Asif Durrani’s Post

Is a 40-Day Internship Enough in the Journalism and Media Field? For aspiring journalists and media professionals, internships are an essential part of building a career. Internships offer practical experience and a chance to understand how media organizations function. However, a key question arises: Is a 40-day internship enough to gain the necessary skills? Should we shift our focus to finding a job immediately afterward? Importance of Internships and Why 40 Days May Be Enough In a 40-day internship, you can grasp the fundamentals of the media industry. During this time, you get hands-on experience in writing news, reporting, editing, using digital media, and honing communication skills. The media landscape is rapidly evolving, and a 40-day period can help you adjust to these changes. If you approach the internship with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, this time can be sufficient to prepare you for the working world. In fact, many media organizations consider a 40-day internship adequate because, during this period, you are expected to show both speed and quality in your work. Why Focusing on a Job Afterward is Important After completing a 40-day internship, shifting your focus to securing a job can be a smart move, provided you've learned well during the internship. The fast-paced environment of the media industry requires you to keep up with constantly changing news cycles. So, when a job opportunity arises post-internship, it's essential to focus on it. Therefore, after your internship, it's crucial to concentrate on any job opportunities that come your way to advance your career in the right direction. The rise of digital media and the impact of social media have made the work of journalists even more challenging. Therefore, it’s essential to keep learning new techniques, methods, and trends, even while working. Every new report, every breaking story, and every new technology can help you become a better #journalist. A 40-day #internship can be sufficient in the journalism and media field, but focusing on a job afterward and continuing to learn is essential. The experience gained during the internship prepares you for the real-world challenges of #journalism. Ultimately, a blend of hands-on job experience and continuous learning will pave the way for a successful career in #media.

Unpaid internships are trend nowadays!💹 I remember my first internship was unpaid but it was part-time and remote. I found it alright because all I had to put into was some time and I was learning a lot of new things. But it strikes me really hard when I see my friends or acquaintances travelling for two hours and putting 8 hours into their internship. And all at 0 stipend. No travel allowance provided either. Isn't it better to get a job as a fresher? Specially big media houses who want interns to work like employees but pay them nothing. Most surprising part is that students accept it. Because they're afraid of not getting entry another way. Afterall, "Bollywood se zyada Nepotism Mainstream Media mein hai". However, many journalism aspirants often undermine their ability to excel in other fields. Regardless, unpaid internships are strengthening roots in every sector. Only way to eliminate this is understanding and prioritising your worth. What are your thoughts on it? PS: Another unrelated picture in the series of relatable content. #unpaidinternships #job #trend

Quick Questions for Today: 1. If an entry-level job requires 1-3 years of experience, is it really an entry-level job? 2. Should an internship require at least 1 year of working experience related to that internship? 3. Is there any way for writers to get full-time working jobs out of college without 1-3 years of experience? I own a business where writing is a big part of our jobs. Training graduates who have great writing skills does take time and effort but it can be worth it if the candidate has talent and can write. My daughter will graduate with an English degree in May and I am amazed at the number of job listings that fit the descriptions in the questions above. Even an internship is less than a year. You might say hire her yourself. We both would like for her to pave her own path if possible.

Internship option to consider Finding short-time or even year-long media internships or SIWES placements has always been hard. Media organisations in the country can't absorb the increasing number of Mass Communication students from Polytechnics and Universities in the country. While I was the Sunday Editor of The Nation Newspapers, I found it hard to reject applications for internships and would find a way to accommodate applicants, recommend them to other organisations or suggest other options. The Administration Manager once jokingly accused me of smuggling interns into the company because I didn't usually send some applications through the right channel because I knew they would be rejected due to lack of space. One year, I took on about 20 interns from the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, where I graduated at once and had to divide them into morning, afternoon, and evening shifts just to give everyone an opportunity. I am glad to see many of my former interns excelling in the profession. One of them, who usually spent hours 'maximizing' the use of free internet, was recently named acting weekend editor of a national daily newspaper. In recent weeks, I have been getting lots of requests to help get internship placements or take on some applicants in my organisation. Many, especially those who want to do it for two to three months, have searched endlessly and can't find a place to intern due to the limited opportunities What we have come up with as a solution at Media Career Development Network www.mediacareerng.org is a hybrid option of physical and virtual internships for interested students ready to abide by our guidelines to ensure they learn the basic practical rudiments of the profession in every area of specialization from accomplished professionals and partner organizations. Institutions and students can no longer have a fixed idea of the kind of internships they want or where to intern. It shouldn't matter if a student, especially for a few months, can intern with small organisations as long as they can learn any relevant skills and get practical experience. I laugh when some students who have their minds made up to intern with top media organisations look down on my small training organisation, not knowing about my decades of experience and that of our partners. Our model will include orientation, physical and virtual engagements, assignments to work on, which will be published and broadcast on our partner organizations, attachment with interested and available organizations and provision of resources. Interested applicants should send their applications to mediacareerng@gmail.com with a short essay titled "What I want to learn during my internship/siwes" Do your best to get a placement where you want, but if you can't get it, contact us and be ready to abide by our terms and conditions. Only successful applicants would be contacted and diligent interns would be retained.

Internship applications will help you when applying for jobs 🔔 It’s my final year of uni… ...and it’s already time to apply for jobs and grad opportunities ⏳ November is the cut-off date which feels SO early! But what I’ve found is that because I've consistently applied for internships during my 1st and 2nd year of undergrad: ➡️I can confidently talk about my skills and assets ➡️I can tailor these to the job description  ➡️I have my CV updated ➡️I have a LinkedIn page I can reference  ➡️I have practiced writing cover letters  ➡️I can write and edit quickly ➡️I can get the application done for early submission  ➡️I can reuse the content for future applications Applications are long and trying to do them during final year alongside classes, extracurriculars, a social life, & everything else can feel impossible. But it’s about PRACTICE. The more applications you do, the better and quicker you’ll get! Even if you don’t get the job you wanted, it's another chance to practice writing about yourself and... you never know who you might meet through the process ✨ #jobapplications #undergrad #internshipapplications #finalyear #practicemakesbetter

The Dark Reality of Journalism Internships: My Experience When I began my internship at Banglar Kantho, I was full of hope. Like many aspiring journalists, I believed this was my chance to learn, grow, and step into the profession. However, the reality behind the scenes was far from what I had imagined. In the beginning, I received only 2k per month, which was barely enough to cover basic expenses. But as the months passed, my stipend was reduced to only 1k , making an already difficult situation even more challenging. Despite juggling multiple roles—anchoring, scriptwriting, reporting, and covering events—there were no clear timelines or proper work structure. To add to this, I often faced disrespectful treatment from seniors, which made the whole experience mentally exhausting. What’s frustrating is that friends and family often think I’m building a solid career, but in reality, it feels like a struggle just to stay afloat. How can we expect the next generation of journalists to thrive under such conditions? If we want to keep talented, passionate people in this profession, we need to change the way interns are treated—starting with fair compensation and basic respect. It's time to address the toxic culture that leaves interns feeling undervalued and overlooked. Let’s advocate for a better future where young journalists are supported, not exploited. Together, we can push for change and ensure that dedication and hard work are rewarded. #JournalismInternships #UnpaidInternships #FairPay #JournalismStruggles #NeedForChange"

It took me six months, thousands of calls, and undying hope to secure my first internship. Breaking into the world of media as an outsider was not easy. Most of my close friends backed out, choosing different career paths. But I remained resolute with the motto - 'Once I start, I won’t stop.' The second semester passed, and while my batchmates relied on their contacts for their first break, I had none. So, I put my faith in talent and knowledge. I began investing in learning, reading, and improving myself through every means possible. I spent hours on my studies, seizing every practical project as an opportunity to learn. By the third semester, most of my friends had their internship plans sorted with a few calls here and there. I still had nothing. I listed out the names of media houses, dialled them, and pleaded for internships, one by one. Some flatly denied it, while others directed me to submit my resume at their front desk, only to discard it later. Yet, I diligently followed through with each step. The never-ending wait and constant rejections led to moments of self-doubt and questioning. - Is this the right path? - Will I be able to make it? - Is this even meant for me? - Am I doing it right? However, I did not lose hope and kept trying. And one fine afternoon, it all changed. A senior journalist from a noted newspaper agreed to mentor me. After six months of relentless effort, I found someone who asked no questions and demanded no experience from an intern. He understood I was a student eager to learn and did not hesitate to give me a chance. This marked the foundation stone of my journalistic career. I completed a six-month internship at Deshbandhu newspaper in 2013-14. I worked in the field during the day and at the desk in the evenings. I learned all aspects of journalism - from ground reporting and news writing to editing and page-making at the desk. I covered significant events and was offered a job (which I refused, but that's another story). This became possible only due to consistent efforts, resilience in the face of challenges, and refusal to give up. Since then, I have maintained a commitment to continuous learning and firmly believe that with talent, one can achieve anything one sets their mind to. Surprisingly, even after a decade, I still maintain the same zeal. DM, i𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭'𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐧. #Storytelling #Journalist #Writer #FreelanceJournalist #Journalism #FreelanceWriter #ContentWriter

Is experience essential in any field? Absolutely. I’ve been honing my writing skills for four years, and while I have had the opportunity to work full-time in this capacity once, I’ve faced challenges in securing further positions. The issue? Much of my background is reflected in internships rather than full-time roles. Here are some points to consider: 1- Perception vs. Reality: Many organizations may not fully appreciate the value of internship experience. They often prioritize full-time roles on a CV, which can overshadow substantial internship work. 2- Resume Limitations: Despite having substantial writing experience, my LinkedIn profile and CV are predominantly populated with internships. This can sometimes lead to underestimation of my expertise. However, this does not equate to a lack of experience. If given more opportunities for full-time positions, my professional profile would likely reflect a broader range of high-level experience. It’s important to recognize that meaningful experience comes from both internships and full-time roles, and both contribute to a professional’s capabilities. And if I lack a little on full-time roles, doesn't mean I am not a good fit for any company. #linkedin #internships #fulltimeroles #iamnotperfect #iamexperienced #experience #blogger #contentwriter #writer

What steps would I follow if I were a student seeking an internship now? - Update my LinkedIn Profile - Create a CV (Would suggest starting from scratch and not copy paste other CVs) - Prepare a cover letter - Connect with my ideal employer (Initially, I would connect with your seniors, college alumni, people working in the same field) - Nurture the connections and not spam them with random messages. - Through connections and other mediums I would apply for internships. If you were to apply for an internship what would you do? Day 73/90 #internship #tipsforcareer #linkedin #contentcreation #90dayschallenge

Calling all journalists! Students too. My November jobs list is out—more than 65 job openings in newsrooms, big and small. Also, paid internships are listed for those looking for one in journalism. These are all based in the US. Thanks to everyone who contributed a job for the list and for making my #CallingAllJournalists Initiative a success! Keep the job openings coming, put them in the comments, or DM me. FYI, I am not a recruiter or agent. I provide the job openings, and that's it. I appreciate it when you like my posts, but I would appreciate it if you REPOST this post now to reach your circle of students and journalists. Let's spread the hope. #localnews #journalismjobs #journalism #internships Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gmYA7ES5