PLACEMENT “PERFECT FOR A BUDDING JOURNALIST” (AS LONG AS THEY CAN PAY TO DO IT)
Business newspaper City AM is offering a one-week internship at its London headquarters – but it is only open to those who can afford to pay at least £650 for the experience.
The text accompanying the advert reads:
“City A.M. are delighted to offer a one-week internship on their dynamic news desk perfect for a budding journalist. This is a great opportunity to work with the City’s leading newspaper and see how it works from start to finish. From the editor’s desk to going to print, experience just what is takes to bring a newspaper to life each day.”
The advert was brought to Graduate Fog’s attention by one of our readers, who questioned whether the fact that proceeds will go to charity (Maggie’s cancer centres) makes the position acceptable. The highest bid currently stands at £650, with seven hours of the auction still to run.
The legal status of this opportunity is unclear, as the advert does not specify whether this internship involves set hours, set responsibilities and work that would otherwise need to be done by a paid member of staff (in which case the intern would need to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage).
What IS clear is that this CV-enhancing opportunity is only open to young people who can afford to pay to obtain it. And, as journalism is one of the most competitive industries for UK graduates to break into and experience is hard to get, it is safe to say that the person who does this internship will be more likely to secure a paid job in future than a person who can’t afford to do it. In our opinion, the fact that a few hundred quid will go charity does not justify that. Internships should never be for sale, or presented as a prize. It is unfair and inappropriate.
(Click to enlarge advert)
* IS IT OKAY TO AUCTION INTERNSHIPS, IF THE PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITY?
Have your say below…
Journalism just isn’t a realistic career option anymore for many. I remember a student from my uni days. Got a First in his degree. Ran the student paper. Did all the work experience placements with local papers. A few months after graduating he realised that even though he could just about afford a Masters in journalism from City (which is apparently one of the top places to go?) it was just too risky a proposition. He couldn’t spend that sort of money and not get anywhere.
The Business Model for Print Journalism is not sustainable, unfortunately, and whereas fools may gladly sign up to any Unpaid Internship, or refuse to invoke their rights in terms of claiming a salary, the stark reality is that aspiring journalists have been proverbially screwed for years.
Including being charged £’000 for an initial course of journalism within their local newspaper.
Of course, anyone can also sign up to a Distance Learning Postgraduate Journalism Course, which covers the essentials, and will provide the candidate with accreditation to secure employment as a journalist.
@Eowyn – tell that to Private Eye. Circulation booming, a sustainable print publication. The difference is that they dont give away their product for free.
If you do that, you inevitably dont have the money to pay staff
This tells me everything I need to know about the UK.
Money and connections rule all. Employers now have so much power that they don’t bother to hide nepotism anymore. Everything has a price in the UK and sooner or later people will be paying for NHS care.
Can’t wait to emigrate.