I recently had the opportunity to return to my alma mater to participate in the 41st annual Northwestern State University J-Day. Journalism Day gives discerning high school students the opportunity to attend hands-on workshops and lectures at NSU.

Professionals talk with students about the changing field of journalism and mass communications and give advice on how to get ahead in this competitive industry.

Paired with fellow NSU-TV alumna Katie Lopez, who is now a reporter at KADN-TV, we shared our experiences at NSU and talked about the importance of hands-on, practical learning opportunities. Students asked how the internet is affecting broadcast journalism as well as what it’s like being a multi-faceted journalist.

The lecture made me realize how dramatically the field  has changed even in the short time I’ve been a professional.

Today, we work under tighter deadlines and budgets, sometimes wearing more hats than ever before. Not only are we producing stories for daily newscasts, but also writing and editing stories for digital platforms or content sharing.

The current economic woes aren’t making it any easier to be in the business right now, but for those who have a deep passion for producing meaningful news and information, it’s worth it. It’s exciting being able to participate in the development of this transition and incorporation of digital technology, such as the internet, into journalism.

Unfortunately because of the higher demands and lower budgets, many seasoned reporters are exiting the business, some not by choice. We’re losing some industry greats, but if those who remain hold true to principles and are aware of the consequences of failure, we have the opportunity to cultivate some impressive, new-age journalists.

It was exciting to see that so many young students are already aware of many of the changes taking place in the profession. NSU is helping those students get a head start on their careers by preparing them today.

This semester I’ve been working with their Advanced TV Reporting class on how to incorporate the internet in their news product. They’ve even established a website for their student newscast, posting their news stories each week at www.nsu22news.wordpress.com .

What are you thoughts about the changes in TV news over the past few years? Do you think we spend too much time on fluff and not enough on “real news”? Do you think we’re doing a good job of delivering news in a timely manner that’s convenient to your schedule?

The views expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect the views of KTRE/KLTV-TV or Raycom Media.  They are solely the opinion of the author. All content © Copyright 2008 Lane Luckie