Next generation of journalists inspired at SAIT panel
On Monday evening I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with fourth year journalism students at SAIT, many of whom are about to graduate and step into the workforce. The event, titled Next Steps: Moving from School to the Workplace, brought together students who are preparing to begin their final practicum placements and thinking seriously about where their careers might lead.
I was invited to join a group of professionals from across the industry for the discussion. The panel included Richard Creaghan from ATCO, Nathan Iles, editor at The Scene, Drew Anderson, Prairies reporter with The Narwhal, Leanna Kruk from Brookline Public Relations, Josh Page, Bart Onyszko and Elise Stolte from CBC. The conversation was moderated by veteran journalist Christina Frangou and focused on what awaits students as they leave the classroom and enter the world of journalism, communications and marketing.
It was an evening that left me thinking about the future of our industry.
For those of us who have spent decades working in newsrooms, it is easy to become focused on the challenges facing journalism today. Advertising models have changed, digital platforms dominate the information landscape and the rise of artificial intelligence is altering how people search for and consume information.
Yet sitting in a room with students who are just beginning their careers was a powerful reminder that the future of journalism will ultimately depend on the next generation willing to do the work.
These students were thoughtful, curious and engaged. Many asked questions about how the industry is changing, how journalists maintain credibility in an environment flooded with information and how local news organizations continue to serve their communities.
What stood out most was their enthusiasm.
Many of them spoke openly about wanting to work in smaller newsrooms where they can report on real communities and see the impact of their work. That is encouraging to hear. Small community newspapers have long been the training ground for journalists across the country. They are places where reporters learn quickly, take on responsibility early and discover that local stories matter.
Today’s students are entering the industry at an interesting moment. Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a new way people gather information, but it is important to remember that these systems do not create knowledge on their own. They rely heavily on the reporting produced by journalists and news organizations.
Without original reporting, without people attending council meetings, interviewing sources and documenting what is happening in communities, there would be little reliable information for anyone to draw from.
That reality makes the work of journalists and newspapers more important than ever.
As the evening wrapped up and the students began gathering their things, one moment stood out for me. A student named Skylar approached and asked if I would be willing to mentor them during their four week practicum.
It was a request that caught me a little off guard. When I first started working in journalism, I never imagined that one day someone might ask me to help guide them as they begin their career.
But that is exactly how this profession continues. Each generation learns from the one before it, often in busy newsrooms where the work is fast paced and the lessons are practical.
So next week the Pass Herald will welcome Skylar to the newsroom for four weeks. They will have the opportunity to see what it is like to work at a small community newspaper, where every story matters and every issue of the paper reflects the life of the community we serve.
Perhaps one day Skylar will look back and remember that the Pass Herald was where their first steps in journalism began.
If Monday evening was any indication, our industry’s future may be closer than we think, and it appears to be in very good hands.