SourceThatJob strikes a chord over media internship exploitation

My recent post about our decision to no longer accept adverts for unpaid internship positions on media job board SourceThatJob triggered a wave of support.

I had more comments on that one post than any other on this blog and the vast majority were supportive of our attempts attempts to raise awareness of this issue.

I've recorded a podcast explaining how I became aware of media internship exploitation and our subsequent decision to reject advertising for unpaid positions.

Daryl's internship exploitation podcast

If the only people who can get decent work experience are those who can afford to work for free for extended periods then media inevitably becomes elitist. I firmly believe the media should represent society in its widest sense, not just the better-off.

Comments

[REG CROWDER]

Please permit me to join in the applause for what you have done. This is a GOOD THING that you have done.

My internship days were in the United States and I have always considered the U.S. most predatory and exploitive labor market in the industrialized world. And yet, back there I never saw or even heard about anything as depraved as the unpaid media internships in the U.K.

Well done!

REG CROWDER

http://www.linkedin.com/in/regcrowder

[Mark watson]

That is so great to hear Daryl - if only other job sites were as straightforwardly honest!

[Louise Clifford]

Hi - would it be possible for you to mention my idea as submitted to the Government on their new website "Your ideas for freedom"?

It is for interns to be paid the minimum wage, and the page is here:

http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/cutting-business-and-third-sector-regulations/guarantee-the-minimum-wage-for-interns/idea-view

It would be great if people could register (http://yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk/join_form), rate the idea and comment.

Many thanks!

Louise

[Josie Herbert]

I thoroughly applaud your stance Daryl. While I personally benefited from the experience gained during a six week unpaid intern role with a publisher, I was on a teaching salary at the time and the internship took place during the summer holiday. Not many interns will be in this fortunate position and therefore there is a danger that the media will only be a viable career for young people from affluent backgrounds. You are making a very important stand and I hope that this draws wider support from the media industry.

[Margaux Smale]

Daryl, I can only reiterate what the others have said, as it's only too true. It is sad to see the number of paid media jobs declining and the number of unpaid internships increasing. I too have heard of several people who have been working for up to two years without pay. It's just criminal. Thank you for speaking up and taking action against this modern equivalent of slavery.