Media Education Summit

With Nic Jeune ‘Reflections on practice: work-based learning, identity and professionalism’, Media Education Summit 2011, Ravensbourne, 6-7.09.11

Keywords
Media practice; professionalism; work-based learning.

Abstract
This presentation explores how undergraduate students reflect on their work-based learning within a university-based media company, and how they make sense of their emerging ‘professional’ identities.

The presentation will draw on three years of findings from interviews and focus groups conducted as part of a longitudinal research study into Artswork Media (Bath Spa University), and accounts and reflections from student alumni in attendance. As a dialogue between the company’s Creative Director, student alumni, and the project researcher, the presentation will engage with a range of perspectives and debates on what, how and why students reflect as part of their work-based media practice education.

The presentation will specifically address: the contexts and practical means by which students come to relate to themselves as media professionals (Ashton, 2010); the significance of immersive work-based learning in contrast to a university/campus-based location; working with external clients and valuing work; and how the company context connects with future industry practices and challenges, such as portfolio working and job security (Hesmondhalgh and Baker, 2010; Ashton, 2011).

References
Ashton, D. (2010) ‘“You just end up feeling more professional”: Media production and industry-ready personhood' in Networks 10, pp.14-19

Ashton, D. (2011) 'Media education and media industries: Identity, anxiety, and aspirations', Media Education Research Journal, 1(2): 85-93.

Hesmondhalgh, D. and Baker, S. (2010) Creative Labour. London: Routledge.