It will be only a matter of time before the world of journalism takes a drastic shift. Digital media has picked up speed with exponential opportunities.
Where does this leave the world of print journalism? In 10 years, will you still be picking up that newpaper that sits in a box on the corner of first and third?
Will you still wake up to a daily newspaper on your front doorstep? These are a few questions I ask myself, as an aspiring journalist.
A steady decline in daily newspapers and a mass layoff of reporters has a number of the population thinking the print industry is dying and with that, the age of print journalists with it.
I see this state of thinking as false. As a digital communications and journalism student, I stand to the side unafraid and watch society and the field I have chosen with observance.
A journey of education, experience and networking has widened my horizons and I now can see opportunity at every gaze.
For the second year in a row I’ve had the opportunity to attend the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Symposium held by journalists, publishers and editors across the province. This year I had the opportunity to sit in on a Q and A discussion panel where topics varied from the future of the community newspaper industry, to industry expectations.
Though a second year adult student, I was one of the youngest and inexperienced journalists to join in, finding it more beneficial to listen to what those with more experience had to say. One panelist made a solid point.
“What we are going through right now is a revolution. Not unlike the industrial revolution, at the time people lost their jobs and things were automated and evolved,” said Bryan Bachynski, senior publisher for Great West Media. Bachynski’s career in journalism brought him to the community of St. Albert with a population of 60,000, overseeing the St. Albert Gazette. His business model and dedication to provide readers with local and fresh content first, has proven successful to a point where the small city holds a full time staff of 12 reporters and two full time photographers and a newspaper at every door. Almost unheard of in any small community, yet proof that a solid plan can go a long way.
There is no question though, the way we as a society consume information has become increasingly quicker due to digital media. That’s where we as journalists come into play. As long as there’s a need for information, there will be a need for those to properly deliver it and in any format: Print, photo, video, online and social.
Lethbridge College Digital Communications and Media students could lift their heads with pride at the conference when the topic of industry skills came to light at AWNA. With a program offering a diverse set of industry skills, it seemed we may have been the most qualified out of the students in attendance when prospect employers explained what types of people they look for. As I explained our programs skillset, I couldn’t help to see some northern students shake their head in awe.
One SAIT student, with camera in hand, asked a panelist if there was room in this industry for a niche skill set such as photography, to which he was quickly shut down and told a wider variety of skillsets is much more valuable.
So is the print industry in decline? Certainly not. It is shifting, evolving and will forever continue to do so, even with Postmedia conglomerate corporations eating away at the local level, a proper community voice is still able to thrive.
The way we consume information may change, but certain niche markets seem to be left unscathed from the digital push if modeled properly.
As for us, the journalists, especially those breaking into the industry now, it would be wise to hone all our skills and prepare to evolve. It will demand more than ever, but most of all it will require a willingness to evolve.
