Students Supporting Students: Why We Need to be on the Same Team

According to a study conducted by the Georgetown University Center on Education, and the Workforce analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment rates among journalism and communications majors in the United States climb high above the sciences, education, and other fields for recent college graduates.

The media landscape, as preached in many journalism classes across different campuses, is constantly changing and evolving to match the need of audiences–and to keep them interested.

Naturally, this can create a tension between more traditional news outlets like newspapers, and new websites, outlets, and blogs that have developed a “new” voice. Even worse, this can create tensions between their life bloods: the students that keep them running.

In journalism school, for those who don’t know, students are taught the basics of grammar, AP Style, developing a style, and ethics. Students are also taught about the inherent risks that must be taken when pursuing a career in the field, and the high possibility of hardships. The elephant in the room, if you will, is the fact that the guy sitting next to you in an editing lab may be your competition for a job one day.

As the media world sees a decrease in print newspaper production,  journalists must continue to change and grow in order to keep younger, more technologically savvy readers and consumers informed. According to Pew Research Center, newspaper circulation continues to decrease and has decreased steadily from 2003 to present day.  

The Pew Research Center determined that in 2014, readers aged 18-24 accounted for a mere 17 percent of newspaper readership. In 2003, this number was 40 percent.

Unconventional news sources are gaining momentum at a rate that’s hard to ignore. According to the American Press Institute, 78 percent of readers report using their smartphone to get their news.

While it is evident that newspapers are struggling to stay afloat amidst a society that thrives off instant gratification, newspapers are developing new ways to stay connected to their readers, by being more active on social media, and creating interactive infographics among other methods.

Newspapers, if “dying” at all, are not taking a final bow any time soon.

Recently, a column was published by The Temple News at Temple University, claiming that another student-run news organization called The Tab was a “good idea” but executed poorly. The article harshly criticized The Tab for “Associated Press inconsistencies,” “conversational tone,” and more.

While these errors or inconsistencies may bother some individuals, the extreme success of The Tab’s readership cannot be overlooked. The website has reached over 68,000 page views in this month alone, a staggering accomplishment for a website embarking on maiden voyage in America.

Obviously, this upset the students that spend their time reporting for the outlet.

The column also called out other alternative, less traditional forms of media such as The Odyssey, and Her Campus. A “virtual civil war” erupted on social media as a result of the article, against “traditional” journalistic styles and “non-traditional.”

Ultimately though, if time and effort is being put in both newspaper-style articles and new, evolving styles, is one more worthy than the other?

Do newspapers have a right to belittle growing and changing outlets because they don’t follow the same strict rules? Conversely, are newspapers “boring” because they don’t use slang and try to excite the young reader?

Are there really any rules in journalism anymore anyway?

As a student at Temple University, we are taught that “our peers are our greatest resource.” They are our connections, our networking partners, and our greatest assets.

However, what use are they if they are critical of each other’s passions and personal styles?

The industry is tough enough as it is, why wouldn’t we want to help each other out? When the dust has settled, and we walk across the stage at graduation and enter the “real world,” our employers won’t care what college publication we wrote for. They don’t care now.

The real world is an equal playing field. We are all dealt the same cards.

If we are placed in a situation where a recommendation from a past classmate could help a peer land a job or an internship, we’ll be much more inclined to help individuals who have been positive and supportive, rather than harsh and critical.

It doesn’t matter if you’re top dog or a mutt in college on the metaphorical totem pole of your respective industry, because in a few short years, you’ll once again need to earn your keep.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and you can either choose to be kind to others and respectful of their work, or you can get bitten.