For Journalists, the Sky Isn’t Falling…Yet.

Joel Sucherman, Multimedia Editor of USA Today, spoke to online journalism students at George Mason University Tuesday Feb. 24 to discuss the future of the news industry and the growing popularity of Internet news.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you sit back and said to yourself, ‘What am I doing?’” said Sucherman about the seemingly bleak future of the journalists.

Sucherman said today is a pivotal moment in the history of gathering information. Newspapers that have not developed stimulating online platforms will be left in the dust
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His advice in the wake of the economic downfall and “steady drumbeat of bankruptcies” is to try and stand the ups and downs, learn new things, and weather the storm because there’s never been a better time for journalism, because of technology.

“Anyone can be a publisher now, the tools are that easy thanks to all kinds of devices like RSS and tagging to get your information elevated and noticed,” Sucherman said.

Despite the economic downfall, Sucherman says that the news industry has a chance to refresh itself and should embrace the Internet front which can create a real-time news desk.

“The goal is combining the two newsrooms to create a singular 24-hour news staff,” Sucherman said.

Optimism is something hard to find these days, but Sucherman rattled off a list of things he holds to be reasons to look forward to the future.

One reason being the world needs journalism, just in a different form.

“Young people often read stories through RSS readers, Facebooklinks, Twitter, and other news aggregators, “ said Sucherman “Which is an uncomfortable feeling for many editors.There’s a not a clear front door anymore.”

It is a difficult transition into the Internet news scene for people who love feeling newsprint in their hands.

“There is a whole generation of senior people (editors) having a hard time with it,” said Sucherman, “the medium they’ve known and loved is going away, or at the very least will be forever changed.”

Sucherman said working your way through the journalist industry has its benefits, but younger generations have a leg-up.

“There’s something to be said about learning the skills of a journalist. But, your generation knows things that I’ll never have an innate understanding of,” Sucherman said.  

Sucherman described himself as a “technology immigrant” as he has worked his way through electronic typewriters, brick-sized cell phones, and monstrously sized computers. He expressed a desire to hold the knowledge of technology that has become second-nature to generations younger than 38-years-old.

“Your skills are highly valued right now. Just because of what you know and how you prioritize your lives,” Sucherman said.

The future of newspapers may be forlorn but amidst the ashes of papers like the Chicago Tribune, a strong phoenix of Internet journalism will emerge.