Journalism internship for students hired to fulfill the responsibilities of the Business Manager of the campus newspaper, the Mirror News. The Business Manager of The Mirror News student newspaper is responsible for the advertising operations of the newspaper. The Internship will provide opportunities for students interested in business-related careers in addition to careers in journalism. Class may be repeated for credit.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Students will demonstrate the ability to complete the following:
- Perform all tasks required of the Business Manager of the Mirror News.
- Manage business operations of the Mirror News, including budget, staff payroll, soliciting advertising, collections, and reporting to the Student Newspaper Board.
- The student will learn to:
- Plan, prepare, and present budget reports to the Student Newspaper Board
- Plan and implement advertising sales within College’s solicitation guidelines
- Organize and monitor payments for freelance submissions to the print and online editions of the Mirror News campus newspaper
- Plan placement of advertisement and story submissions with fellow newspaper staff
- Execute all advertising tasks, from sales to placement to collections
Upon successful completion of the course, students will demonstrate the following:
1. Develop advertising/marketing projects for the newspaper. Target businesses within the community and generate revenue for the newspaper in a professional manner.
2. Work closely with the Advisor, Editor-in-Chief, and Cashier’s Office to ensure advertising revenue is collected.
3. Prepare a budget report.
4. Meet all publication deadlines.
5. Proof all advertisements placed to ensure accuracy in placement and production. Work closely with the Editor-in-Chief and Layout Editor in placing ads according to the requests of the advertisers, check size, page, resolution/quality, and content.
6. Keep track of all advertising accounts (invoices paid, invoices outstanding, etc.).
7. Inform all advertisers of all newspaper policies and procedures.
8. Regularly update the Rate Sheet and email Rate Packets to past, current and prospective advertisers, send via postal mail if advertiser prefers.
9. Accurately maintain and update advertising files.
10. Send out invoices and newspapers to advertisers immediately after each published issue of The Mirror News.
11. Meet regularly with the Editor-in-Chief and Layout Editor to keep them updated on all advertising progress and any potential problems or concerns.
12. Consistently check inventory of office supplies and submit list of needed supplies to the Student Activities Office.
14. Maintain the newspaper archive.
15. Complete all paperwork for writers’ compensation.
16. Evaluate and select advertisements for the Mirror News.
17. Analyze the structural pattern of advertisements for a balanced perspective of information.
18. Plan placement of advertisements with Mirror News Editor-in-Chief and Layout Editor.
Note that a grade of C- is not transferrable and is not accepted by some programs at HFC
Assessment and Requirements
- Weekly consultations with the instructor. The weekly consultation will be devoted to ensure that all business tasks, from recruiting advertisers, to collections, to paying staff from advertising revenue, to preparing a budget report are completed.
- Weekly consultations with the faculty advisor to the Mirror News.
- Bi-weekly publications of The Mirror News.
- Advertising Revenue.
- Budget Report.
- Recommended to have previous knowledge and experience with accounting, finance, or sales.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level business and/or marketing class.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level English course, preferably creative writing and/or a literature course with a grade of "B" or better.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level graphic design and/or web design course, or demonstrate proficiency in graphic design and/or web design.
- Recommended to have prior newspaper experience, preferably being a staff member of a high school or college newspaper.
- Recommended to have completed a college-level journalism class, such as JOUR 131.
- Must have cumulative 2.5 GPA and successfully complete at least six credit hours at the end of each semester.
- Must demonstrate proficiency with business math.