RGU partners with DC Thomson Media to offer students insight into journalism
Tuesday 11 June 2019
RGU journalism students, Lauren Jack and Thomas Durham, will spend the next 12 months working at DC Thomson Media, rotating throughout departments at both local newspapers – The Press and Journal and the Evening Express.
RGU has a long-standing partnership with DC Thomson Media, however this is the first time The DC Thomson Media Experience has been offered to journalism students for a paid year-long placement.
The students will gain hands-on experience in all aspects of the company, including the news, advertising and sales, radio and production departments.
Lauren (19), from Grangemouth, is really looking forward to starting the placement and hopes to develop the skills necessary for her to launch a successful career in journalism.
She said: “I enjoy the journalism course at RGU and I’m hoping to broaden and develop my skills. Gaining hands on knowledge and experience in a work environment will be really beneficial to my learning experience. DC Thomson Media is such a varied organisation that I will gain experience in multiple areas, allowing me to become a really rounded journalist with understanding of the whole business.
“No doubt this placement will be a steep learning curve as although I have knowledge in theory, having this applied practically is different.
“I am very lucky and grateful to be given this opportunity to experience a year in industry while still learning and I hope to live up to that expectation. Mostly, I want to be doing something I will enjoy and hopefully this experience will teach me what I enjoy and what I am good at, so I can build a stable foundation for the rest of my career.”
Thomas (21), from Aberdeen, said he hopes to make a positive contribution over the next year.
“I am deeply interested in journalism and current affairs, especially at a local level, and through RGU’s connections with DC Thomson Media, this a great opportunity to help me pursue a career in local news.
“I am looking forward to experiencing the sort of environment we’ve spent the last two years learning about. These papers have always been part of my family’s reading and over the next year, I’m really hoping to make a contribution.”
Izzy Crawford, subject leader for public relations, media and journalism at RGU’s School of Creative and Cultural Business, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to take our long-standing partnership with DC Thomson Media to the next level by offering our students this unique experience which will help prepare their future careers in the industry.
“Close collaboration with industry allows us to develop a demand-led curriculum, tailored to meet the needs of employers, and opportunities like these also give students the practical skills needed to thrive in their chosen career.”
Fiona Mckay, journalism lecturer at RGU’s School of Creative and Cultural Business, said: “Giving our students the chance to work in all aspects of the media industry will benefit them hugely, they will not only gain an insight into the world of journalism but also valuable work experience and the chance to put the knowledge they have learnt throughout their journalism course into practice.”
Struan Nimmo, DC Thomson Media Group Head of Production, said: “Training young journalists has always been core to our business. This new relationship with Robert Gordon University is the latest evolution of the training values we have always had.”