Journalistic skills are imparted in both the bachelor course and the master course Science Journalism. The integration of practice into the journalistic education distinguishes the courses at the Institute of Journalism in Dortmund. In this respect the courses stand out from many rather theoretic-oriented communication science courses, which often have the reputation not to meet the editorial offices’ demands.
In the bachelor phase the study unit journalism offers all
classic basics of journalism: investigation technique and stylistics, forms of journalistic statements from news to reportages, media law, media economy and ethics. Besides, the students work in the
educational editorial offices (Lehrredaktionen) of the institute. Beyond the university they get to know the journalistic practice in external internships and a
one-year editorial traineeship (Volontariat).
In the master course the students are enabled to scientifically work on their own in the field of science journalism. Profiting from the experiences made during their traineeship the students are taught key qualifications for executive positions, e.g.
organizational management.
Despite the practice-oriented education basic knowledge about
communication sciences as well as the basics of scientific work are still an integral part of the studies in Dortmund. Knowledge of empirical social research is imparted in the bachelor course yet. In the master phase these techniques are extended with regard to the final scientific exam. Anyway, the knowledge about scientific standards is indispensable for the practical work in science journalism.
# Practical Training in the Bachelor's Curriculum
Integrating a high degree of practice into the journalistic education
has been a tradition at the Institute of Journalism for three decades.
The following paragraphs give an overview of the practical training in
the bachelor course Science Journalism. Briefly, there are three practical components: internships in
journalistic mass media, education in the editorial offices of the
institute and the one-year editorial traineeship. These practical experiences are an indispensable prerequisite for the rather science-oriented master course.
Internships
There are three
internships to pass for the Bachelor's degree. The first one is to be finished before the
beginning of the studies. The students
are only allowed to enrol in the bachelor course Science Journalism on condition of that internship. There are two more internships to realize during
the studies: The students
must pass a two-month internship in a research institute or an
organization for the advancement or promotion of science. As science
and research have a high degree of internationalization an at least
four-week stay abroad is obligatory during the bachelor phase. Here
students get the chance to gather international experiences in media,
journalist schools or other universities.
Educational Editorial Offices
During the bachelor studies the students work in the
educational
editorial offices (Lehrredaktionen) of the Institute of Journalism during two terms. They
can choose two out of three educational media: the print
office pflichtlektüre, the radio station eldoradio* and the TV broadcast
do1.
The bachelor course Science Journalism is completed by a one-year
editorial traineeship (Volontariat) after the six-term studies at the university. This external practical phase
in the media has proven to be very successful in the diploma study course Journalism. The fact that the
Institute of Journalism finds these traineeships for its students has
increased the attractiveness of the course and forced the institute
itself to continuously measure up to the qualifications demanded in
practice. That is why the editorial traineeship is an integral part of
the bachelor course Science Journalism, too. Since editorial traineeships are rare, this component of the bachelor studies restricts the number of students to be accepted.
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