The document provides information about working practices and employment contracts in the print industry. It discusses stages of print production including prepress, press, and post-press. It also explains terms like house style, outsourcing, subcontracting, franchising, apprenticeships, multi-skilling, shift work, and flexibility. Employment contracts such as permanent, temporary, full-time, part-time, freelance and voluntary are also defined. Finally, it discusses the role of unions and relevant UK employment laws including the Equal Opportunities Act 2010 and Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.

1. Understanding the Print Industry
Working Practices and Employment Contracts
Unit 11: Learning outcome 2
Name:___________________

2. PROJECT BRIEF
Project Title
Unit(s)
Working practices and employment contracts
Understanding
Unit
Print Based
11
Tutor(s)
No
Industries
D Bakes
Aims
Understanding how the print industry works and the different ways people can be employed
within it is important for anyone hoping to get in to the industry. It will help you when you look
at what kind of job you would like in the industry.
Tasks/Notes
The British Print Industry Federation (BPIF) has a trade magazine called Inprint. They have approached you to
write an article about working practices in the Print Based Media Industries. You will need to complete task one
to allow you to carry out some research and gain an understanding before moving on to task 2 which will allow
you to show off your knowledge and compare and evaluative the issues.
Task 1: (P2, M2, D2)
You should explain the stages of print production, house style, impact of digital technology,
role of unions, outsourcing, subcontracting, franchising, apprenticeships, multi skilling, shift
work and flexibility.
You should also look at employment contract types such as permanent, temporary, full-time,
part-time, freelance and voluntary. You should also explain employment regulations, equal
opportunities and the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.
You need to explain the different terms and wherever possible use print industry examples to help explain your
points. This will allow you to access the higher grades.
Task 2: (P2, M2, D2)
You should prepare a response to the following question. Has digital technology had a positive or negative
impact on the print industry? You should use lots of examples to make your point.
This question will allow you to use your increasing knowledge of the print industry to comprehensively explain
working practices. You should be able to make links between digital technology and a range of other working
practices in order to prepare a high level response.
The criteria by which you will be assessed can be found over the page.
Merit students will give a good explanation of the different working practices and types of employment within the
print based media industries. They will use some specific examples from the industry.
Distinction students will give very detailed explanations of the different working practices and types of
employment within the print based media industries. . They will include lots of specific examples from the
industry. Distinction level work will be good enough to use to explain the print industry to someone new to the
field.

3. Project Title
Unit(s)
Structures and Job Roles
Understanding
Unit
Print Based
No
Industries
11
Tutor(s)
Dave Bakes
Assessment
In order to be assessed for this assignment you must complete the following work and
submit it by the required time. Below are the stages with the corresponding assessment
criteria as outlined in the unit specifications.
Task (s)
Grading Criteria
Pass
1
Merit
Distinction
P2 describe working
practices and
employment contracts
in the print-based
media industries with
some appropriate use
of subject terminology
M2 explain working
D2 comprehensively
practices and
employment contracts
in the print-based
media industries with
reference to detailed
illustrative examples
and with generally
correct use of subject
terminology
explain working
practices and
employment contracts in
the print-based media
industries with
elucidated examples
and consistently using
subject terminology
correctly
Deadline/Schedule
The schedule is as follows:

4. Explain the 3 main stages of production in the print based industry
Stage 1: Name: Prepress
What happens during this stage:
Prepress is the stage after the order has been received but before any actual
printing has been placed. First the content is decided between the client and the
business. The work is then created by producing a design layout, sourcing photos
and writing copy. There is often further consultation between the design team and
client, tweaking things and adding finishing touches. When the client is happy with
the product the required films and plates for the printing press is prepared, and the
product can begin being printed.
Stage 2: Name: Press
What happens during this stage:
Firstly the printing press must be prepared. This involves selecting appropriate
colours, setting up the printing plates, and then the chosen paper size and weight
must be applied to the press. After this there will be a series of test print to ensure
the quality of the colours and print before the print run actually begins.
Then the pages are printed, folded and cut, ready for post press.
Stage 3: Name: Post-press
What happens during this stage:
This is where the printed pages are arranged and prepared for binding. Some
magazines may have several versions, such as special edition or regional covers or
a different version for subscribers, and this is the stage in which they will be put
together. The finished product will then be packaged and sent out via the postal
service to subscribers and clients or to retail outlets to be sold.
Explain the following terms:

5. House style: Why is a house style and why is it used? Use a least one
example to help you explain.
The house style is a set of guidelines that are to be followed in order to produce a
consistant publication. They include the type of language used, spelling,
punctuation and italics. The copy editor is responsible for ensuring the house style
is being followed. Style guides are used by many publications and can be very
detailed, specifying which fonts and colours should be used. This allows a large
team to produce consistant work that flows as 1 piece rather than each separate
article/issue feeling individual.
Outsourcing: Explain the concept and the types of work outsourced by the
media industry. Using specific examples of companies who outsource or who
take on outsourced work will help improve your response.
Outsourcing is quite new to the media industry. It is where an element of project is
given to another company to work on. This allows there to be a smaller core
organisation, which in turn cuts operating costs. An example of how money can be
saved is a magazine could outsource layout design to another company in another
country. Another example would be a TV show outsourcing subtitles or on screen
graphics.
.
Subcontracting: What sort of processes can be subcontracted out and why is
it done? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Tasks such as perfect binding, thermography or die cutting are seen as speciality
processes, and may require equipment that, especially if used infrequently, can
cost more to acquire than it is to subcontract. An advantage of this is that
companies that would not normally be able to do things such as thermography or
perfect binding are now able to achieve this.

6. Franchising: What media franchises are available? Why do people choose to
run franchises? If you can find out further information about start up costs or
support this will help improve your answers.
People choose to run franchises because they can use a successful companies
business model. They are allowed to use their name, logos, uniforms etc and are
allowed to sell their products. This allows someone to open a business without
some of the troubles that come with opening a new business, such as not having a
reputation. Examples of well known franchises include McDonalds and KFC.
Apprenticeship: Explain what an apprenticeship is and find an example of a
media related apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship is a way in which you can gain a qualification and work
experience as well as getting paid. Wages are low and often below the minimum
wage but you are gaining experience and a qualification. They are a good route into
an industry and are the most popular qualification to do for trades that cannot be
learnt in a classroom.
There are many different types of media related apprenticeships ranging from
graphic design apprenticeships, through to photography apprenticeships.
Multi-skilling: What is multi-skilling and what are some of the advantages and
disadvantages of it?
Multi-skilling is when a single employee is trained in several different skills or a
range of knowledge, allowing a single employee to work on several different
projects.
The reason companies do this is to save money as they do not have to employ
someone for each individual job. It also increases the individuals productivity. A
disadvantage is that it can put pressure on jobs as companies try to reduce the
number of staff.

7. Shift work: What is shift work and why is it sometimes required? What kind of
jobs might need to do this?
Shift work is the process in which a place of work is run for up to 24 hours a day. As
one persons shift ends someone elses begins, allowing the place of work to operate
for longer periods of time. It is common in the print industry as a lot of the time print
jobs take place in a fast paced manor and require many hours of work to complete.
An example would be newspapers needing to be produced overnight and ready for
the morning.
Flexibility: How important is being flexible as a worker? Using specific
examples could improve your grade.
In the print industry flexibility is enormously important. People in the print industry
will be expected to work long and irregular shifts, often outside of normal office
hours. Some people will also have to travel at short notice. An example would be a
newspaper journalist will have to work outside normal office hours in order to get
the newspaper ready for the deadline, so it will be available for sale in the morning.

8. What role have unions played in the print industry?
Unions have played and important role within the print industry. They bring workers
together and fight for things such as workers rights, safety, work conditions, and
wages. An example of a huge union related event would be the Wapping dispute.
This happened in January 1986 when around 6000 newspaper workers went on
strike. Their employers, News International, had built a new printing plant in the
district of Wapping in London and when the print unions announced a strike they
opened this new plant. The new plant was state-of-the-art and dramatically
changed the working practices of the workers in the print industry. The unions
opinions had not been sought regarding the new plant and the facilities that
inhabited it. They dismissed everyone who took part in the strike and in their place
employed members of a different union, the EETPU.
Explain the following types of employment and working patterns and their
advantages and disadvantages.
Permanent contract:
A permanent contract is a long-term employment agreement, without an end date.
Advantages of this include having the security of a reliable income, paid holidays,
sick pay, sometimes contributions into a pension scheme, and often the ability to be
able to progress within the company.

9. Temporary contract:
A temporary contract is a short term contract that is set for a limited amount of time.
Advantages of this type of contract include; people who are not able to commit to a
permanent contract (such as student) are able to find employment in this manor.
There are seasonal requirements that temporary contracts can fulfil such as fruit
pickers or theme park workers. Some disadvantages of this type of contract are you
don’t have the security of a permanent contract, in that you haven’t got a
guaranteed income that lasts a long time. And it may be harder to progress within
that employment contract.
Full-time:
Full-time employment is a contract in which you work at least 37 hours a week. An
advantage of this is that you can earn more money allowing for a higher standard of
living. A disadvantage of this would be that you don’t have much free time.
Part-time:
Part-time employment is a contract in which you work less than the minimum fulltime requirement. An advantage of this would be that you have more free time and
it is especially helpful to students as it allows them to study as well as earn an
income. A disadvantage would be that you don’t earn as much money as you would
in a full-time employment contract.

10. Freelance:
Freelance is when you work for yourself and companies will hire you for your
services. Advantages of this are that you are more flexible and independent,
allowing your more freedom. A disadvantage would be that you don’t have a
guaranteed income and the security that comes with that.
Voluntary:
Voluntary is where you are doing unpaid work, normally for charities or causes.
Advantages are that it looks good on your CV, you can try something without
committing and is can feel good to be helping. Disadvantages include it not being a
source of income.
Explain the following pieces of employment law:
You should note any previous acts which they build on, you should explain
who they apply to and what their purpose is. Giving examples of where they
have been applied will improve your grade.
Equal opportunities act 2010:
The equal opportunities act 2010 prevents people from being discriminated against
in the workplace. The equal opportunities act replaced all equal opportunity
legislation in England, Wales and Scotland in October 2010. Some of the acts it
replaced include the Race Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Sex Discrimination
Act, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The
reason for changing to the Equal opportunities act is that it is easier to understand,
and in some cases may strengthen protection. This is due to the fact that it is a
single act, instead of several, making it much more simple.

11. Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006:
The employment equality (age) regulations 2006 came into play on the 1 st October
2006. These regulations are designed to protect people from being unreasonably
discriminated due to their age. It applies to all employees, prospective employees
and trainees.