Editorial Work Experience FAQ

Our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience provides you with hands-on experience in the publishing field. Completing this internship offers you the following benefits:

• affirm the skills you have learned in the classroom and gain confidence to start or advance your editorial career
• broaden your skills and understanding of publishing
• network with established editing professionals
• gain concrete work experience with a recognized publication/publishing house – an ideal addition to any resumé

Once you have completed our LIBA 9294 Copyediting course, our LIBA 9332 Proofreading course, and our LIBA 9372 Structural and Stylistic Editing course, you can apply for our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience.

No. If you have not completed all three prerequisite courses, you are not effectively prepared for our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience. You apply in the workplace what you have learned in LIBA 9294 Copyediting, LIBA 9332 Proofreading, and LIBA 9372 Structural and Stylistic Editing. You can proceed to placement before taking LIBA 9362 Editing Today: Beyond Traditional Publishing or the elective course requirement, but completing LIBA 9362 Editing Today: Beyond Traditional Publishing before placement may be helpful as you will explore various editing job opportunities and identify areas of interest in that course.

Our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience is three months long and is available during the fall and winter terms. However, like any Continuing Education course at George Brown College, it is only offered if enough students register.

If you have two years of full-time experience with an established publication or publishing house, you may apply for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience. For this, you may have to create a portfolio or be assessed through testing. For more information, contact the Liberal Studies department co-ordinator, Jo-Ann Sultan, at 416-415-5000, ext. 2092, or jo-ann.sultan@georgebrown.ca.

Yes. Most of the placements offered are online/off-site, and you will have several days to complete most assignments. This allows you to comfortably complete the required 45 hours within a three-month period at the same pace as any other Continuing Education course.

Our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience opportunities vary each term. Past placements have included:

• off-site placements with Hart House (University of Toronto)
• off-site placements with Faze Magazine (a Canadian publication that empowers teens)
• off-site placements with Colborne Communications

We cannot guarantee the availability of all of the placements listed above for every term.

At the beginning of the term, there will be an online LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience orientation session. During this orientation, you will have the opportunity to review the applications from all of the placement mentors, which outline the requirements, expectations, and schedules for each placement. You will then be asked to rank the placements in terms of preference.

Yes. We encourage students to find their own placements where possible because they would be tailored to their interests and may lead to future employment opportunities. However, if you choose that route, you must get approval from the LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience co-ordinator, Ralph Hamelmann, before you approach a prospective placement mentor. When you are close to completing your final core Editing and Publishing course, contact Ralph at rhamelmann@rogers.com; he will send you two PDFs to forward to your prospective placement. You must be sure to finalize arrangements with your placement prior to the placement orientation session.

Yes. After all the LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience opportunities have been assigned, if there are unclaimed placements, you may choose a second (or third) placement to broaden your experience. If you agree to two or more placements, the college expects you to complete 45 hours with each.

Yes. Some of our Editorial Skills Program graduates have been hired by their mentors because of their outstanding performances in our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience.

For more information about our LIBA 9110 Editorial Work Experience, contact the Continuing Education Liberal Studies department at 416-415-5000, ext. 2092, or celiberal@georgebrown.ca.