Last March, a group gathered at Poynter for our first multiplatform journalism seminar, which will be held again in May 2008. Months later, the virtual conversation on the list-serve connecting that group remains robust. Among the messages that arrived in my inbox the other day was this thought-provoking one from Jane Briggs-Bunting, director of the school of journalism at Michigan State University. I thought it worth sharing with all of you:
Hey guys, consider this: The freshmen enrolling at our colleges and universities today have grown-up surrounded by technology — and it’s just a tool to them. They don’t worry about breaking it, and if they do, it’s replaceable. They are not into authority at all.
Many have created their own identities in virtual worlds like Second Life, where no one knows if they are 12 or 45 or younger or older.
They process information differently. They absolutely know they can figure out anything using Google or another search engine.
They are impatient, energetic, live on their cells and text their friends constantly. Frankly, most of them don’t get what we do. They are news consumers, but have no brand loyalty. These are challenging times we live in to be sure.
