What do we want our future to look like

I'm worried that I'm not going to have a job when I graduate. I"m scared that journalism is going to shit, and we're going to suffer from it.

Obviously the journalism field is changing in a lot of ways. It's going online and coming at us faster, it's becoming condensed and more wide spread at the same time. Newspapers are crumbling, but there are exponentially more ways to get news online.

I think it's our responsibility to make sure that we have the skills we need to go in to the real world. but I think that we also have the option to shape that real world into what we want it to be IF we go about it in the right way.

So what can we do?

First I think that it's important to address what we're learning. That's why were here after all. I think that teachers for the most part are aware of the changes and want to help us. They (and potentially the administration) just need a push. The curriculum needs a serious update, and it needs to continue to be made current with all the changes that are happening. Is learning page design really relevant if newspaper pages aren't going to exist anymore?

If things are going to change we're going to have to be the ones to change them. That means we need to start pushing ourselves, and find innovative ways to keep up, and influence what journalism looks like. Luckily we're surrounded by smart people who are in the same boat. I think we have power in numbers, we just need to motivate.

So what does that mean? what can we do?

I think some kind of online collective is a good start, especially if we can find an effective way to market it, and make it relevant. We're all obviously producing a high volume of work, and hypothetically some of it is socially relevant and good. Lets get it out there, make it look good, and establish ourselves.

Then I think we need to think about where media is going. A discussion needs to be started, preferably including students, faculty, and working professionals. I don't think this would be that hard to put together, it'll just take a little bit of motivation.

Motivation is key here. Things are cutthroat. We can't depend on anyone else to pave the way for us, or hand us anything, or even tell us what journalism is going to look like in five years. It's on us.

Serious Thinking

This is about to get heavy. I apologize.

My friend Arielle's mom died last night. It wasn't a suprise. She had been sick for a while, cancer. They had been preparing for it. Arie got married recently so that her mom could be at the wedding, and I think her family had been setting themselves up for it as much as they possibly could. As much as you can I guess.

To be selfish I wasn't really ready for it. I've been away pretty much as long as Marge had been sick. I hadn't been around to watch her go through chemo, to watch her get sicker and better, and then sicker again, over the past 2 years.

I got a message in class last night, and immediately I knew what it was. I called home, I called my friends, I called my mom, even though I didn't know exactly what to say to her.

My heart ached for Arie. I can't even think of what she is feeling, even though she knew it was coming. It is scary and sad for me in ways I can't imagine. The idea of living with out my mother terrifies me. It feels like we're growing up too fast, and this is the beginning of the time when people we love start to die.

hope

Today I interviewed a professor who teaches sustainability studies here on campus. As we talked about the future, and why sustainability is important, the conversation shifted to the election. She said that she wanted to be like Obama when she taught because of the way that he was able instill hope in people with his words. "The future is pretty grim" she said, "if you start looking at all of the bad things that are coming you might as well give up now." The challenge is to make people hopeful, and push them to see the positive things.

I was pretty impressed by her parallelism, and how she translanted politics seamlessly into her everyday life. But her message rang true to me. I really think that is what this whole election has been about, at least for the people that I know. Change doesn't affect people inless it impacts them. We live insular lives. But somehow, inspite of, or because of how grim the future COULD be people are excited, and aware and involved. I can't wait untill Jan 20.

Another one bites the dust.

I'm converting. Slowly. First the cell phone, then this. I'm advancing in to the modern world, and as I do it, inflicting my thought, opinions, and biases on anyone who cares to read.

Here's the story. I just started a masters program in Journalism at the University of Colorado, and in doing that I've learned that apparently blogs aren't just for narsicistic geeks with too much time on their hands anymore. Wierd. So here is my shot at it. I'm going to try and limit it to insightful observations, gossip that is true, and only my opinions that are right. Consider it a learning experience.