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I'm not against unionization. Really.

I think sometimes union leadership screws their own employees by trying to win an unwinable fight.

 

I would have a much easier time accepting unpaid internships if they took in high school grads, and trained them, so that they didn't have to go to college. (Obviously wouldn't work for doctors, lawyers, etc.)

But to ask folks at Northwestern (including students in the journalism program) to write for free should result in your legs being broken by a union rep.

 

I interned for four semesters and two summers at two papers while I was in college and grad school. At one internship, I got paid ($7.50 an hour!) and at the other I got credit hours towards my degree. I think those type of internships are fine.

 

Small sample size, but - I was one of the last year-round interns at a local daily, 2004 and 2005ish. I'm still in the business, albeit barely. (Part-time by choice.)The four people before and after me, one is a full-time reporter, two did that job before seguing into good PR jobs, and one went from the internship directly to a good PR job. So, I think the percentage can certainly be higher than 30 percent, and I'm almost positive all of us got really positive references from our supervisors.

(Counterpoint though: The weekly newspaper owned by my chain has a different internship program. They give them way less responsibility, and also, less oversight. Quick ballpark estimate in my head, I think their rate is probably closer to 30 percent as far as people still in the journalism, PR, writing fields.)

 

I'd push back with this.

When I was 21, I didn't have any value in the sports writing market. One news writing class and that was it.

That's why I didn't have an issue with working for free for six weeks to make the connections until I got a paying job in journalism.

Six months later, using those connections and skills, I was clearing $500 a week (20 years ago) writing articles and working as a sports producer at a local station.

I wouldn't have gotten there trying to beat out the 37 journalism students ahead of me for the one prized paid journalism internship in the city.

They all had bylines.

I only had spunk and, yes, I worked for free.

Yet within six months, I was working full-time hours, making full-time money and those other students were applying for grad school because they hadn't found anything in journalism that paid and they didn't find a way like I did.

 

And you wonder why writers wages are so low. If you don't value your work, why should others?

 

LOL @ "full-time money." You would have been making more at K-mart.

 

This is very true. A major metro freelance gig was coveted and for good reason.

 

Not in 1997.

 

Working for free is not only stupid but it undercuts people who insist they should be fairly compensated.

 

Diversity only matters for others. #journalismcreed