SPOKESPERSON ADMITS MAG MUST “MEET CURRENT REQUIREMENTS ON PAY”
*GRADUATE FOG EXCLUSIVE!*
Journalism interns can claim a victory at last – Time Out magazine has announced a review of its policy on using unpaid interns, after Graduate Fog brought the issue to their attention last week.
We contacted the magazine after spotting a advert for a three-month internship paying only the “princely” sum of £2 per day in lunch money, a Zones 1 & 2 travel card and “the odd invite to something very exclusive.” Despite the advert stressing that the intern would have “writing responsibilities,” Time Out’s Editor Tim Arthur insisted the role was merely “work experience,” and we had to sit through a lecture from their lifestyle editor about how valuable her unpaid internship had been in getting her the role she’s in now (Grr – that’s the whole point, stupid!). We assumed we’d heard the last of the matter, until this email arrived on Thursday:
To: Graduate Fog
From: Time Out, HR
Date: Thursday 19 April 3.07pm
Re: Time Out InternshipsDear Tanya
Thank you for contacting Time Out and highlighting your areas of concern regarding the Company’s use of Internships.
Whilst Time Out prides itself on the experience all Interns receive during their time with us we acknowledge that greater steps should be made to ensure the scheme meets current requirements on pay and the needs of the Interns involved.
As many in the industry are aware Time Out is going through a period of change in the products that it offers but also in the policies by which it works and operates.
This has resulted in recent changes to the management structure including that of the HR function. As of April I have taken over as Manager of the HR function and along with my colleague I am in the process of reviewing and updating all HR policies.
Thanks to your initial email I can now confirm that a review of our Internship policy is now underway and I will happily update you on the outcome once it has been completed.
Should you have any further questions then please do not hesitate to contact me. I would also like to take the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our Internship Program, should this be of interest to you.
Regards
Andy Goode | Senior HR Manager
Brockhurst Human ResourcesFor and on behalf of Time Out
We wrote back:
To: Time Out, HR
From: Graduate Fog
Friday 20 April 12.29pmHi Andy
Thank you for this email. It is certainly sounds like Time Out is taking steps in the right direction and I would very much like to be kept informed of any changes to your policy on internships in the future.
In the meantime, can you please confirm whether the advertised internship is or isn’t going ahead? Or whether it is going ahead, but will be paid?
Also, does Time Out currently have unpaid interns already working at the magazine – and, if so, what will happen to them?
With thanks again
Tanya
An out of office response says Andy is away until tomorrow (Tuesday), but we’ll let you know when he responds…
*WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF TIME OUT’S ANNOUNCEMENT?
Should they cancel the internship, if they can’t make it paid? Should all magazines and newspapers follow Time Out’s example and review their policy on unpaid internships?
Brilliant, I knew HR typically do the right thing as they understand the ramifications of the law. You were barking up the wrong tree when writing to the editors and hacks.
However all they have committed to doing is a review – which as we all no is neither here nor there, we need to know what the outcome will be. HR could be bullied by the management into a no change position. One to keep watching.
Well done, one down a few million to go….
This comment just in from Gus Baker, co-founder of Intern Aware:
“We’re delighted to see that young people making their feelings about unpaid internships heard has led to Time Out magazine reversing their decision to ask someone to do real work for free. Unpaid internships make it impossible for talented people to get their foot on the career ladder. We hope that other employers will learn from Time Out’s example and only offer fairly advertised, paid internships”.
Thanks Gus!
Another sign of progress in the “glamorous” creative sector:-
EMI is to take on 20 graduate or student interns on a rolling basis.
The interns will be paid £6,500 over their six-month stint.
Cheryl Elbishlawi, EMI’s senior vice-president for HR said:-
“Paying interns was an important part of the programme. We want this to be open to everybody, and if you have unpaid internship programmes it can limit people — particularly in London.”
Congrats to EMI and Cheryl. Hope their lead is followed …
I think that is tremendous, well done Time Out if you have decided to change your practices. I will be buying the magazine again that’s for sure!
There’s definitely a lot to be said for targeting HR – they’re the ones who (should) know the law and so (should) be more likely to take action where practices need to be changed. Those in management and line management roles are much more likely to respond with the usual “it never did me any harm” dross.