I think I can, I think I can, I...thought I could

All journalism students alike will have been faced with the same quintessential first-day-of-class ice breaker.

"Why do you want to be a journalist?"

Last Wednesday, in two of my journalism classes a resounding number of my classmates responded with, "I thought I wanted to be a ________ reporter, but..."

In the span of just eight hours I'd met 30 journalism students, around 80 percent of whom no longer wanted to be reporters.

It seems a variety of factors -- unwanted mandatory classes, grim professors, the equally grim reality of the shrinking profession -- have managed to push these students to the edge. Some believed they weren't cut out for journalism any more. Others planned on pursuing more financially stable careers. Others yet were going to travel different literary paths with their writing talents.

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing young journalists today is simply themselves. The aforementioned factors may have been a force that started the push but essentially the students themselves decided to jump away from their one-time aspiration. They convinced themselves they weren't meant for the media field, and/or vice versa.

Heck, after giving things a little (honest) thought, even I joined the bandwagon.

"Hi, my name is Allison and I thought I wanted to be a sports reporter or a foreign correspondent, but now I'd rather take my chances on the street in a box with my name on it."

Here's to one more year of journalism curricula, and hoping to restore a little faith in myself.



Allison Hong is (biding her time as) a print journalism major at the University of Southern California. She spends her days reading Reuters' Oddly Enough stories and trying to catch episodes of ESPN's Around the Horn.

Harry Potter...and the plight of the journalist

As a journalist in the 21^st century, it’s important to remember not to fall behind; one day you are the producer for a television news station, and the next you are searching the classified ads for a job (like all of the journalists who are my father’s patients.) Journalists face unique and often archaic challenge of dealing with ethical and personal dilemmas beyond their control.

One of the biggest challenges faced by journalists is avoiding the temptation to take the shortcut. When writing that story, posting that blog, or even just on the street interviewing an unreceptive source, there is great temptation (no pun intended) to take the easy way out. Making up the quote or story seems like a situation you can get away with, and your editor will never find out if you are careful…or will they?

Just ask Jayson Blair.

The Pulitzer-prize winning journalists fabricated numerous stories for the most reputable newspaper in the country—The New York Times. He worked for the New York Times for years thinking he could get away with it, until one day his editors caught him, and the rest was history (and him too).

Along the same lines, producing sensationalistic material isn’t much better. Overdramatizing and exaggerating a story for readers is a cheap and dirty. Keeping your focus on sensationalistic material becomes very frivolous and drives away readers and intellectuals looking to focus on the more serious issues.

Not everything in the world needs to be a la Perez Hilton—it’s possible to have readers interested in serious issues, from the Olympics to the election.

Everything boils down to how do we keep readers and viewers interested in serious news? Do we need to dumb it down, or keep it in our jargon?

We should do both—dumb down the content, but keep the nuts and bolts there, the hard facts. People need to be kept in the know.

Whether we are doing so though is up to you.

Brad and Angelina! Split!

Respect.

We've been told over and over since we first entered j-school that the job of a journalist is to give the public a fair, accurate and informed version of the world's events. With many less than reputable "journalists" increasingly clogging up the internet, it is hard to both earn and keep the attention and respect of our audience, which inevitably thrives on the media's mistakes and shortcomings. People often complain that the steadfast integrity of journalists such as Peter Jennings no longer exists; they say news outlets focus too much of their time on celebrity gossip and scandal.

But as discussed in class, ratings are everything.

A station's audience dictates what goes on air -- and unfortunately for those who whine about the state of the media, scandal is what people are drawn to (one needs only to take a look at Chris Hansen and his salacious predators to see how true this is).

How is a young journalist to earn the respect of a contradictory audience that demands "real" news yet is much more inclined to embrace the stories of TMZ and US Weekly? I admittedly love stories about Britney's new screwup just as much as the next person. But the ones who ruffle my feathers are those who flip embarrassingly through the newest issue of National Enquirer at the checkout line (while glancing around to see if anyone's witnessing this guilty pleasure), and then later moan about the quality of journalism.

But, as we all learned early on in our lives, respect is something that has to be earned. All we young people can do is focus on what's important and spread the belief that things such as politics and foreign affairs do matter. And all journalists can do is remember that their job first and foremost is to report on what matters.

Fairly and accurately.

Melody Chiu is a junior studying print journalism at the University of Southern California. She enjoys playing with her spotty dog named Nicky and staring at her Tom Welling shrine.

Young Journalists' Biggest Challenge

The biggest challenge facing a young journalist in today’s media is that the internet has created has created more competition than ever before for an aspiring reporter. In addition, the increased viewership of the internet has brought about a steady decline to both print and broadcast media, creating a smaller workforce for journalists.

Throughout the last decade, internet blogs and news web sites have grown at a rapid pace. While this may seem like a step toward a better democracy – and it very well may be the best way for anyone to get their voice heard nationwide - it actually hurts journalists who are looking for a job.

Print media, more so than any other form of journalism, have become a dying breed in contemporary society. With news easily accessible and free to view on the internet, print media have found it hard to compete in the market. Readership in major newspapers across the nation, such as the Los Angeles Times and New York Times, has been on a steady decline within the last few years.

This decrease in readership leads to fewer advertisers paying for ads in these print medias, which means newspapers aren’t making as much money as they did in the past, which has led to numerous layoffs across the nation in the print journalism industry.

Broadcast journalism has also hit hard times due to the internet. Ratings on major television networks are down because audiences find it easier to read and watch a video clip online rather than sit down to watch primetime news every evening. The multimedia aspect of the internet is the most appealing tool to viewers across America.

Many viewers have turned toward the internet instead of print or broadcast media, and nothing is wrong with that. However, it has created a more difficult time for journalists to find jobs because the competition on the internet is much greater than any generation before this has ever seen.

A 13-year-old boy who has never watched a news show in his life can start his own blog and post about something he heard at school. While he may not be a journalist to the true definition of the word, he still has created something out on the internet that other professional journalists must compete against. A decade ago, this was never an issue.

A War For Words

A young journalist in 2008 should be nervous, anxious and ready to face an infinite abyss. I’m talking about the online world. A world that’s completely destroying the English language and murdering every grammar rule that’s left standing. A world that accepts “g2g” and “aka” as perfectly acceptable lingo. With the rise of online media and journalism, are we supposed to fall prey to the social norms that are being set? Or as journaslits, are we supposed to uphold the formal language we were taught as children?

I believe that the biggest challenge facing today’s young journalists will be a war for words. If the community of trendy Internet junkies is going to continue making up this new code language, then the beauty and grace of the English language will disappear faster than you can say “ttyl.” And by that point, the journalism students who spent four years and $120,000 to learn the art of writing will not be “lol-ing.”

Our biggest challenge will not be finding a job when we graduate. And it won’t be learning how to acclimate to life as an amateur anchor in Just-Past-The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Kansas. Our biggest challenge will be to uphold the standards of writing. It is our job to set the bar high and show the world that there is a difference between journalism and gibberish.

“Lauren Rosenblum is a print journalism student at the Annenberg School of Communication at USC. She loves to bake, watch movies and aspires to have her own editorial column one day.”

Finding a Place In the Journalism Job Market

At one point in time, it was enough for a young journalist to be a good reporter. Being a star reporter or a sharp-shooting cameraman was enough to land a good job after college. Not anymore. With cuts coming left and right at papers and news stations, it is getting increasingly harder for journalists to acquire-and maintain- their jobs. Not only that, but now as online media is taking center stage journalists are expected to be more than just a writer, camera man, or web whiz. In order for newspapers and networks to save money and cut back on jobs, journalists today are expected at times to be all three and more so that as convergence continues, it is not necessary for more jobs to be created.
Originally, the addition of online news media seemed as though it could be a catalyst for more journalist jobs. Instead, many journalists, especially at small publications, had to take on a heavier work load to help get their work online. This change in skill sets may come as a shock to some journalists who, for example, went into journalism only wanting to write. Those who have a passion for writing may not feel as comfortable with a camera or on the internet as they find they need to be. Journalists have to worry not only about finding a job in a market which is growing increasingly smaller in the first place, but also about doing jobs they did not readily set out to do.
With online news and media convergence, the role of the journalist is constantly changing. Journalists have to learn as much as they can about all fields of journalism and hope for the best.
Miriam Finder is from a small suburb outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has two sisters (one older, one younger) and has grown to love small pets such as guinea pigs since she and her sisters were never allowed to have a dog. She enjoys reading, skiing, and hiking.

Here's the link to buy the textbook

http://www.hh-pub.com/book.php3?book=HH1888

Keeping the faith

Optimism.

If there is one challenge facing young journalists in today's topsy-turvy world, it is holding onto the idea that there is no other field they would rather be a part of.

Back in the old-school glamour days, reporters were sent on assignments all over the world. To the Galapagos Islands, to write an article about the mini-penguins swimming in warm waters. To the African jungle, to capture a single shot of a rare tree frog. To the Middle East, to cover Henry Kissinger's latest expedition - all on a first class ticket, no less!

Nowadays, students graduating with a journalism degree are lucky if they can find a job that pays $12,000 a year.

The economic freefall our generation faces is more than daunting - it is terrifying. Selling out to a cushy PR job or even law school seems more and more appealing in the wake of constant firings at the nation's top news publications.

What's more, we as students of journalism have no idea where the field is headed. Will we be writing articles for Page One, or will our children have never touched a newspaper in their lifetimes?

On my first day of class at the Annenberg School of Communication, the school's dean explicitly said to us, "After this class, some students may want to get out of this profession for economic reasons alone. We don't know where this industry is headed, but instead of seeing this as scary, you should see it as an opportunity to shape journalism for future generations."

And I do.

Journalism is a field steeped in the tradition of bringing the truth to the people. Nowadays, keeping the truth afloat amidst the sea of bloggers' murky opinions is already proving difficult for established journalists. However, despite this setback and the obvious economic cop-outs, holding onto the idea that journalism is worth fighting for is the greatest challenge young journalists have to confront.

They can, and they will.

Blessing Waung is a junior studying print journalism and East Asian languages and cultures at the University of Southern California. She loves reading the NYT's top 10 most-emailed list, watching basketball games and exploring Los Angeles with her friends.

Adapting to Change

Today's journalism is edgy, new, and always changing. What was once defined by simple black and white newspaper articles, has since evolved into colorful and dynamic websites that offer news in every style. Anyone, whether he is a trained journalist or not, can log onto a site and offer his opinion and state what he feels is news. While this new style of journalism creates a dialogue and allows anyone to interact and experience the news, this new style also offers some of the greatest challenges to young journalists today.
Young journalists today must be trained in every craft. Competition is stiff. It's not enough to only be a great writer or great on-camera. Most networks and newspapers have created online outlets to survive. So in order for journalists to succeed, they must understand the importance and have experience in online outlets.
Another obstacle young journalists face with this new style is the ability for anyone to participate in these online outlets. You no longer have to be schooled in journalism to be considered a journalist. Anyone who has access to the Internet has the ability to post anything he finds newsworthy. With this ability, often people fail to publish accurate or appropriate material. It is important journalists continue to adapt and publish honest, ethical work. This will keep us separate from bloggers and the untrained.

Elizabeth McHugh-Sivore is a junior broadcast journalism student. She is from St. Louis, Missouri but spends the majority of her time in Los Angeles. She is passionate about sports, especially USC Football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

Journalism in Transition

Just as many of us will soon transition from the college classroom into the working journalistic world, the journalistic world is too, in a state of transition. While the transition provides for new learning processes, job opportunities, and the way to deliver information to the world, the change also blurs the line in the way in which a true journalist is defined. This gray area has prompted individuals to take up free-lance reporting, without a formal journalistic education, with a hope that they, too, can report today's news. For the young journalists of today, this acts as a double-edged sword, as they enter into a career path that seems to have no definitive destination.
On the one side of the argument, the internet, blogging, and mobile video devices, such as cameras and telephones, allow the everyday individual an opportunity to become a journalist at any given time. Reporting the news is very time sensitive, and in the case of a tourist with a camera, he or she potentially has the opportunity to capture a once in a life time moment that will have a significant influence on the world. With that being said, some individuals vividly seek that "wow" moment, in search of their claim to fame. But to what extent is their finding valid? Was it staged? Was it photoshopped to add a little extra? The answer is, you just don't know.

On the other side, traditional journalism does still exist. Credible sources like CNN, the Los Angeles Times, and Time Magazine still carry the bulk of the "truthful" news. The question rises in the case of a young journalist, is it worth the risk to begin your career in a free-lance manner, taking full advantage of the new technology entering the world of today, or do you persistently work up the ladder full of tenured professionals in the hopes of one day making it back to one of the major media outlets?
My best advice is to roll with the punches. Take advantage of all forms of journalism in media, while still in school. Create a solid base in which you can go many directions. Hopefully, the one fork in the road that you took a gamble on will lead you back on the path to your dream job. But that is the exciting part, and a roller coaster ride that many are eager to stand in line for, and i am one of them.

Bio:
I am Josh Moser and a junior at the University of Southern California. I love going to the beach, staying active, and spending time with my friends. I believe in living in the moment and letting nothing pass you by.

The Chain Affect

I think the biggest challenge facing a young journalist in today’s media is not only maintaining credibility but also even finding a decent paying job. The state of the economy is not beneficial to a journalist at the moment. Numerous publications are cutting back staff, putting more of a burden on the remaining staff and leading to more and more things slipping through the cracks.

For example, when fact-checkers are cut from a staff because they have the lowest job on the totem pole, the responsibility rests on the reporter to make sure the information they are reporting is one hundred percent accurate. When a reporter isn't conscientious about their facts, errors can leak through, causing the reporter to lose their credibility rather quickly. Even worse, the incorrect information can be read by many and be considered as truth when it is not.

I feel that this chain affect is extremely present in today's media. When something happens, like staff cut backs, effects, possibly like misprints, are bound to happen as a result. With that said, I sincerely hope I'll be able to get a job once I graduate from USC. It is very disheartening to see journalists, both student and professionals who are passionate about the industry, work hard and reap no benefits due to the state of the country's economy.

Jenna Frimmel is a junior print journalism major at USC. She's from Scottsdale and spends her summers on the east coast. She enjoys reading Us Weekly and InStyle, online shopping, going to La Barca on Tuesdays and is a huge fan of Yogurtland.

The State of the Media

The biggest challenge facing a young journalist today is finding a job. It seems everyday we hear about how another news organization is making job cuts. From one the biggest/greatest papers in the nation, The New York Times, to some of the smallest, it seems to me that there is no stopping the convergence of media leading to fewer and fewer media jobs.

I am seriously thinking of switching my career aspirations as I find out there are less and less jobs out there for students. I know there are cheap jobs out there but I plan on going back home to New York City and I know there is no way that I can live on a journalist's salary in Manhattan.

Students who want to succeed in journalism have always have had to accept a "journalist's salary" but it seems more and more unlivable with the state of our economy and the rise of online media taking away more "conventional" broadcast and print jobs.

Hopefully an economic upturn and an increase in students who are online savvy will save jobs. Unfortunately blogging has become a problem even for the new jobs created in the online world. I mean, I know I am personally addicted to several celebrity blog websites including the popular PerezHilton.com. These stories are not always correct and they don't always have proper attribution but, I find myself telling my friends about what is on these sites more than what is on the BBC--mostly because they just don't care.

I am rambling. I just hope that students who sincerely have a passion for the industry are able to continue to find jobs and change the world with their voices bringing the news from all over the world to readers/viewers.

Nikki Haber is a student at the University of Southern California majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in film. She enjoys her Blackberry, London, sports(yay soccer and basketball!) and watching Arrested Development. She is horrible at grammar. Nikki is originally from New York City.

Red Flagging Young Journalists

The biggest challenge facing young journalists today is their inexperience. Anyone can log into their computer and publish articles. Technology has made it very easy for people to express their views. It is just as easy to have those views read by millions of people around the world. This power can often lead to very troubling outcomes. It is this reason that journalistic integrity is in question now more than ever.

I fear there is nothing that can be done to fix this problem.

In our society it is not wrong to say that the more entertaining an article is, the more popular it will be (even if the material lacks validity).

It is this reason that has journalists worrying about their career. Soon, people will only tune into the things they want to hear, rather than the things they need to hear.

-END-

Bio:
My name is Tommy Byrnes and I am new to blogging. I currently attend the University of Southern California, where I am a junior studying at the Annenberg School of Communication. I am a Print Journalism major with aspirations of being a columnist, broadcaster and blogger specializing in sports.

'Cuz I gotta have faith....

Although there are many challenges facing young journalists in today's media, I think one of the most difficult is maintaining one's faith in the journalism industry. Given the competitive and ever-changing nature of the business, coupled with the constant merging and downsizing of companies we aspire to work for, it is difficult for a budding reporter to find the incentive to stick with it.

I know this dilemma first hand. A few months ago, I had a quarter-life crisis which lead me to chose between two paths - risk being a poor, down-trotted conduit of news or incorporate my journalism skills to do good in this world and receive a fat paycheck for it a.k.a. go to law school.

Not that I am obsessed about being wealthy or anything, but considering the fact that I do not come from an affluent background and am struggling with the financial aid I receive, I want the guarantee of a comfortable life - both personally and materialistically. Basically, I do not want to be driving a beat up Toyota Tercel when I am 35.

Unlike most journalism majors who are willing to put their entire life and dreams on hold for many years and report about things they could care less about in places they hate, I cannot see myself doing so forever. A perfectionist at heart, I do not know if I have that much patience and love for such an uncertain career.

Don't get me wrong. I love journalism with all my heart. I love everything about it. From the adrenaline-inducing deadlines to the annoying editors who never seem to be satisfied with your best work, I would not have it any other way. I love informing people about the latest events and possibly even making a difference with my writing. But sometimes I wonder if there is any purpose for it. Sure there are stories that win Pulitzer Prizes and shed light on social and ethnic injustices, but most people (especially in America) are apathetic. No one cares. And for the few people who do, who among them will stand up and champion for a cause until it ceases to exist? While several righteous causes do become popular in the public sphere, sooner or later however, they lose their appeal.

Currently, I am having difficulty reconciling my love for journalism and fear of being an unaccomplished deadbeat. But for now, I am pursuing both. Let's see where I end up.

-30-

Taren Fujimoto is a junior/senior print journalism major at the University of Southern California. In her spare time she loves exploring L.A. with her friends, meeting new people, and pondering life's eccentricities. She also enjoys reading, singing and eating.

Here's the link to the wiki

http://journalism309.wikispaces.com/

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Michelle Obama at the Democratic Convention