BBC/ITV/TV/Radio Employees

Because it encourages the industry to use a string of work experience monkeys as an easy way to get free labour? There was a fair bit about this in MediaGuardian last spring; see:
'Exploitation is more widespread than ever', Young, gifted and flat broke [registration may be required].

Incidentally, that TVYP press release has reminded me: applications are now open for TVYP. If you're between 18 and 21 and are interested in working in the TV industry, then you should take a look. It's a chance to go to the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (to give it its Sunday name), over the August bank holiday, and go to workshops, masterclasses, and parts of the real festival, including the MacTaggart lecture. All you've got to do is put together a cracking application form, and if you're successful, pay for your transport to Edinburgh. Loads of my friends have been involved in it, and all of them would recommend it.
Details are at www.tvyp.co.uk.

Well I must say I've gotten far more out of this thead than I thought possible, so I'd like to thank any/everyone who replied, it's be very useful, and feel free to add more

thegeek... whilst Media Guradian is making a valid and important point, there are variables involved in this 'exploitation' issue.

Simply to say work experience = exploitation, monkey work is not accurate. In my previous role at a major broadcaster, there were dozens of runners/placements who were simply tea getters, tape carriers and general gophers. This may or may not have been a worthwhile experience. However, in the creative area I worked in we had a very different system of finding work placements. We didn't accept anyone, in fact we were very selective. There was a structure in place for those coming in for experience and there was plenty of experience to be gained. The point that needs to be made is, don't beg for a placement, and make sure you know what you're getting into. It should be approached in the same way as you evaluate a potential job.
Going back to my previous point about the value of education, I can assure you that those people who take work experience on whilst at a reputable college/uni will have a good backing and foundation from their tutors. They should help to find quality placements, and should be involved with the entire process, asking for feedback from both student and mentor. That's where the education route stands out... it offers far more support at many levels for those who need it. It all depends on what experience you look to take, and how you approach it. Those who have been taken for granted would have had much more support if they had backing from a decent educational institution. I would take a guess from my own experiences that those who are taken for granted are the ones who take work placements at a much younger age - probably school age. I've personally been in the situation (in other jobs) where I've been 'handed' a 15 year old to look over my shoulder, only to find they're studying science GCSEs and have no interest in being there. What can my Broadcast experience teach them? Not my fault... pass them off on to another person.. I'm busy. It's easily done when you're under pressure. What's my point? Well, you have to think about what you're getting into, look before you leap and take responsibility for what you get into. At least then you have a fighting chance of reciprocal benefits.

I mean no offence, so please take none, but I think it's far more important to make your own judgements in life rather than relying too much on what articles say. Even if an article is in the Guardian, there's no guarantee it's not just one journalists take on a situation. Facts and figures can only offer quantative information, not qualitative (as one of my tutors probably taught me!).

whilst the posts in this thread are no doubt useful, it is my belief that there are as many different routes into television jobs as there are television jobs. all of my colleagues have entered the organisation through different routes, as different opportunities and fate have given people their way in, be it a degree with practical skills or a degree without.

Indeed... to summarise I would say it is purely down to an idividuals aptitudes, attitudes and determination. If you have that you have the best chance of success. It's all about common sense and using your head. Seek out opportunities, evaluate them and use your best judgement to see the right approach.

I *almost* did a degree in Media Studies, so close I had even registered, then decided at the last minute that I didn't want to move away and with no way into TV already made in Belfast apart from a few basic films for my school etc that was all I had.

Thankfully Channel 9 up in the North West was opening and by pure co-incidence thanks to the internet, I met someone who worked there and ended up just blagging my way in there for a year out whilst I did a design / technical related degree in Belfast.

From there, voluntary work led to me getting more community based film making projects which were added to a showreel that was just horrible before that expereince. C9 gave me avid/camera experience and when I local production company I knew were getting new camera kit and an Avid, i was brought on board on a freelance basis.

And from there the freelance work went up and up, doing more community based projects and being paid well for them (I love government arts schemes) still editing / co-producing programmes for UTV (UTVites can figure out what it is) and now getting more freelance work in NI and doing things even for RTE. Now after 6 years the list of things i've done stuff for is looking healthier and looking into setting up a one of few HD editing facility in NI.

Pay can be crap at times, but the more you stick at it, the more you'll get out of it.

Main advice..... do a media degree but be careful - rememebr it's going to look more at film / print as much as it does telly, so would bore you. Learn the technology and stuff around it. One thing that has helped me, and maybe others can mention it, is people getting a hold of Avid Xpress DV or FreeDV and claiming to be avid editors getting gigs cos their rate is better. However when they land in with an Adrenaline system, they, panic and generally make a mess then I'm called in to fix things or take over at short notice for a better rate

There are alot of job advertisements that ask things that you probably won't have got in college, like ENPS operation, which well you probably woudln't have, but always say keen to learn, quick to learn and you should pass that requirement. Well unless of course it's a strict requirement!

Oh and it helps to be multi skilled. Companies love people who can film edit and direct !

If you do decide that a media degree is for you, I'd strongly advise choosing one which arranges placements within the industry. I did a six month placement at the BBC as part of my uni course, which then led to further work there afterwards and eventually to a career in radio.

However, and a note of caution, eight years on and the glittering world of the media doesn't quite seem as exciting as it once did. Poor pay, a desire to be able to afford a decent quality of life, and general disillusionment with the industry are leading me to consider a career change... and having a less specific degree under my belt might have put me in a better position.

Spencer For Hire makes a good point. From what I have seen I would say the more junior positions in the industry are still there, and it's a great industry to get into, but further up the career ladder it's much more difficult to progress. It's more a case of you carve you niche and sit on a plateau if you're happy, but the more senior vacancies are either too hard to come by, or involve too much management & beaurocracy. In the Creative sector, where I have most experience, it seems to be the case that once they hit the more senior levels people tend to move on and set up their own businesses. Depending on your point of view this may be good or bad, but the key point is that the experiences you can amass earlier in your career enable you to make that kind of step.
To speak of my own experiences, I have diversified from broadcast design into setting up my own business providing Moving Image & Music composition. It's only the experience I have gained working in the industry that has allowed me the knowledge and contacts to do this successfully. For me, continuing to move into higher senior roles would have meant losing the hands-on creativity that I love and having to deal more and more with staffing, budgets and executive whims. Not for me, I'm just someone who loves to be creative.