UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION

BROADCAST INTERNSHIP – COMM 4950

SYLLABUS - FALL 2008

Instructor: Dr. Keith Swezey, Professor Office Phone: (405) 974-2792

Office: 129B Communications Building Email: kswezey@ucok.edu

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 11:00 am – noon, by email and by appointment

Introduction

The Mass Communication Department broadcast intern program is best generalized as an off-campus job experience for which the student receives academic credit. The Internship course requires that an intern be involved in a work experience under the direct supervision of a professional working in the area of his/ her internship. The Internship supervisor, at the work location, and the Internship Instructor are both responsible for evaluating the Internship.

Prerequisites

Broadcast major, senior standing, completion of the basic Mass Communication Core: Introduction to Mass Communication, Media Writing, or equivalents as determined by Internship professor. Students must have completed 15 coursework hours at UCO (if above requirements met earlier or at another institution) including: Basic TV Production or Broadcast News; TV Field Production;

Advanced Broadcast News or Advanced TV Production.

A minimum 2.5 GPA is required in the major classes.

Students

The internship is limited to senior students who have completed most of their coursework in the option (see above). Criteria for selection are based on a student’s interest, preparation, relevance of the internship to their career plans, and the availability of positions.

Students cannot use full-time jobs as internships and cannot be earning substantial salary or wages for part-time jobs used as internships. An honorarium or expenses-paid internships are allowed.

Internships require considerably more scheduled hours than regular classes and students who are dependent on regular jobs for income need to anticipate that. It should be remembered that the reputation of the University is directly affected by the performance of the intern.

Credit

Students enroll in COMM 4950 for two (2) hours of credit. For the two hours of credit, the following accepted academic norms are used:

To qualify for a grade of A, the student will work a minimum of 120 hours per semester. The student, the on-location supervisor and the internship coordinator will agree upon the spacing of these hours.

To qualify for a grade of B or higher, the student will work a minimum of 100 hours per semester. The student, the on-location supervisor and the internship coordinator will agree upon the spacing of these hours.

Grades are assigned according to the normal system: A,B,C,D, and F. Most students receive an A or B. Any grade less than a B is considered poor.

Meeting

All students are required to attend a beginning of semester meeting. Meeting notices will be emailed to all enrolled students at least two weeks in advance. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory.

Make arrangements to reschedule work. The only excuse is a class at that time.

Intern Agreement

A formal agreement is signed by the student, on-site supervisor and internship professor. This agreement spells out the duties and responsibilities of each party. The agreement is basically a summary of the points discussed in this paper. This agreement, with a copy to each party, serves to clarify possible misunderstandings if they arise.

Internship Report - initiated by student; one to two pages summarizing their internship experience to be turned in at the end of coursework for the semester (December 5, 2008).

Absences

Absences during the internship must be made up. Since your grade primarily depends on you showing up, being on time and doing the work assigned, you must make up the time missed. Advise your internship supervisor at the station that you will not be in as soon as you realize a conflict. Failure to do this is not only unprofessional, but will result in a lowering of your grade.

Syllabus Amendments

The professor reserves the right to amend the syllabus at any time. The contents of this syllabus are subject to revision 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the entire semester. Students are put on notice as to the contents of this syllabus during the course of the semester.

Personal Conferences

The student is required to meet with the internship professor at least twice during the semester. The first meeting is before the beginning of the internship. A second conference should be scheduled after the student begins the internship. In addition, the student should confer with the professor any time he/she has a question or problem.

Selection of Internship Site

The internship professor keeps a file of participating internship sites. It contains job descriptions and samples of the work the student will be expected to do.

After the Application for Internship form has been approved, the student then selects those organizations which are of interest. The next step is to contact the appropriate person and ask for an interview. Usually it is most efficient to telephone for an appointment. The student will identify him/herself as a broadcast intern from the University of Central Oklahoma and go from there. For the interview, dress neatly (suit and tie are not usually necessary). Be on time. Take any pertinent information such as portfolio, resume tape, etc.

Arranging Your Own Internship

If the student wishes to intern with an organization that is not on the approved list, they should visit with the internship professor. There are forms and procedures for adding sites to the approved list.

Changing Internships

If a student finds he/she is in an internship that is unsatisfactory, contact the internship professor as soon as possible. Changing internships is difficult but not impossible if there is a good reason.

Forms Which Must Be Completed

Application For Internship - initiated by student, approved by faculty, before internship begins.

Verification of Internship - signed by student, supervisor and internship professor

Weekly Internship Report – description of activities that week, initiated by student, signed by supervisor

Midterm Intern Supervisor - Evaluation Report initiated by supervisor

Final Evaluation of Internship - initiated by student, completed by supervisor

Internship Report - initiated by student; one to two pages summarizing their internship experience

All of these forms must be completed by the intern or their supervisor before a grade can be assigned.

Deadlines

Weekly reports are to be turned in no later than Wednesday of the following week. They may be submitted in person, faxed or emailed from the Internship Supervisors email account only. DO NOT accumulate them for several weeks.

The mid-term evaluation by your Internship Supervisor is due by 5:00 p.m. October 24, 2008.

The final evaluation is due by December 5, 2008, at 5:00 pm.

These are non-negotiable deadlines unless prior arrangements have been made. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure these reports are turned in on time.

Retention of Course Materials

Because of limited storage space, the instructor will keep projects and other work submitted until the second week of the following semester. If students don't pick up their projects by then, they will be disposed of.

Syllabus Changes

Department of Mass Communication Policies – Fall 2008

Advisement:

Mass Communication classes held in the morning and early afternoon will be dismissed October 29-30 for pre-enrollment advisement by faculty (unless your instructor announces otherwise). All Mass Communication majors will be required to make and keep an appointment with a faculty member on one of those days. [Note: COMM 1113 Fundamentals of Speech and COMM 2023 Communication for Teachers will not be cancelled.]

UCO Student Code of Conduct 2008-2009: Students are responsible for all information in the Student Code of Conduct 2008-2009. This can be accessed on the Student Affairs Publications website at http://www.ucok.edu/student_affairs/publications.html.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM:

The UCO Student Code of Conduct describes Academic Dishonesty and outlines the steps for disciplinary action in the Guidelines for Alleged Academic Dishonesty. This information can be found in Section III, C, 3 & 4.

Academic dishonesty: Includes but is not limited to the “giving” and “taking” of improper assistance in examinations and assignments; not adhering to correct procedures for identification of sources in reports and essays and all creative endeavors; intentional misrepresentation; cheating; plagiarism; and unauthorized possession of examinations. The UCO Student Code of Conduct provides further details.

Additionally, any work submitted as an assignment for one class may not be submitted for credit in another class, without prior permission of the professor. Any work so submitted will receive an automatic "0."

Plagiarism: When a student submits any assignment for a course (written, oral, videotape, audiotape, photograph or Web Site), the student will submit entirely original work or will properly cite all sources utilized in the preparation of the assignment. Without proper citation, the student is guilty of plagiarism, which is not tolerated at UCO.

As a student, you are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism. You should talk to your professor to ensure that you can recognize and avoid all types of plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs in two primary ways:

1. Word-for-word copying, without acknowledgement, of the language or creative work of another person. Having another person complete all or part of your assignment is plagiarism and is clearly forbidden. But, in addition, the student should include NO written, video, audio, or photographic material from an existing source, no matter how brief, without acknowledging the source. When using the written words of an existing source in your assignment, either place the borrowed words in quotation marks or set the quotation aside as a block quotation. Additionally, you must include the citation for the material in your assignment. This applies to even the briefest of phrases if they are truly distinctive.

2. The unacknowledged paraphrasing of an author’s ideas. The student should no more take credit for another person’s thoughts than for another person’s words. Any distinctive, original idea taken from another writer should be credited to its author. If you are not sure whether or not an author’s idea is distinctive, you should assume that it is: no fault attaches to over-acknowledgement, but under-acknowledgement is plagiarism. Most style manuals (e.g., Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association) provide information concerning how to paraphrase and cite the ideas and writings of existing sources.

Students may be dismissed from the university for plagiarism. University guidelines provide a range of disciplinary action dependent upon the severity of the offense including but not limited to: requiring a substitute assignment, awarding a reduced grade, awarding a failing grade for the assignment, awarding a failing grade for the course, or expelling the student from the university. Acknowledging that instances of plagiarism may range from minor to severe, the Department of Mass Communication allows the course professor to determine the severity and the disciplinary action for the first instance of plagiarism committed by a student in the professor’s course. However, if that student commits plagiarism a second time in the course, departmental policy requires that the student receive both a failing grade (“F”) for the course and a referral to the UCO Student Conduct Officer. Students should make sure they understand professor expectations for sources and content to be cited.

College of Liberal Arts Policies

Tobacco products are prohibited from the classroom. All personal communication devices are to be turned off or put on silent mode in the classroom. This includes pagers, cell phones, etc.

University Policies

ADA Statement Regarding Special Accommodations:

The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations must contact the assistant director of Disability Support Services, Kim Fields, in room 309 of the Nigh University Center, (405) 974-2549. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor as soon as possible after the DSS has verified the need for accommodations to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Additional policies for this course are included in the Fall 2008 UCO Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment which can be accessed at

http://www.busn.ucok.edu/academicaffairs/StudentInfoSheet.pdf

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Department of Mass Communication

APPLICATION FOR BROADCAST INTERNSHIP

(Student must have completed 90 hours by end of current semester)

Name______________________________________ Student ID #________________

Address________________________________________________________________

Phone__________________________E-Mail_________________________________

Semester you desire an internship__________________________________________

Preference of internship location, if any_____________________________________

Expected date of graduation_______________________________________________

Grade Point Average (overall)_____________________________________________

Grade Point Average (major)______________________________________________

Area of emphasis in Broadcasting________________________________________

Type of internship you desire______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

I have taken these required courses: (please check)

___ Basic TV Production ___ Advanced Broadcast News

___ Broadcast News OR

___ TV Field Production ___ Advanced TV Production

Other courses you have taken related to the potential internship:

Course No. Title Grade When Completed

Why do you want an internship and what do you hope to gain from the experience?

Internship Professor___________________________ Approved___ Disapproved___

Date____________________

Revised 08-12-08

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT

Verification of Broadcast Internship Agreement

TO BE FILLED OUT BY INTERN AND COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE

Student’s Name_____________________________________________________________

Supervisor’s Name___________________________________________________

Company’s Name____________________________________________________

Descriptive title of internship__________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

General duties & activities to be undertaken by the student___________________

__________________________________________________________________

AGREEMENTS

1. The student will work the number of hours specified in the Internship syllabus (a minimum

of 100 hours for a “B” and 120 hours for an “A”) and will earn two (2) credit hours.

2. The student will submit the various reports as specified in the Internship syllabus.

3. The On-Sight Supervisor agrees to sign weekly reports filled out by the student, fill out a written evaluation of the student at midterm and at the end of the semester on forms supplied by UCO.

4. The Internship Coordinator will assign a grade to the student based on the intern’s reports, the Supervisor’s evaluations, the professor/student conference, and the number of hours of supervised work as specified in the Internship Booklet.

5. It is understood by the student that all University rules pertaining to class attendance apply to the Internship.

The undersigned have read and agree to all conditions set forth.

Student____________________________________________ Date_______________

Supervisor__________________________________________ Date_______________

Faculty Internship Coordinator__________________________ Date_______________

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

TO BE RETURNED AT THE BEGINNING OF INTERNSHIP

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

MASS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT

INTERN JOB DESCRIPTION

Internship Information

Job Title_______________________________________________________________________

Company Name_________________________________________________________________

Company Supervisor_____________________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________________________________

Phone_________________________________________________________________________

Person to contact (if different from Supervisor)________________________________________

Days Needed_______________________________ Hours Needed________________________

Job Description (duties and responsibilities of Intern)___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Qualifications (special skills, training, education, or experience required or preferred)

_____________________________________________________________________________

Student information

Student Name_______________________________________________________________

Student Address_____________________________________________________________

City___________________________ Zip__________ Telephone___________________

Intern Supervisor Information

Supervisor Name_____________________________________________________________

Supervisor Title__________________________________ Email______________________

Company_______________________________________ Telephone___________________

Address____________________________________________________________________

City__________________________ Zip___________ Telephone___________________

Date of beginning Internship____________________________________________________

Approximate schedule (days and hours) of the intern_________________________________

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Department of Mass Communication

Weekly Broadcast Internship Report

TO BE RETURNED EVERY WEEK TO INTERNSHIP PROFESSOR

For Week Ending_______________

Student’s Name___________________________________________________________

Supervisor’s Name________________________________________________________

Organization_____________________________________________________________

Number of Hours Worked: Sunday_______ Monday_______ Tuesday______ Wednesday______ Thursday______ Friday_______ Saturday______

Description of Work Performed and Observations Made:

Student Signature______________________________________ Date_______________

Supervisor Signature___________________________________ Date_______________

FAX: (405) 974-3837

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Department of Mass Communication

Mid-Term Broadcast Internship Evaluation

For Period Beginning________ and Ending_______________

Student’s Name___________________________________________________________

Supervisor’s Name________________________________________________________

Organization_____________________________________________________________

PLEASE RETURN BY 5:00 p.m. October 24, 2008

Supervisor’s Comments Regarding:

Hours Worked to Date

Work Performed

Observations Made of Student Performance

Observations Made of Student Attitude Toward Internship

Other Comments

Student Signature______________________________________ Date_______________

Supervisor Signature___________________________________ Date_______________

FAX: (405) 974-3837 PLEASE RETURN BY 5:00 p.m. October 24, 2008

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

INTERN SUPERVISOR – FINAL EVALUATION REPORT

University of Central Oklahoma

Department of Mass Communication

FAX: 405-974-3837

e-mail: kswezey@ucok.edu

Intern: _____________________________________________________

Evaluator: __________________________________________________

To the supervisor: Please complete this evaluation report on the work this student has done for you in fulfillment of the internship. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please return by : December 5, 2008, at 5:00 pm You may fax, mail, or e-mail the report back.

Promptness Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Resourcefulness Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Maturity Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Interest in Job Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Ability to Learn Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Ability to Communicate Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Ability to Organize Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Ability to Work with Others Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Ability to Work Independently Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Ability to Contribute to the Organization Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Understanding of Procedures Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Promise of Success in the Profession Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

Leadership Ability Superior Good Below Average Do Not Know

What do you consider the intern’s most significant strengths?

How could the intern improve?

Hypothetically, if your firm had an opening for a person with the background of this intern, would you hire her/him?

Any additional comments you wish to make concerning this intern?

Total # of hours worked: ________

What letter grade do you suggest for this intern: A B C D F

Supervisor Signature___________________________________ Date_______________