Comments on: Are Journalism Internships a Joke? http://www.readwriterachel.com/uncategorized/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/ I'm an interrogator of gargoyle lovers, frog fondlers, and the eternal optimists saving the news industry. These are some of the stories I've written. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:58:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: CubReporters http://www.readwriterachel.com/uncategorized/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-13 CubReporters Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:53:10 +0000 http://rkaufman.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/#comment-13 Thought you might be interested in checking out <a href="http://cubreporters.org" rel="nofollow">CubReporters.org</A>, an online career guide for young journalists and college students. Thought you might be interested in checking out CubReporters.org, an online career guide for young journalists and college students.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.readwriterachel.com/uncategorized/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Rachel Mon, 16 Apr 2007 01:15:27 +0000 http://rkaufman.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/#comment-14 Thanks for commenting, Andrew. (Mr. Editorialiste?) I think what you missed in my post is that journalism is exceedingly popular as a profession right now. (Go figure.) This is great, of course--I'm proud to be part of a generation so passionate about changing the world--but it also means that a lot of people aren't going to make it, and a lot of people are going to struggle before making it. The simple fact is that there are more people with "communications" degrees than there are job openings. Just like any other glamour profession--acting, fashion, "being a novelist" (always a good one), the ones who aren't talented enough, hardworking enough, or lucky enough, will have to find other avenues in, or another career. I intend on being one of the talented, hardworking, lucky ones. :) Thanks for commenting, Andrew. (Mr. Editorialiste?) I think what you missed in my post is that journalism is exceedingly popular as a profession right now. (Go figure.) This is great, of course–I’m proud to be part of a generation so passionate about changing the world–but it also means that a lot of people aren’t going to make it, and a lot of people are going to struggle before making it. The simple fact is that there are more people with “communications” degrees than there are job openings. Just like any other glamour profession–acting, fashion, “being a novelist” (always a good one), the ones who aren’t talented enough, hardworking enough, or lucky enough, will have to find other avenues in, or another career.

I intend on being one of the talented, hardworking, lucky ones. :)

]]> By: The Editorialiste http://www.readwriterachel.com/uncategorized/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-12 The Editorialiste Fri, 13 Apr 2007 14:55:43 +0000 http://rkaufman.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/are-journalism-internships-a-joke/#comment-12 Thanks for picking up on my post, Rachel. Your comments are insightful and wonderful to read, especially because you've had the New York experience! I just wanted to clarify something: I'm not dismissing small internships for smaller publications. You're absolutely right - they can indeed be valuable! I just think that seeing, in a list of journalism internships available on the J-department websites of journalism programs in the city (for example), a small company looking for a clerical intern for free is just blasphemy to me. How do you expect me to want to work for you? Sure, you can have a great experience and learn a lot at one of these places. But that's very hit-or-miss, and there's far too many little (unpaid) internships to make that wager. (I do understand that small budgets leave little money for interns. That's why there should be top-down reform). I'd rather get a real job and be comfortable and freelance for great clips than put in unpaid time at a place that isn't teaching me anything (prestigious or not). The bottom line is we are adults, not kids. How exactly can society say "if you get a college degree, you'll succeed" and then expect poverty after the degree -- unrelated to all those loans we still have to pay off? There's a disconnect there, somewhere. And to comment on the "working weekends" thing: What I mean to say is that an intern would work his or her respective butts off if they could live comfortably. But to go paycheck-to-paycheck while working six or more days a week? Forget it, man. It's not worth it when I can get a real job - especially as a graduate. Don't forget the "been there, done that" aspect. Why should I inconvenience myself to the point of poverty when I've got a college degree and plenty of working experience already? However, I must say, the leaving the tri-state area idea is one of hot debate. Some say yes, others say no - I say do what works for you. It's hard as hell to write 'round these five boroughs, true, but I think it depends on the person. I think we shouldn't be so quick to recommend doing one thing or the other -- I'm pretty sick of hearing "you need to leave town to get experience" from people with jobs who never left town. Clearly, it isn't that black and white. That's why it's hogwash to me. Thanks for reading and please continue to (I enjoy your anecdotes), The Editorialiste. http://editorialiste.blogspot.com/ Thanks for picking up on my post, Rachel. Your comments are insightful and wonderful to read, especially because you’ve had the New York experience!

I just wanted to clarify something: I’m not dismissing small internships for smaller publications. You’re absolutely right – they can indeed be valuable! I just think that seeing, in a list of journalism internships available on the J-department websites of journalism programs in the city (for example), a small company looking for a clerical intern for free is just blasphemy to me. How do you expect me to want to work for you? Sure, you can have a great experience and learn a lot at one of these places. But that’s very hit-or-miss, and there’s far too many little (unpaid) internships to make that wager. (I do understand that small budgets leave little money for interns. That’s why there should be top-down reform). I’d rather get a real job and be comfortable and freelance for great clips than put in unpaid time at a place that isn’t teaching me anything (prestigious or not).

The bottom line is we are adults, not kids. How exactly can society say “if you get a college degree, you’ll succeed” and then expect poverty after the degree — unrelated to all those loans we still have to pay off? There’s a disconnect there, somewhere.

And to comment on the “working weekends” thing: What I mean to say is that an intern would work his or her respective butts off if they could live comfortably. But to go paycheck-to-paycheck while working six or more days a week? Forget it, man. It’s not worth it when I can get a real job – especially as a graduate. Don’t forget the “been there, done that” aspect. Why should I inconvenience myself to the point of poverty when I’ve got a college degree and plenty of working experience already?

However, I must say, the leaving the tri-state area idea is one of hot debate. Some say yes, others say no – I say do what works for you. It’s hard as hell to write ’round these five boroughs, true, but I think it depends on the person. I think we shouldn’t be so quick to recommend doing one thing or the other — I’m pretty sick of hearing “you need to leave town to get experience” from people with jobs who never left town. Clearly, it isn’t that black and white. That’s why it’s hogwash to me.

Thanks for reading and please continue to (I enjoy your anecdotes),
The Editorialiste.
http://editorialiste.blogspot.com/

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