Background to the 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.
About the Author
Dr Trevor Cullen (PhD) is Professor of Journalism at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. Trevor is recognised as a national and international leader in the field of HIV/health Journalism and Journalism education. He has received several University and national teaching and research awards. These include two Australian Government awards – A National Teaching and Learning Fellowship (NTF) and the Australian Award for University Teaching. (AAUT).