FromDavid Still
<ds@davidstill.org>
To
<dgainor4@comcast.net>
Re: what a jerk!
MESSAGE
dgainor4@comcast.net wrote: David Your note was rude and offensive, but, since you took the time to write it, I'll take the time to respond. I'll be sending a response, but here's a bit of it that so many don't seem to get. The news business is just that, a business. It takes hours to interview prospective employees and hours more to go through resumes. That costs money, time and energy that no one has. Interns are a logical first step. Every smart employer would want to hire someone they already know can do the job. I hope we're agreed so far, at least. That said, now you are trying to find someone who will be willing to take that job and, frankly, not in theory, but in fact, they don't. I don't blame older journalists for this, I do blame the fact that major media pay so low that they can't afford to work there at an entry-level position. As I pointed out to another writer, if you aren't using interns as a hiring rung, then it doesn't matter. Having prospective employees reject job offers -- all too common till recently -- is one of the major reasons employers don't look for overqualified applicants. A 50+-year-old intern with a career's worth of experience in ANY field, is overqualified for any entry level job I've ever seen. That's not age discrimination, that's reality. BTW, I'm over 40 as well, so I appreciate the situation. Thanks for taking the time to respond. At least some people in journalism care enough to do that and, if that's the case, there's always hope for the profession. Dan ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Still" <david@davidstill.org> > What a scumbag you must be, believing and promoting the notion that discrimination is okay if it's covered up with a PC label. Jeez. I'd hatto work for you. With that kind of attitude you probably won't be working long. If I had a chance, I'd take you down at the first opportunity. > Shameful man you are.