The future is looking up for journalism students

Journalism jobs have been springing up throughout B.C. recently — and young journalists are being eyed to fill those positions.

It’s a sign of the times, an admission that tech-savvy and energetic 20-somethings can provide necessary skills to aging newsrooms less inclined to adopt extra work in their already busy days. Some fondly remember the days of spending days on big stories; students now have never known that luxury.

Today, it is all about speed, website hits and the number of published stories.

It has been encouraging to see so many job openings this summer, though competition for those spots is stiff. A young age is now an asset in the eyes of many hiring editors. Those editors are keen to consider young reporters’ tech advice and newsrooms that have limited knowledge of multimedia production are eager to learn.

There have been permanent openings at a number of newspapers. And though there are few newsrooms with freelance budgets, many had a budget for vacation relief reporters approved this summer.

I started the summer off with a number of applications and job interviews, then spent a week at Coquitlam NOW. Soon after, I was given two weeks at the Richmond News, and that doubled to a month.

I haven’t been able to accept all the work I’ve been offered, but I am encouraged by the discovery that young reporters are in high demand.

Double-dip recession or not, there will be openings for me to pursue after graduating next year.

And if there aren’t, that won’t really matter: I know that nothing makes me happier than working as a reporter. It’s comforting enough to know that I’ve chosen the right career.