That’s what Sarah Said

Over spring break, I had the opportunity to attend the College Media Association Spring Conference in New York.

I didn’t know what to expect from a conference of hundreds of student journalists from around the country, but I am leaving with the renewed sense of why journalism is still vital.

Society and technology drastically changed the way people get their news.

A look on Twitter is now enough to be updated about the latest events around the world, but the role of a journalist is still important. The sources with which people gather news may have expanded, but news will always be news.

Journalists gather news — both the breaking news stories and the lesser known pieces about what is going on locally.

They take this information and distribute it to the public via different channels.

Journalists commit themselves to relaying news in an unbiased way, keeping their opinions out of the stories and letting readers decide for themselves what their thoughts are on the subject.

But nobody’s perfect.

Yet journalists remain committed to truth telling.

Some people have a mixed view of the media today, but it’s the job of journalists to continue to stay dedicated to the truth.

Journalists need to own up to their mistakes when they happen and remain a voice to the people about what is happening around the world.

This transparency will go a long way in strengthening the relationship between journalists and readers.

Now more than ever journalists are needed to keep people up to date with what is true and what is fabricated.

Print newspaper readership numbers may be declining, but the role of a journalist is fluid and adapting to society.

Journalists are just as important to Twitter as the internet or the physical print newspaper.

The medium through which news is distributed is shifting, but the importance of journalism is not.

I was encouraged at the conference to continue to hone my craft and learn all I can before setting foot into the “real world.”

We all can learn and take constructive criticism to better ourselves in our field.

No matter political beliefs or religious beliefs, journalism plays a vital role in informing the public and encouraging people to be educated citizens.

Journalism is not a dying field but rather a changing field, adjusting to society but remaining committed to its foundation.

The outlook is not bleak.

It’s what we as journalists make of it, and after meeting hundreds of aspiring journalists recently, journalism is going to be just fine.

Rodriguez is the editor-in-chief.