Internships: Paid....Or Not

Ah, it's that time of year again. Hordes of college students will start eagerly sending out resumes and cover letters hoping to secure summer internships. In the field of journalism, landing an internship(s) is a crucial step in deciding on a career path. It's the way that students take what they're learning in theory and apply it to the "real world." For some, it's their first experience in a professional environment. And for most, these experiences will be unpaid.

Think of it as the business approach to Descartes' famous saying "I think, therefore, I am": "I work for free, therefore, I must love my job." Not necessarily so. But that's the price (or lack thereof) at which experience comes these days. Unfortunately, it's too much a part of the industry's business model to turn back now. For most publications, it's not a matter of not wanting to pay students; with the changing market and the economic fluctuations it's causing, they simply can't afford to do so.

In "Take This Internship and Shove It," New York Times op-ed writer Anya Kamenetz posits: "What if the growth of unpaid internships is bad for the labor market and for individual careers?" In some cases, that's probably true, but it also means that students must do more research to find internship opportunities that will benefit them most in the long run. It doesn't make sense to work for a magazine--where you'll only get a couple of very short clips for three of four months of work--when you really want to be a newspaper reporter. It's a waste of time to spend an entire summer at a TV station and the only thing you get to do is pick up dry cleaning and make coffee. During searches and interviews, be sure to ask very detailed questions about interns duties: What's a typical day like for an intern? To whom do interns report? Are there any non-monetary perks that come with the job (at the very least, some employers will pay for parking)? Remember: Employers aren't promising to provide the "ultimate intern experience." They're just giving students a shot at seeing how the sausage gets made, so to speak. It's up to the student to make the most of his/her experience.

adl

Aiesha D. Little
NABJ Adviser
University of Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists

Broadcast Writing Workshop March 6

Attention budding TV reporters!

FOX19 weekend anchor Regina Russo will talk about broadcast writing on Thursday, March 6. A Purdue University graduate, Russo joined the FOX19 crew in 1996 and has anchored First Look and 19 in the Morning. She currently does the weekend nightly newscasts and hosts What's Hot With Regina and Making the Grade with Regina Russo. She als explores current events through the station's half-hour public affairs program, Cincinnati Matters.

Bring your questions about the business and have them answered by this TV veteran!

DATE: March 6

Time: 7 p.m.

PLACE: 423 TUC

UNITY 2008 workshops announced

Hi Everyone:


I wanted to provide a breakdown of the workshops which will be held at Unity 2008 in Chicago from July 23-July 27, 2008. A reminder it's in your best interest to register and register early. The rates are listed here:


Early Bird Registration (by March 14, 2008)
Student Member: $150
Student Non-Member: $250


Pre-Registration (by June 13, 2008)
Student Member: $225
Student Non-Member: $275


On-Site Registration (after June 13, 2008)
Student Member: $275
Student Non-Member: $450


I encourage you to make a plan so you can join us in Chicago. Buy your plane ticket early, look into having roommates to save yourself some money.

I hope you'll be able to join the Unity partners in Chicago.

UNITY '08 Workshop Sessions Workshops are grouped by focus area, these include: Audience, Digital, How To, Managing Your Career, Making News, Newsgathering/ Storytelling, Spanish Language, and Alliance Partner Workshops.

Audience More than ever, our newsrooms want to appeal to an audience that is changing at a fast pace. These workshops will help journalists gain a deeper understanding of new faces and new issues. Changing Faces: Representing Minorities in the Media Citizen Media: Entrepreneurial Ventures Plug Gaps in Local News Coalition or Demolition? The Impact of Immigration on Black-Latino Relations Cultural Competency: Turning Theory into Action Does the Color of Your Skin Matter: The Challenge of Race in the Locker Room All the gays are white, all the people of color are straight, but some of us are brave: Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender People of Color Presumption of Guilt: The Treatment and Coverage of Muslims in America The Changing Face in Editorial Cartoons The Journalist as Activist: Is Independence Still Valued These Kids Today: Covering Teens, Young Adults, and the Whole Podcast Generation What's so dark about Africa, anyway? Career Resource Center Career expo workshops will provide journalists and students plenty of information. Then, attendees can get advice on career paths as well as professional counsel. Get Organized So You Can Think!, presented by Peggy Duncan, a personal productivity expert, speaker, trainer, consultant, coach, and author Ask the Recruiter - Live! Beat Up, Burned Out, But You Don't Have to Get Out ... Best. Conference. Ever. Digital Quality matters online and multimedia has become more than just a concept. These sessions will provide journalists of color the tools they need to stay ahead and learn how to join the best of the traditional forms of media with the emerging forms of digital. A Day in the Life of a Multimedia Journalist, sponsored by Time Warner Bloggers of Color: The Top Five Reasons Why the Blogosphere is NOT Diverse and What You Can Do About It! Data: The New Way to Grab More Readers, sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc. Dialogue vs. Diatribe: Fostering Civil Conversation in the Digital World It's a Blog, Blog, Blog World, sponsored by Time Warner Monetizing Your Website, sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc. Multimedia Storytelling on the Cheap Writing for Different Platforms, sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc. Daylong In-depth training and discussions on both coverage topics and skills for a dynamic time. Please note these workshops will require pre-registration. Pre-registration will be available later on the UNITY '08 website. A Harmonic Convergence Better Watchdog Workshop: Investigating Communities and Diversity Final Cut Pro Hands-On Workshop Immigration In Depth: The Next Big Stories Increasing Diversity in Environmental Journalism, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Intermediate Flash Introduction to Computer Assisted Reporting Introduction to Flash Leadership Institute, sponsored by Time Warner Multimedia Storytelling Workshop Mini-Leadership Development Institute, presented by NAMME Poynter TV News Bootcamp Taking Charge of YOU!, sponsored by NBC Universal Video Training for Newspapers - A Workshop, sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc. How To Back by popular demand! Take a hands-on approach to improving stories or skills training in broadcast and video journalism. "I HATE MY VOICE!!" How to Improve One of Your Most Important Communication Tools How Can You Improve a Story? Just Ask the Editors How to Deliver Compelling Live Shots Investigative Reporting with Shrinking Budgets Solid Sound: Getting the Highest Quality Audio Writing for Radio 101 Managing Your Career Think about your career and prepare for a broad range of opportunities, no matter your experience level. Ahead of the Curve: Negotiating Your Broadcast Personal Services Contract Finding Stories and Jobs in a Web 2.0 World Help Wanted: This Side of the Newsroom Too How to Become a Foreign Correspondent Breaking In, Breaking Through: The World of Magazine Writing Making the Most Out of the Internship Process Power and Office Politics: Ron Brown Talks Shop Recruiting High School Journalists into College Journalism Programs Retention Through Reinvention, presented by UNITY Students Meeting: Open Forum The Path to the Publishers' Office The Successful Freelancer The Trade Press and Other Alternatives to Mainstream Media: How to Land on Your Feet in Today's Challenging Environment Making News Examine the critical issues in our diverse communities and participate in frank discussions centered on race and identity. America's Race to Incarcerate: Locking Up Communities of Color Covering Climate Change: Why Non-White Communities Could Be Hit the Hardest Confronting Health Disparities in the Multicultural Community Covering Immigration as a Global Issue Gays, Guns and God: The Presidential Race's Toughest Topics Is Media Consolidation Marginalizing Minority Journalists? Missing the Beat in Presidential Politics Newspaper Next: A Blueprint for Transformation Unconscious Bias Theory and Its Impact on Race Coverage What Is Race? Newsgathering/ Storytelling Take time to explore the art and craft of storytelling. Built In Diversity: Beyond the Black and White Rolodex Cops and Court Reporting ABCs Copy Editing: Make Your Headlines and Copy Sing Covering Politics: From Watchdog to the Web Get In and Get It Done Gossip Reporting: Tricks of the Trade IMHO: The Wondrous Art of Column Writing International Reporting: Dangers and Challenges of Getting the Truth Told Let's Do It Better! Covering Education to Make a Difference Reporters of Color Covering Multi Ethnic Communities and Being a Journalist of Color Starting Out in Business Journalism Telling Stories: How to Write a Narrative Tragedy, Grief and the Media Writing and Creating Content for the Web Writing Fast, Writing Well, Right on Time: Writing for Broadcast on Deadline Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer Spanish-Language Workshops Broadcast - Tough Ethical Calls 90 Minute Session - TBA Half Day Session - TBA Panel Breakfasts and Lunches Covering a variety of topics, these sessions will provide a continental breakfast, light fare or box lunch for you to enjoy while you learn. All of the sessions below will require pre-registration, which will be available later on the UNITY '08 website. Activism and Blogging Panel Breakfast, sponsored by General Motors The Buying Power of People of Color Panel Breakfast, sponsored by Coca-Cola How to Get a Media Grant, sponsored by The Ford Foundation The Diabetes Explosion: A Call to Action for Journalists of Color, sponsored by Novo Nordisk Lunch workshop, sponsored by ABC, Inc. ALLIANCE PARTNER WORKSHOPS AAJA China Coverage - News Without Fear or Favor How to Cover Arab Americans Following the Money: The Issues in Covering India's and China's Economies Survivors' Guide to Newsroom Politics NABJ From Employee to Employer: A Guide to Broadcast Ownership I Am My Own Boss Lessons of Jena Six What Happens Now that the Pipeline is Shut Off? Diversity in Tumultuous Times NAHJ TBA NAJA A Journalist in a Political World Power of the Word. Revitalization of Native Languages Reaching an Offline Audience in an Online World Sovereignty and Citizenship Thanks, Christopher E. Nelson NABJ Student Representative Loyola College in Maryland

Race and Gender in the Race for '08: Discussing the Media's Coverage of the Democratic Primary

Ohio is set to host a historic primary in which voters could push the first African-American or woman Democratic nominee for president over the top. The Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists & UC Journalism Program examine how race has played a big role in the race thus far. Come out and hear how top journalists are playing the story.

On the panel:

Lincoln Ware, host, The Lincoln Ware Show, WDBZ-1230AM

Kathy Y. Wlison, senior editor, Cincinnati Magazine & author of Your Negro Tour Guide: Truths in Black and White

Greg Korte, reporter, The Cincinnati Enquirer

Tom McKee, reporter, WCPO-TV

Mike Sheehy, associate journalism professor, University of Cincinnati

Moderator: Keith T. Reed, reporter, The Cincinnati Enquirer and blogger, BET.com

Host: Jenell Walton, WCPO-TV and president, Cincinnati Association of Black Journalists

DATE: Wednesday, February 27

TIME: 7 p.m.

PLACE: University of Cincinnati, Tangeman Center, Room 400

Web writing workshop TOMORROW

What's the difference between writing for print and writing for the Web? Find out tomorrow night when UCABJ hosts its WRITING FOR THE WEB workshop. Learn the tips and tricks of Internet writing from pros like Joshua Rinaldi, reporter for the Hamilton Journal-News.

DATE: Thursday, February 28

TIME: 7 p.m.

PLACE: 423 TUC

MAGAZINE WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED

Aiesha D. Little, an associate editor with Cincinnati Magazine, and UC prof and freelance writer Jenny Wohlfarth discuss the ins and outs of magazine writing. Topics: Description, narrative, and more.

DATE: April 3 (rescheduled from February 21)

TIME: 7 pm

PLACE: TUC 423

FOR MORE INFO: 4ucabj@gmail.com

One Month Left!

Early bird registration for UNITY 2008 ends on March 14, 2008! The quadrennial event, the country's largest convention for minority journalists, is sponsored by the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association. Don't miss your chance to network with journalists and maybe even get a job. For more details, go to www.2008unity.org.