NUJ criticises work-placement exploitation

Media companies are exploiting the ambitions of journalism students and newly qualified graduates by getting them to work for no pay, according to an industry union.

A survey by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) - which has around 38,000 members - found that more than half of journalists had completed unpaid work experience placements after they had qualified, some for as long as six months or more.

The NUJ data also revealed more than half of respondents did not feel they were getting adequate training or guidance on the job, while a quarter thought some media companies would not have been able to function properly without the use of unpaid workers.

NUJ General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: 'This isn't work experience, it's exploitation. We're all in favour of students getting a feel for life in a newsroom, but in many cases companies are just looking for free labour.'