News-Record.com

I spoke to A&T's journalism graduates today.

It was not an easy speech, given the upheaval in the profession today.

So I told them the truth: Times are tough and the nature of the business is fundamentally changing.

But they will find jobs if they are willing to be providers of information, not merely newspaper or television or even radio journalists.

They need to embrace new technology and become fluent in it: podcasts, video, blogs, Web site building, and so on.

They need to expect the fast pace of change to continue.

I believe newspapers will remain (at least the strongest ones) in a smaller package with a tighter focus.

But they will be only part of what most of us do.

The students comprise the largest graduating class in the journalism department's history. Seventy-seven will receive their degrees next month.

They struck me as energetic, bright and creative. I was especially impressed by several award winners, on of whom won recognition for the student newspaper, the campus radio station and a Web site. They may see some bumps in their careers early on, but they will make their impact. In the long run, they'll be fine.

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