Megan Turner
Videos by OutKick
On OutKick the Coverage Clay talked about NFL Network’s Jane Slater’s recent tweet that sparked controversy within the Twitter community.
I posted an opportunity for an unpaid internship and I’m amazed the comments I get. It’s not even for me. It’s for someone else and I would have jumped at it in college. I had 3 unpaid internships in school, double majored and had a job. SMH
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 1, 2021
Clay said he worked for free on Capitol Hill and that it was an invaluable experience. He said he also had an internship during college — all to build his resume.
“If I had demanded pay for my work when I started, I don’t think I would be talking to you right now,” he said.
“If you want to work in sports, it is wildly competitive,” he said.
Clay said you’re either going to basically work for free or work a second job to be able to work in sports.
“The idea that you should be paid to do a job that there is great demand for that you don’t know how to do is actually limiting your ability to get a job in sports,” he said.
Listen to his full coverage:
I wouldn’t think the sports job market is anywhere near as strong as it was before covid. OKTC has a niche. The market will determine what a job’s worth based on demand and need, even an internship. Also, I wouldn’t think unpaid internships are necessarily the rule, especially for larger companies. It makes me think a company isn’t that financially stable if they throw around nickels like manhole covers (Mike Ditka quote).
Such a tough industry right now. The ESPN layoffs have been well documented here. The Golf Channel closed their Orlando studio and got rid of a lot of on air talent. I’m an Oriole fan and MASN got rid of both Gary Thorne and Jim Hunter who did play be play plus numerous in booth and pre-game retired players. I also read on the National’s side of things the sideline reporter was let go. I’m assuming these spots will be filled with younger cheaper options who will work more hours. It’s amazing OutKick is doing as well as it is.