Buying into an internship

As a journalism student, I understand the importance of internships, and even as newspapers are cutting summer programs (as well as laying off full-time staff), they remain essential for job applications.
However, it seems some overly involved parents have taken a new route to securing internships for their kids -- by charging it to their Mastercard.
And the price isn't cheap -- parents are shelling out $8,000 or more to get their kids internships at places such as "fashion house Donna Karan International or public-relations shop Ruder Finn," according to the Wall Street Journal.
Other parents are securing personal and professional consultants who polish their kid's resume and send out letters to multiple target employers -- in one case 133 offices.
Worse, an increase in internships offered for sale last year was seen by CharityFolks.com, WSJ says, with employers including Rolling Stone, Elle magazine and Atlantic Records. "A one-week internship at a music-production company sold last month for $12,000," according to WSJ.
Seriously?
And these examples are transactions that are made somewhat publicly -- I wonder how many parents out there bribe potential internship employers directly?
Internship placements should be based purely on skill and experience.
Period.
End of Story.
~~Kat