Comments on Ever Wonder What It's Like to Be a News Intern?
Why, no.
No, I don't.
Lke, wow, man...
Nope, too gay.
i'd rather work for seattle weekly
I agree with @3.
It's cool Will. You probably wouldn't have made it through the interview anyway.
I'd do it in a heartbeat, but I doubt my schedule would work out, and they'd probably give me swirlies and shit because I'm 40+.
Ever wonder what it's like to work for free while your publishers (and Dan Savage) rake in big bucks?
@8, ever wondered what it's like to be young and just starting your career in journalism -- or old and wanting to change tracks -- and have the opportunity to get on at an entry level with a publication that gives you the chance to interact with talented writers? To work in a smaller, collegial business environment devoid of the office policy/procedure bullshit of the dailies? To probably have a chance to get free tickets and tag-along rights to some of Seattle's best news-making and cultural happenings? To have hipster friends that can help you get laid and scratch that 420 jones when you need it?
Please, 8. You seem like a joyless toad. As I said, I'd be on this like stink on you.
@9:
Well, no.
No, I haven't.
JTC does make it sound pretty good. I doubt I could pay my bills as an intern, but it's damned tempting.
@9: Ever the Stranger suck-up, huh JTC? It's pretty hypocritical of the Stranger to use all this free labor (just because it can) all the while pushing the pro-union, anti-corporate agenda. You can hate on the dailies all you want, but at least they pay a fair wage (entry-level reporter salary) to their interns.
You can rationalize it away all you want, but it stinks. If the situation were reversed you know damn well you'd be crapping all over the dailies. Deny that and we'll know how full of it you are.
Some may say that not paying a working wage is unfair, but I say that if it helps keep Tim Keck in hookers and blow, I'm all for it!
@12, having completed numerous internships in my salad days -- Indiana State Senate, various corporations, two non-profits -- ALL for no money (I had the good fortune to be born into a family that could push a few coins in my direction), I have absolutely no problem, at all, with any organization -- flag-waving socialist or craven capitalist -- offering little to no money for the opportunity.
Maybe I'm deluded, maybe I'm a sucker, but I was raised with the concept of "paying your dues." That means you don't get the corner office or the company car when you just start out. I interview people all the time in my job and am amazed how many recent college grads feel they ought to be paid six figures and have a seat on the corporate jet. I'm sure there's a story to be written about the genesis of this entitlement, but I don't have time to write it.
And I'm hardly a Stranger suck-up. In another post I just accused Jen Graves of being clueless about anal sex. I can't think of a bigger body blow to a Stranger staffer, frankly.
At the end of the day, bigayz, if you can get an internship that pays well, good for you. Honest. But I'm not going to start singing the International and set myself on fire in front of the Stranger offices because they don't pay their interns.
Slow day at the bank, eh?
@9 Do you get 10% off your 420 with your Stranger Loyalty Card?
I would imagine being a Stranger intern would be a similiar experience to being married to Donald Trump or Larry King but without the financial rewards or pepaw dick sucking.
I'd do it just to have the opportunity to stir the hornet nest that is ECB, but I've got too many bills to pay to quit my job for that.
@12,
The dailies require looong internships; the copyeditor internship lasts three years. And, yeah, if I could afford it, I'd much rather take a few-month, unpaid internship at The Stranger than bust my ass for trivial pay at a daily.
@9 Hey Cornball, I don't know how to easily break this to you, because you're obviously in complete denial...But you are indeed a full-blown Stranger suck-up.
But at least you have hipster friends to help you get laid..
You know, they used to pay us back when I worked at small daily papers ...
sigh.
It's like the college and university papers I worked at - no pay, long hours, and lots of abuse by those who can't write their way out of a paper bag ... um, wait, I meant reusable hemp cloth bag.
The P-I has an ad for unpaid interns.
@19 ..And then what? Bust your ass for trivial pay at a place like the the Stranger? Be my guest, I'd rather work at a real paper.
@20, whatever works for you, bub. Check my record and I think you'll find I've paid credit where credit is due, and called bullshit on some of the stink-o product.
I very much enjoy The Stranger overall, however, which is why I come here. I guess I'd be more worried about myself if I loathed it and came here anyway.
@19: There are plenty of shorter opportunities, including summer internships for college students. But thanks for playing.
Paid internships make it possible for lower-income folks to participate; they don't need Mommy and Daddy footing the bill for rent, etc., thus opening it up to a more diverse population.
@24 It works for me, pal. Your glowing paragraph at #9 pretty much sums it up for me.
Now, "Yaz," it's just not true that our unpaid internships exclude "lower-income" folks from working here. I was going to college, working two incredibly shitty jobs—while also working at a college paper—and showing up at the Stranger's offices 3-5 days a week. Which is why I'm on staff now.
Finally, I'm not sure whether ST has paid internships or not—you'd know better than I, being an employee and all—but IF you do, with the way things are going for dailies, I can't imagine you guys'll be paying your interns much longer.
Thanks for playing.
Where did Bigyaz say he/she was a ST employee? Or are you inferring that because you have some problem with the ST? The Stranger isn't a guild newspaper, is it? That's so gay.
While you're here, Jonah?
Tell us more about those gay robot conspiracies....
No, Yaz did not claim to be a Seattle Times staff member. That said, I can confirm that Yaz does indeed work at ST.
And NappyD, it's too dangerous for me to reveal the secrets of the conspiracy here on Slog. I'll write you a coded letter.
Jonah - how can you confirm that? Was the email sent on his/her Times email address? You can fake those, you know.
I smell burning martyr.
Oh...reposted!
Is this my cue to give head to the entire staff of The Stranger? I am apparently a total suck-up, you know...
@33,
That's the headiest thing I've ever read.
You shouldn't talk to yourself, JTC, it's unbecoming.
@35, ???
I'd consider it, but I don't like drugs, already work two jobs, take care of a sick wife and three kids, and write for free on my own already...
That said, I'm sure it would be a good opportunity for someone to get some experience in writing and doing research. I'd take them up on it otherwise.
I'm also too old and already have a full time job. But I could see myself jumping at the opportunity to gain experience in the field if I were just out of college. And given the tasks delegated to Stranger interns (squeezing mysterious fluids out of the back end of a dog, for example) I would look forward to someday being able to mesmerize my grandchildren with my stories.
the sad truth is that the printed zine is going the way of the dinosaur. What's left here is a ragtag bunch of folks hyping up news that we already know about last week. I still appreciate the mag when i'm on the shitter or eating somewhere though.
@39, "when i'm on the shitter or eating somewhere though."
Ahhh...the circle of life.
Keep swinging Cornball!
@41, at your service, sir.
@43,
How long do ya wanna keep this thread going anyway? I'm here, on Tha Laptop, in the sun, with the Mai Tai. I'm not gay, but I'm game, just the same. Who wants to fight on Teh Intarwebs?
Oh and, BTW Jube, that's the swingingest thing I've ever read. Luv ya Jube, SLOG Happy next month?
Just sayin'. Or askin'. Or whatever.
@43, you're talking to yourself...
But yeah, SLOG Happy. Whoever you are.
state labor law should dictate min. wage pay for anyone at a for profit business
for me, it is an issue of fairness
charity work, non profits stuff, or church stuff is a different category
smells of serfdom and some sort of servitude
unpaid intern smells the same, too, as training wage which goes on too long at some corporate trash companies
@45, I think it's a bit harsh to say that Unpaid Intern smells, but I'll let him/her speak for themselves.
@30: While I do have ties to the Times, I am not in fact a Times employee. Get your facts right before making such claims.
Of course, if I didn't want anyone to know that fact, I would make the minimal effort required to hide my IP address. Apparently Stranger bloggers feel the need to track those who would dare to post criticism of their esteemed publication.
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