Voluntariat in Germany has nothing to do with charity – it is the name for paid internships for young journalists, allowing them to take their first steps in the profession. In contrast to short-term journalistic internships, voluntariat usually lasts from one to two years (but no more than 15 months) and naturally allows learning much more – by all parameters it is a full-fledged job on the editorial staff, supplemented by educational seminars.
Of course, one can become a journalist by enrolling in a journalism faculty at a German university. Voluntariat, however, is an opportunity to master the profession without specialized education. What exactly the so-called volunteer studied before the media internship is not that important – it could be not only journalism but also history, philosophy, physics, mathematics. A long-term internship allows gaining practical journalistic experience necessary for future work.
Voluntariat in Germany is not regulated by law; each media outlet has the right to independently determine the working conditions for interns. This is why trade unions and universities sign their own agreements with publishing houses and broadcasting companies.
An important component of such an internship is about six weeks of seminars – at least 30 days over two years. Participants take courses in various disciplines – from writing journalistic texts to professional ethics. These are conducted by special organizations, such as the Academy of Journalism in Hamburg or the Bavarian Press Academy in Munich.
It is not possible to apply for such a program through a specific specialized center, as when entering a university. Interested individuals must find editorial offices themselves that are willing to provide training places and send documents directly. At the same time, according to education consultant of the German Journalists' Association (DJV) Eva Werner, one also needs to know how to properly read the proposed contract that the editorial office concludes with the volunteer. "If a media outlet is not a partner of a specific trade union, the voluntariat may turn out to be completely different from what you imagine: with insufficient financial compensation, irregular working hours, and without educational seminars," she says.
According to Eva Werner, the contract should state that the volunteer has the opportunity to work in different departments and try themselves in different topics and genres – from local news to economic or political journalism.
The amount of salary is no less important point of the contract. If the media outlet has already signed an agreement with the DJV, there is nothing to worry about. You will receive about 1,800 euros per month in the first year of voluntariat and about 2,100 euros in the second (before taxes). Otherwise, conditions may be much worse, for example, the employer may offer only 500 euros per month. "We do not recommend signing such a contract. In our opinion, this is an unacceptable option – it is better to refuse and find something more worthwhile," Eva Werner is convinced.
Assistant director of the Institute of Journalism at the University of Dortmund, Tobias Schweigmann, has a different opinion on this: "Voluntariat is voluntary and aimed at gaining as much journalistic experience as possible, not at earning as much money as possible."
According to him, many students do not need rental housing because they can live with friends or relatives; some are financially supported by their parents. In addition, the University of Dortmund even has a special fund to which students monthly contribute a certain amount of money to help volunteers whose contracts are not financially advantageous enough. But still, the main thing in voluntariat, according to Schweigmann, is the opportunity to realize oneself to the fullest.
But does volunteer enthusiasm turn into a job offer after the two-year internship? Often that is exactly what happens. But, according to Eva Werner, as a rule, media outlets that pay interns poorly, do not provide learning opportunities, and force overtime do not start treating employees better after the internship. "You need to start looking for a good job from the very beginning. If you suffer and think that the situation will change in the future, no one will thank you," the expert emphasizes.
Any foreigner who naturally speaks German can also apply for a voluntariat. The main thing, according to Eva Werner, is to determine your own goals. If you plan to stay in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland for a long time, voluntariat is definitely a good option for starting a career in the media.
At the same time, this is a rather specific German educational model that is not very well known in the world. "It is an individual decision. People planning to work in journalism in other countries should ask themselves: is it worth spending two years on this? I would recommend they go to university for a journalism degree," advises Eva Werner.