Interns???

[johnsykes]

Quite often, I run into someone responding to a question of mine, by labelling themselves as an intern for the club or whatever. Can anyone tell me how long this has been going on? It seems to me, yes, that's one way of young people getting some experience, but on the other hand, it seems to me, the company is getting away with saving a hell of a lot of money by not having to pay someone for work done.

When I began in this business, I was paid for work done, albeit a small salary....methinks the change is not to the betterment of those getting into the business.

[jon]

The concept has had various names but it is certainly not limited to Radio. In large part because so many post-secondary programs now (beginning in the 1990s) require students to spend all or part of one term/semester working, often for free, in their chosen field, before the school will graduate them. In other words, these school programs have flooded the market.

At the other end of things, broadcasters and employers in other industries where schools require students to work in their profession before they can graduate are now taking in a lot more students. Free labour, yes, but it also costs these broadcasters and employers a lot of time and effort training and sometimes babying these students without the pay-back they would get from an employee they are hiring. In other words, on average, Interns don't stay very long, even accounting for those who get a full-time job at the same place after they graduate.

For the record, here in Edmonton, most radio stations pay for more student hours than they get for free, when you take into account the large number of students employed (paid) as Operators and at Remotes while they are going to school.

[johnsykes]

Thanks Jon...I knew someone would have a good answer

[Bigbangboom]

I agree. Our station doesn't pay interns however we limit the number to one - maybe two per year. We have them for about 4 weeks and spend a lot of staff time training them - so its a break even. We do not have any "volunteers" a our station - all get paid otherwise for the work they do.