Where are we going?

Where is journalism headed? How are those of us with the least experience but the most energy going to determine the future of this business?

What should our goals be? In our reading, Downie and Kaiser said, "We have three goals: to explain why good journalism is so important, to increase the knowledge of consumers of news about how the news business works and to encourage public support for the best journalism" (12).

I think those are all admirable goals, and ones we should be striving for each and every single day. I'm a sports guy, though, and the last few days I've been pondering the death of former Orlando Sentinel sports editor Van McKenzie.

Just reading the testimonials to his life and how he changed a mediocre sports section into one of the best sections in all of newspapers, not just sports. I think he had even better goals than those that were suggested in our reading. Here is just a sample of his letter to the Sentinel staff when he took over:

Words to live by: "Never Assume Anything."

Words to die by: "That’s not the way we do things around here."

Every inch of the sports section will be reevaluated. Some former features will be eliminated, making room for new coverage and ideas.

Emphasis will be placed on breaking news. Not just Orlando stories, but national stories too. Reporters will be expected to never be beaten on a local news story. Woe to the reporter who has to cover a press conference to get news.

The best writers I know are also the best reporters I know.

The best reporters work the telephone daily and have personal home numbers for every player in the league they cover.

There will be a premium on ideas that will establish the Sentinel sports section as a unique product with a "personality" all its own.

He and his staff not only accomplished those goals, but exceeded them beyond all expectations. But I think if his words and actions are heeded, journalism is headed in the right direction. We will educate. We will inform. We will entertain. And we will do it all with a personality all our own.

But we have to strive to make a difference. And I'd like to think that's where we're heading. All we have heard for the past few years is how bad the industry is. I personally have been told (half-jokingly) by a few editors across the country "so I guess it's too late to convince you to leave journalism." I think that attitude doesn't help the future of the business.

Journalists have to continue to make an impact on society and raise awareness about big issues. NBC's Dateline has certainly done that with child predators. Newspapers have to continually make similar splashes to remain relevant.

Downie and Kaiser mention the "watchdog failing to bark" and cite an example of the Washington Post in 1986, when it failed to report on "arguably the most egregious abuse of U.S. government power since Watergate" (51). A spectacular failure like that only gives people an excuse not to pay attention to serious journalism when something significant is uncovered.

Quite simply, we have to continually do our jobs at a higher level than ever (mostly because of the increased scrutiny, and the number of options for people to get their news like blogs, internet sites, cable TV etc.)

That's where the young journalists of this country come in. That's where we shape the future of the industry. We have to do our jobs better than anyone else in order to survive. That's where I think we're heading, too. We are churning out a lot of quality journalists. If we're given the chance, we can shape the future of the business for the better.

Journalists will educate the public. They'll inform them quickly and accurately so that the public understands the issue. Journalists will untangle the web of complicated spin so people can make an informed decision on an issue. They'll entertain. They'll provoke discussion.

The site of discussion has moved from the local park bench to a message board underneath the article. But journalists are adapting to the rapid changes. Those of us just graduating can help significantly given the chance.