As this semester is coming to a quick close, I find myself examining the last few years I have spent in the Journalism and Mass Communications department at the University of Northern Colorado.

When I came into the program, I had a lot of questions about what direction my life was headed in and I was not sure if I wanted to work towards a career in the newspaper industry.
Some things never change.

With all the trouble the newspaper industry is going through it is had to make a leap into a career that will almost certainly lead to near poverty and no job security.

Everyday I am surrounded by the news of another paper filling for bankruptcy or announcing a large round of layoffs. The barrage of negative press has started to really wear on me.

Despite all the doubt I feel, I have found out that this is the career that I love and want to pursue.
And by the looks of it I am not the only one.

Last week I read an article on the Huffington Post stating that applications at the Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism are up 38 percent.

I posted a link to the article in the links section under the title, "Old Dogs, New Media."

Additionally, on Tuesday I ran into an old friend whose daughter is thinking about studying journalism after she graduates from High School next month. He asked if I had any advise.

I told him that she should know what she is getting into. As students, we are not preparing for the jobs of our predecessors, because the few that are left may not be there in a few years. We are preparing to be a different type of journalist.

However, we need to learn the skills, ethics and dedication of the print journalists so that the journalism of the future can live up to the high standards the public has come to expect.