The Multi-Platform Reporters of Tomorrow

I spent 90 minutes with a class of "broadcast" students at Trentholm State Technical College in Montgomery last night, after Instructor Chris Roquemore invited me over.

     That's Chris sitting on the desk on the left in this photo.We used to work together at APT.

     We talked a lot about what the nature of their careers will be a decade from now following this time of such tumult in the media.

     Will be they low-paid "One-man-band" type reporters? Roaming everywhere to find, write, produce and edit stories for print, on-air, and online? Business owners like those positions, obviously, because they allow them to spend less money on personnel. Why hire a reporter and a photographer when you can have one person do both?

     I suggested they all consider medicine or law instead, but I think it fell one deaf ears. When you have a desire to be a writer or a reporter, on-air or off, being in a courtroom or an operating room just won't do, even if the pay and job security is better.