J-Students: What Kind Of Job Do You Want?

I was emailed this article recently so I thought I'd pass it along. The story from 2006 quotes a 2004 study that found that most journalism students in colleges and universities across the U.S. sought jobs in print media than in online journalism. (20.6 percent for TV news and 19.5 percent for newspapers versus 6.5 percent for Internet positions.) These figures were in spite of the fact that starting salaries at online-based jobs were substantially higher than comparable positions at traditional media outlets.

I wonder if the numbers would be similar today or if more students are embracing the possibility of an online position. I mean, after all, our generation does consume online news far more than we are reading traditional newspapers or magazines. Personally, I came into college convinced that I was going to work in print media. My dream job is still to become an editor at a top men's magazine or entertainment magazine. However, I could definitely see myself working for an online news source. In today's world, journalism students have to be open to the possibility of working on the Web because jobs in print or broadcast media are shrinking everyday. It would be interesting to see updated statistics on the types of jobs journalism students seek immediately following graduation. (My quick Google search elicited no helpful results, but maybe you're a more savvy searcher than I am.)

The article also touches on another important issue: journalism education's slowness to embrace online media. If students aren't being taught how to report for the Web or develop a Web presence for themselves, how can they be expected to feel comfortable searching for Internet jobs? At my school, Ithaca College, I've definitely received some great instruction in Internet journalism, but broadcast and especially print media are still very much the emphasized mediums. Journalism programs must incorporate online news into their curriculums so that their students can embrace the possibility of someday working for online media.

Arianna Huffington Comes to Ithaca!

Tonight, Arianna Huffington spoke in Emerson Suites at Ithaca College. The co-founder of the Huffington Post gave her thoughts on the state of journalism and new media. One of the first points she made about the strengths of independent media is its tendency to present more than just the fact. Whereas many newspapers adhere to a strict inverted pyramid style, indy media sites aren't afraid to present news in other ways, such as with satire, video or dramatic flair.

She also applauded our continuously developing linked economy. She called it a "cause for celebration." Consumers of traditional media are passive, often picking up a newspaper and merely glancing at headlines or simply filling time. Independent media users, however, are active participants who follow links, investigate topics further, donate to causes, organize themselves around a political candidate or movement, or even donate to the reporting itself. "You consume new media galloping on a horse," she said.

Huffington also shared her thoughts on the decline of the print media. It was very refreshing to hear her shift the discussion from the future of newspapers to the future of journalism itself. While newspapers may be declining, what's more troubling for me as an aspiring journalist has been the subsequent decline of things like investigative reporting. Furthermore, as Huffington said, print media can never die out. Magazines, for instances, are popular with people heading to the beach, on a flight, or looking for a specific topic.

I think Huffington's strongest point came when she said the discussion is not about new versus old media, but instead about today's media versus yesterday's media. Regardless of their primary form of publication, all forms of media need an online footprint. Newspapers, magazines and broadcast stations all need to have a strong web presence that offers something their print or broadcast product cannot.

For more on Arianna Huffington, I recommend reading some of her blog posts on HuffPost. Her speech was great and I'm definitely glad I got to hear her speak here on campus.

"Trouble the Water" Screens at IC

Last night, documentary filmmakers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal brought their Oscar-nominated film, "Trouble the Water," to Ithaca College for a screening. The film travels to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and shows viewers a new side of the struggle in a narrative documentary style. I was not able to attend the screening last night due to a conflict with my job in the Commons, but was able to attend a luncheon today, during which the filmmakers sat down with students and faculty to discuss the film and other issues relating to independent media and documentary filmmaking. One topic they discussed was how they really wanted the film to screen in theaters because audiences there tend to be more captive and engaged than those watching a film on television or the Internet. I thought this point was very interesting, especially when it's related to the current situation in the newspaper industry. A person picking up a paper tends to be more actively engaged than someone scanning the Net for the latest headlines. So, if newspapers decline and die out -- as many assume they will in the coming decade or so -- what will become of the readership? Will they actively seek out their news from other mediums? But, I digress. Lessin and Deal also talked about how they didn't take no for an answer when finding sources for "Trouble the Water" and other projects they worked on. I really admire this because, as someone who's a bit more shy, I don't know if I'd be able to easily assert my right to access certain information like they did. Since I wasn't able to see the film last night, I would love to see it very soon because it sounds like an interesting, important film that anyone would enjoy and benefit from seeing.