Where are journalism faculty students assigned to?

"There were three places for the career assignment for the specialization "Audiovisual media". They offered me Karma and Kalinkavichy, to my choice. I have no idea where Karma is. There is probably some district newspaper and a local radio station there", - student of the Institute of Journalism Masha from Nyasvizh comments on the career assignment.

Masha doesn't want to go to Karma, which is 300 kilometers away from her house. She wants to file an application so that they would allow her to work in a private company. Euroradio has found out that the Ministry of Information provides 24 vacancies per 100 graduates.

"Almost all people were assigned in accordance with their applications. The only exception is private companies. Sometimes they did not give any explanations for refusal... I doubt that they will let me go there", - says Masha.

Only four vacancies for the state students of the Journalism Faculty out of twenty four are in Minsk. The STV TV-channel asks for three journalists, and "Narodnaya Gazeta" asks for one.

Natallia, a student of the Journalism Faculty from Mahileu, has been advised to work in Krychau for two years.

"I am unlucky, they are sending me to Krychau. There is the Krychau district radio station there. They promise Br 1,5 million + extra payments and a hostel room".

Natallia doesn't want to go to Krychau, and is looking for a job in Mahileu before the final career assignment.

Student Alena is luckier - she has been assigned in Minsk! To "Narodnaya Gazeta". She provided a request from there. The newspaper is a state one so the Dean's office had no questions.

"I have worked there since the third year. I was on practical training there. I don't know how much they are going to pay me, they promised to take me and I am happy with that", - Alena says.

The newspaper "Naviny Kamyanechchyny" sends requests for specialists for the second year in a row. They promise Br 800 thousand and a hostel room. Euroradio has found out that last year's "young specialist" has already quit! 

"There is one left. Another one got married and re-assigned at her husband's place of residence", - complain employees of the editor's office.

The newspaper and radio station "Chachershchyna Voice" ask the Ministry of Information to send them a head of the agricultural section and suggest the salary of ... Br 400 thousand!

Meanwhile, an average salary in Belarus is Br 2,9 million!

However, they tell us in the editor's office of "Chacherski Vestnik" that their salaries are higher - Br 700 thousand plus fees.

"Journalists earn 2,5 million here", - they assured us.

Besides, all 24 vacancies suggested by the Ministry of Information prescribe salaries lower than the average salary in Belarus. Three of them are located near the Chernobyl area. They are "Karma Voice", "Chacherski Vestnik" and "People's Voice" in Yelsk.

Photo 1: mocnit.miee.ru