Work experience can lead to exploitation
07/04/2008(16:33)
Work experience is key for the journalism sector, but students must make sure they are not being exploited.
The NUJ published guidelines last year said that the number of people looking for their big break leads to employers taking advantage of un-paid students, reports the Guardian.
Michelle Stanistreet, the president of the NUJ, said: "Ten or 20 years ago maybe the odd 16-year-old would have gone to a local paper, but now it's par for the course. Companies are more used to it now and it's easy for them to exploit it."
While Gavin Hollander, writing for the newspaper, said that "work experience is seen as an essential part of any journalist's training", he added that a student working for six months for free is not acceptable.
Ms Stanistreet said that the practice of free working limits the number and type of people who can afford to do this and ultimately that go into an industry.
The chief executive of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, Margarte Dane, recently said that placements and internships should be sought out by all undergraduates.
Click here to apply for media jobs on JobServe