The emerging broadband networks, which promise to bring broadcast and online technologies together in a platform that fosters interactivity and exchange, has the potential finally to realize that vision--but only if public-interest policies are in place insuring that the
old-media giants won't be able to stifle competition and diversity in the new-media environment, too.
The dot-com downturn can lead old-media news managers to perceive the Internet as a failed experiment -- that there's little money to be made online ("or they would have figured it out by now") -- and downplay its importance.
New journalism graduates often trained in how to work in new- as well as old-media environments; they're more likely to adapt to newsroom work routines requiring a variety of skills.
But, I believe that in the coming years online journalism jobs will be as plentiful as old-media journalism jobs.
If I were graduating from journalism school today, I probably would steer clear of new media divisions of old-media companies.