Comments on: The Rhetoric Debate: “Internship” vs. “Free Labor”

By: JessicaLum

JessicaLum — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:43:54 +0000

hmm, here's an interesting article that talks about the plight of the recent grad, and whether or not to take that internship after all:

http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/livewire/busi...

By: JessicaLum

JessicaLum — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:43:54 +0000

hmm, here's an interesting article that talks about the plight of the recent grad, and whether or not to take that internship after all:

http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/livewire/busi...

By: Michael Zhang

Michael Zhang — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:55:23 +0000

Hey Mike,

You're very welcome. Thanks for the friendly CC license, and great shot! :-)

By: Mike Sussman

Mike Sussman — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:02:47 +0000

Interesting article. Thank you for using my image, “March of the Cameras.”

By: JessicaLum

JessicaLum — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:27:28 +0000

Seattle Times offers $540/week according to an email I received from the editor, Society of Professional Journalists offers $400/week http://www.spj.org/i-pullkilgore.asp and the Sacramento Bee paid $575/week last summer http://guide.sacbee.com/115/story/1680.html

Not too shabby, but of course, that's only limited to a 10 week position.

By: Fricotes e Mariquices — Clicio Photo News

Fricotes e Mariquices — Clicio Photo News — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:46:15 +0000

[...] o fator de ruptura; o estágio oferecido não era pago. A gritaria foi geral, ampla e irrestrita (ver aqui, aqui, e aqui ). Houvesse o redator do anúncio oferecido a vaga como “trabalho [...]

By: Oleg Sklyanchuk

Oleg Sklyanchuk — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:43:51 +0000

“If you have the talent, stand behind it and charge accordingly.”

Paul, you must be extremely lucky to have the talent because in my most humble non-professional opinion 99% of photographers don't have it. They have skills and skills are to be learnt. Learnt throuh hardships and pain and unpaid work.

By: Oleg Sklyanchuk

Oleg Sklyanchuk — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:36:25 +0000

“there are a lot of publications [...] who still pay interns around $500 a week for the duration of their internship.”

What? $500 a week for an intern? That's almost exactly my current salary! Do they still hire? :)

By: jackmackenna

jackmackenna — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:49:26 +0000

Why are people debating this? If you don't want the job, you don't have to take it. Leave it for someone who actually does.

I am a beginning photographer and graphic artist. I volunteer for unpaid jobs all the time, because I know if people want my work, they will eventually start paying for it. Careers are not handed to you on a silver platter.

By: JessicaLum

JessicaLum — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:01:15 +0000

Bill, wise words. It's true--becoming a great photographer is more than having a nice camera and paying tuition. It's the Indian, not the arrow, and to extend that adage, it's the Indian's chief who makes the Indian.

I wanted to avoid chiming in too much on this issue, but here's my 2 cents:

For every internship opportunity, we'd have to weigh the cost vs benefits. For the average starving student, it's tough to live in NYC off of a $0 salary (though that's only for 3 days of work, the other 4 days of the week could be spent working a paid job). It seems a lot of people took issue with the demands of the job vs. the lack of apparent benefit.

However, to be associated with and to work as an apprentice under an excellent photographer can certainly be priceless--which is the latent benefit that is less apparent at first. And perhaps that latent benefit is too easily overlooked, along with a potentially glowing recommendation, an excellent career contact, and all else that may prove a career-maker in the future.

Also, sure, post-processing can be pretty darn menial, but every experience is what you make of it. I actually really enjoyed working as a photo editor -- half the job was administration, the other half was post-processing, and whatever time was left, I'd try to shoot. Working in the office could be a drag at times, but what I really truly, deeply enjoy is looking at other peoples' work, whether it was my co-workers', the new interns', or AP photographers'.

Photography as a skill can't be gained merely by working in a bubble. I think the most pivotal moments that have made me grow as a photographer occur when I see professional work that really inspires and makes an impression upon me.

Nevertheless, I think this situation overall illustrates the position a lot of recent grads and current students are in -- a lot of them still can't make money, in spite of their education or experience. And in this economy, that's a tough spot to be in.