Listening Post: They’re the future
The kids, that is. As a result of the Knight Challenge grant, there have been a lot of young faces around NCPR these days. So I watched the Colbert Report with some interest the other night when I heard the guest would be Ross Eisenbrey, who says that internships are destroying the job market. All work should be paid work, he says. And he does have a point. NCPR uses a mix of interns who are paid actual money, and those who work for academic credit. Eisenbrey says that internship for credit just means that the student has to pay someone else (the college) for the privilege of working for free. But you could just as easily say that the student pays the college for teaching that the college doesn’t have to provide.
NCPR intern at work.
Someone may be getting the short end of the deal, but it’s not always easy to say who that is. However the math works out for the players, it has had a big upside for the NCPR audience. Because we do not use the interns to make the coffee. We use them to create public media.
On the three new videos from the recent String Fever Radio Jam, an intern is behind the camera, and the intro credit animation on each was done by interns last semester. The full text of our three interviews about contraception and health care policy was produced by an intern. Most produce at least one story for radio broadcast during their stay here. The Community Calendar relies on intern management, and an intern compiled and analyzed the results of our recent listener survey. Our interns are active on our Facebook and Tumblr pages, and on Twitter, helping expand our social media presence. Another intern is writing code to deliver playlist data for our Public Radio Remix station, WREM.
And best, our interns sometimes move on to professional positions in public media. Case in point is Sarah Harris, former paid NCPR intern and current Champlain Valley stringer for NCPR. She produced today’s interview with a young Catholic woman about balancing faith and sexuality. She also has produced a piece for Slate and NPR with veteran reporter Howard Berkes, and made her first independent sale to NPR with her piece last week on ice sailing on Lake Champlain. Congratulations Sarah, and thanks to all the NCPR interns. Let me make you a cup of coffee some time.
Tags: listeningpost, public radio
Good piece, Dale.
We have had many interns in our business (all paid, I believe), and many of them contribute significantly. Our shy and wonderful computer tech began as a VERY shy, timid intern. When his mentor moved on to another job, we hired this intern as his replacement. He is a great employee who had a chance to prove his worth through interning.
Other interns have come away from the experience with a clearer idea of what they really want to do. The experience of working for us also gives them a taste of reality as they try applying the knowledge gained in the classroom in the “real” world of business. Interning is a win-win situation and should be encouraged.
A public radio station is one of the most exciting and stimulating places on the planet. Through their efforts, the interns give a lot during the hours spent there, but in return, they receive inspiration from this real life bastion of culture, this daily rush of ideas. In many cases, the inspiration they derive from this sparks a life-long dedication to the cause.
Comrades, it’s a win-win for everyone.
That’s funny! Judy’s post came in while I was typing mine. Both of us were inspired to use that cliché, “win-win.” It *must* be true.
NCPR is known throughout the public radio system as a station that firmly and unequivocally holds to two principles enunciated in Dale’s essay: we demonstrate how much we value interns (I actually prefer the word apprentices) by either paying them a fair wage or by serving as official mentors so they receive college credit; and, we engage apprentices in the real work of the station. I firmly believe that college credit is valid recompense for an intern, particularly when they are doing meaningful jobs.
Dale also alludes to something we have learned from our interns: young apprentices bring with them a fresh perspective and great energy, adding significantly to what comes out of our NCPR shop.
Finally, I believe it is our responsibility, as seasoned public media professionals, to open our doors to the next generation, creating opportunities for them and making sure that topnotch people will be ready to run this place when people like me retire.
Thanks, right now, to Alexander, Roger, Katherine, Eli and Esther whose efforts are making NCPR better every day.
PS: Congratulations to Trevor Alford who has been working with us as a paid intern for the past two months. He has just been hired as a reporter by a capital district newspaper. Thank you, Trevor, and good luck.