FAIRFAX -- Is Journalism dead? This question has been a focus of Professor Steve Klein's Online Journalism class at George Mason University.

Is what we're learning going to be useless when we get out into the real world of journalsim?

In Professor Klein's class, we have been learning about web writing techniques and integrating different tools.  We’ve also learned that a lot of journalists whose focus used to be on traditional print journalism seem to be throwing out the old and focusing on the new. 

Based on the many speakers that came to speak to us, such as Jose Vargas, Mark Potts, Joel Sucherman, and Brad Kalbfeld among many others, I’ve come to the conclusion that no, journalism is not dead. We just have so many different tools to use to tell a story now. 

When writing for print journalism there is more of a set structure, whereas with online journalism, there is a lot of different ways to tell the story because there is no set structure.  These old tools shouldn’t be traded in for the new tools discovered, however, but rather integrated together to make for a better story.

GMU Online Journalism student George Estrada gave the example of how when podcasts were discovered many journalists felt that it would be the end of radio. Estrada, on the other hand, said that for him podcasts were something he could use if he happened to miss something on the radio. Estrada also said that, “They [radio and podcasts] are integrated to help the consumer get the news at the most convenient way.  They are not replacing each other.”

Co-founder, President, and CEO of iFocos Andrew Nachison was the most recent speaker who came to talk to Professor Klein’s class.  In his discussion with the class, Nachison discussed the importance of embracing technology and utilizing to its full potential.

He co-founded iFocos, a non-profit media think tank, in 2006 as a means to harness the capabilities of this new media and social networking technology by bringing together a diverse community of leaders to share information and drive innovation in various fields of interest. While much of his focus is on new technology, he thinks of these tools as a means to tell the story to a wider audience.  He believes that "media and communication is the connective tissue that links society and culture."

Nachison stated that the changes in the news industry were a result of the bigger change in society. While some journalists take the notion that things are radically going to change and the old ways of doing things are going to be thrown out and useless, he believes that the new technology will aid journalists in telling a better story.  I agree and I don’t believe that what we are being taught in school is going to be useless.

Personally, I believe I am learning the skills I will need to help me succeed in the future no matter what I decide to pursue-journalism, public relations, marketing, etc.  I think as a society we need to stop focusing on change as being something negative, but view it as something that can enhance or improve upon the old way doing things.