University-Based Reporting Could Keep Journalism Alive

[Commentary] In recent years, more journalism schools have plunged into producing news for the public. Journalism schools are finding ways to use what might loosely be seen as a "teaching hospital" model of professional education. The digital-media revolution is the most obvious reason that a change has begun. Publishing for the general public can now be done at minimal cost -- no need to contract out to a printing company, no need to distribute to newsstands -- just construct a Web site. Distribution has moved from major barrier to trivial expense. Journalism schools can see which way the wind is blowing, and it's a brisk wind coming in from Silicon Valley. It's clear that students who can report and write are better off if they are also comfortable with and imaginative about the ways of the Web. These students will be in greater demand than students without Web skills. They are learning to be "platform-agnostic" journalists. They may have come to journalism because they fell in love with writing, photography, radio, TV, or online media, but they learn the skills that allow them to operate across the board.