Having a Grinchy Christmas

I just found out there's a major daily newspaper in Canada offering its summer interns $500 a week, with no benefits (which is normal for a summer internship). That would be a $26,000 annual salary if it were to run all year. The cost of living in that city does not support this measly salary. You could make that working two days a week in an entry level producing job at the CBC. Or in three days of paid-per-word freelancing for a newspaper.

Another newspaper that usually relies heavily on its interns has decided to cut its program entirely for this year. Another did interviews, and then put the successful candidates on a waiting list while they figure out how many positions they have money for.

Here's the thing. Interns produce way more copy than lifers at the paper. One editor I talked to was shocked at how many articles a year his interns put out. This is not the way to cut costs, unless you figure the assignment editors will quit in frustration and then you can save on their salaries too. These internships are incredibly important for the students who get them, but I would argue they're equally important to the news organizations who have pages or air time to fill.

$500 a week. Does anyone else have stories like this?