Who else thinks this kid's too young to be a cynic?

SPJ Notes (the Society of Professional Journalists' daily e-mail update) picked up this tidbit from a disgruntled J-school student today. The student's take on the news industry is sad (and it's a shame the kid probably paid a good chunk of change to become so jaded so quickly).

What struck me the most about the student's blog posting is that he (or she) doesn't think journalism make much of a difference in how people think, nor does he think it can affect change.

I'd argue it's just the opposite.

As this industry continues to evolve, it's going to become even more important for news organizations to put fair and balanced stories out there. The Web, for all its advantages, has one major disadvantage that I see, and that's allowing people to only choose to look at information that supports their beliefs.

Granted, people could still choose not to look at the information news organizations provide. But at least we're still giving them the option. You could also argue that news in whatever form it takes, be it print, broadcast, or online - and the education it provides - is crucial in maintaining a democracy.

And as far as affecting change goes, I think news organizations are still capable of doing that, in print, on TV or the radio, or online. In fact, online, a story exposing the flaws in a government system or the illegal dealings that a lawmaker has been involved in will have a much larger reach. (This is the point where we, as journalists, all point and yell "Watergate!" Because you know that's still one of the best examples out there.)

Despite the layoffs and the uncertainty plaguing the industry right now, I don't believe it's going to die out or become ineffective. In fact, I think it's kind of an exciting time to be trying new things and help shape the direction things are headed. And if this kid chooses another path without even giving journalism a shot (like Amy says, front row seat to history), I think he's missing out.