC department. The portfolio must carefully follow the guidelines in the syllabus for the internship class (JMC 495) or the internship packet. The portfolio should be professionally bound using plastic or wire spiral binding, a clear plastic front cover and a solid plastic back cover.

Be sure your portfolio includes the following:

a. Title page – The title page should include your name, where you did your internship (company and city) and the date of your internship. Many students choose to use color and graphic design to make an attractive title page but this is not required and will not result in a higher grade.
b.Introduction – A one-page description of the assigned work, an explanation of duties, identity of profession¬al supervisor, and a description of pre-internship expectations.
c. Daily log – A typed, double-spaced log of daily experiences with explanation and analysis. Include questions, concerns or observations about assigned tasks.
d. Work product – Work can be presented in any print form if clippings, tearsheets or finished work are not available. Samples of bylined news stories from Web sites are acceptable. You may include radio, TV and video projects in CD or DVD formats, but please include a plastic pocket designed to hold the disk so that it won’t get separated from your portfolio; include your name on the CD or DVD. Samples of photography may also be included, but must be included within the portfolio document or securely attached. IMC students may include samples of research, internal planning documents, or samples of finished public relations, media relations or creative work.
e. Intern’s Post-Fieldwork Response form – Type your answers to the list of questions in this form, included with this syllabus and available online. Most students add this to the portfolio just prior to the executive summary.
f. Executive summary – A one- to two-page narrative summary of the learning experience. This should be the final document in your portfolio.

Deadlines

It's also important to know the deadlines for submitting internship portfolios. For those who have completed their internship prior to the start of a new semester and plan to take JMC 495 during that semester, the deadline for submission of the portfolio is the final internship class meeting for the semester, which is typically prior to mid-term. In other words, if you complete your internship during the summer and then take JMC 495 in the fall, your portfolio is due prior to the final class meeting, typically in early October.

For all other students, portfolios must be submitted within four weeks of the final day of fieldwork as an intern. Please note that (1) You will NOT receive credit for this course and cannot graduate from the university with a JMC major until the portfolio is submitted and approved and (2) Late portfolios will result in a lower final grade.

The portfolios, once submitted, are property of the university and are kept on file for accreditation purposes. If you want to keep a portfolio for your own use, please make a personal copy. You are also encouraged to keep electronic copies in your computer of your introduction, daily log, responses to the “post fieldwork response form” and your executive summary until you have received a grade for this class on your transcript, in the event that your portfolio is lost after being submitted.

Step-by-step instructions for JMC students

*** See updated information at the post titled "Important New Rules for JMC Interns" dated 9/8/2010 ***

If you feel unsure about what's involved in completing the JMC department's required internship, then relax. We get these questions all the time. So, here in an easy-to-follow format are the step-by-step instructions for starting and completing a for-credit internship that will satisfy our department's requirement:

1. Let's start with the basics. You must complete a 160-hour, JMC-appropriate internship in order to earn your degree from ACU with a major from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. You must also take the internship course, JMC 495, and complete the necessary paperwork (described below). Most students complete their internship during their junior or senior years. We require that you have completed 75 hours of university credits before starting your internship. You can do an internship in Abilene during the fall or spring semesters, typically working 12 to 15 hours per week, or you can complete an internship "back home" or anywhere in the world during the summer. The internship, and all supporting paperwork, must be completed before the end of your final semester of classes in order to graduate on time.

2. It's up to you to find an internship, but we're here to help. We recommend you take the internship course, JMC 495, prior to starting your internship. We discuss where to look for internships in that class. You can also browse the archive of previous posts on this blog for ideas and inspiration. In addition, this blog contains a listing of Web sites for JMC professional organizations and other sites that include internship and career information. Spend some time on those sites. Networking is probably the most common way of finding internships. Talk with professionals in your field and with JMC alumni. Attend conferences. The more people you know in your field, the better your chances of finding an internship.

3. Once you find an internship, you must e-mail me (click here) to get it approved. Do NOT start an internship without this approval. What we generally look for are: (a) Are you ready to start your internship? Have you earned at least 75 hours of credit? Have you completed your JMC core classes? (b) Is this an appropriate internship for your specific JMC major? In other words, the internship must be closely related to your chosen field of study, (c) Will you be working for an established organization and supervised (in person) by someone with training and/or responsibilities in your chosen JMC field of study? (d) Are you working for a close relative? Sorry, you can't do an internship with your spouse, mom, dad or sibling.

4. Next, you must submit to us the contract form we provide to you. You'll find a copy of this and other forms in the Internship Packet elsewhere on this blog. The contract form is due to use BEFORE your first day on the job. It must be signed by you and your supervisor. This form is largely for your protection, to ensure that the supervisor understands the nature of the commitment and agrees to submit the required mid-term and final evaluation forms.

5. Before starting your job, review the paperwork requirements for the internship portfolio, which you'll find in the Internship Packet on this blog. The requirements are also explained in the syllabus for the internship course, JMC 495.

6. From day one on the internship, be sure to keep a typed, daily log (journal) of your activities. This document will become an important part of your internship portfolio.

7. Explain to your supervisor about the mid-term and final evaluation forms. Then, follow up to be sure the supervisor mails the forms to us at the appropriate times. It's not uncommon for supervisors to forget, so don't be bashful about reminding them. By the way, we don't accept these forms from students. For obvious reasons, the evaluation forms must be mailed to us from the employer, in an envelope from the business.

8. Within four weeks of completing your internship, you must submit to us an internship portfolio, following the guidelines in the syllabus or packet. This portfolio should be in the form of a spiral notebook, with a clear plastic cover and a title page. Most copy stores or office supply stores can assemble this notebook for you at a nominal cost. If you are submitting a CD, DVD or other attachments, please include an appropriate sleeve that will securely hold your disk in place. Make sure your name is on any disks you include. In addition to the daily journal, the portfolio should include a one-page introduction, several work samples (photocopies are fine), an executive summary and your answers to the questions posed in the document titled "Post Fieldwork Response Form," which is included in the syllabus and packet. Please note that our accrediting body requires us to keep portfolios in the department, so the portfolios will not be returned to you. You may want to make a separate portfolio for your own purposes.

9. Once the portfolio is submitted and your mid-term and final evaluations are received by the JMC department, we can then assign you a letter grade, assuming you've completed the internship course.

10. That's it! You've now satisfied the requirements for the official JMC internship. However, many of you won't want to stop there. Internships are a great experience and look good on your resume. Some of you will want to pursue a second or third internship, but the good news is that you do not have to follow our paperwork and reporting process again. We only give credit for one internship.

Internship FAQ

*** See updated information at the post titled "Important New Rules for JMC Interns" dated 9/8/2010 ***

Your internship can be one of the most exciting and valuable parts of your JMC education at ACU. To make sure you receive credit for your internship and to maximize your experience, please review the following questions and answers.

Q: Am I required to complete an internship?

A: Yes. All JMC majors must complete both an internship and the internship class (JMC 495) in order to graduate. There are no exceptions.

Q: When is the best time to complete my internship?

A: You should have completed 75 hours of college credits prior to starting your internship, including your core JMC classes. Many students complete their internship in the summer between their junior and senior years, or during the fall or spring semesters in Abilene during their junior or senior years. You must complete your internship and submit all necessary paperwork before the end of your senior year in order to graduate on time.

Q: What if I'm a sophomore but have a chance to do an internship?

A: The more JMC-related work experience you can get on your resume, the better. We encourage JMC students to complete more than one internship and many do so. You can complete as many internships as you wish, but only one counts for academic credit. If you're a sophomore and get a chance to do an internship, by all means go for it, but you may need to do another internship later for JMC credit. An exception to this rule is for students who are approved to participate in a JMC-related internship offered through the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Students may be approved to participate in these programs following the completion of their sophomore year. For more information on CCCU internships, click here.

Q: When should I take the internship class, JMC 495?

A: Students are strongly encouraged to take this class prior to starting their internship. In the class, we discuss the paperwork requirements for the JMC internship and talk about where to find suitable internships. We also offer practical training in resume writing and interviewing for jobs. Most semesters, one or more JMC employers will speak to the class and offer their perspective on what they look for when hiring interns or entry-level employees. If you are a sophomore or junior, talk with your JMC academic adviser, Cara Lee Cranford, about when is the best time for you to take JMC 495. Click here to e-mail Cara Lee Cranford.

Q: How many hours must I work at my internship?

A: The minimum number of hours is 160, but many students work more than this. The 160 hours may be divided up in a number of ways, to best meet the needs of the student and the employer. You can complete your internship in as few as four weeks by working 40 hours per week, or you can work 12 to 15 hours per week during the fall or spring semesters.

Q: How much do interns get paid?

A: We think all employers should pay students for the work they do, but that is often not the case. Many employers do not pay interns, but some offer educational stipends or discounted housing arrangements. If you get a paid internship, consider yourself fortunate.

Q: OK, I'm ready to start. What's my first step?

A: If doing an internship for credit, you must notify the JMC internship director in writing (click here to send an e-mail) in advance, outlining what you plan to do. Include where you plan to work, who you will be reporting to (name and title) and the nature of the internship. We will then reply with either approval or questions.

Q: Why wouldn't you approve my proposed internship?

A: Most internships are approved, but the most common reason for our rejecting a proposed internship is that it isn't consistent with the student's JMC major. If you are an Ad/PR major, for example, then you need to find an internship in the advertising, public relations or marketing fields. Another common reason is the lack of an on-the-site supervisor with specific training and/or responsibilities in your field. A small church or nonprofit organization, for example, may want you to work for them as an intern because they have no one on staff who can do the type work you can do. That might be a worthwhile volunteer project, but it's not an approved internship, because we want you to be in a position to be mentored or coached by experienced supervisors. A third reason for rejection is if the job involves working for a family member or close friend. Sorry, you can't do your internship with mom or dad.

Q: What is the first form I must submit to get started on my internship?

A: Once you have our approval (see above), the first form that needs completing is a contract form, which we will provide to you. This form needs to be signed by you and your internship supervisor, and returned to the JMC internship director prior to your first day on the job.

Q: What are the employer's requirements?

A: We try to keep the paperwork simple for employers. The internship supervisor must agree to the terms on the contract form and be willing to complete mid-term and final evaluation forms, which we provide to you when you take JMC 495 or start your internship. It is the student's responsibility to follow-up and make sure the supervisor mails the evaluation forms to us. Please note that we will not accept evaluation forms directly from students because the evaluation is supposed to be confidential between the employer and the JMC department.

Q: Are there other paperwork requirements?

A: Interns must submit an internship portfolio that includes a typed daily work journal, work samples, a one-page introduction, answers to the post-fieldwork response form (which we provide) and a one-to-two-page executive summary. The correct format is to bind these items in a spiral-bound booklet with a title page and a clear plastic cover. All information must be typed, with the exception of work samples where typing would not be practical.

Q: Where do I find JMC internships?

A: We discuss this topic in more detail in the internship course, JMC 495. However, this blog is an excellent start. Look at the list of JMC professional organizations, many of which include job and internship postings on their Web sites. Watch for new postings on this blog throughout the year as new internship opportunities come available. ACU's Career Center is another excellent resource; see their CareerLink Web site. Don't forget about networking as a way to find internship leads. Talk with people you know who work in your chosen field. Attend chapter meetings or conferences of JMC professional organizations. Send e-mails or letters to companies that interest you.