UWIRE launches results of second-annual UWIRE 100 project
The 2008-09 school year may go down in history as the period where everything changed. The world of journalism is no exception and perhaps is one profession where "change" is most felt. Major newspapers shuttered and lost readership almost as fast as the Dow lost value. Hundreds of veteran reporters were nudged (and in some cases pushed) out the door. And, journalism graduates are stuck with few opportunities except unpaid internships.
So what's the bright spot? Actually there is a lot to be thankful for in these turbulent times. The odds are that the next generation of journalist -- the ones who will help shape the future -- are current students.
The future belongs to the group we call Digital Journalists. These are the young journalists who can report, write, tape, edit, Tweet, blog and photograph any type of news or commentary and package it appealingly for the reader. Most of our UWIRE 100 honorees have personal Web sites featuring their portfolios, which span a variety of disciplines. Between Breaking Tweets and CoPress, they have created unique sites that give us a glimpse of the future.
In keeping pace with the shaping of our profession, UWIRE has eliminated the ability to search through these 100 by "Section." We find it unfeasible that we separate the "Editors-in-Chiefs" from the "Online Editors"; the "News Reporters" from the "Videographers." These distinctions are meaningless in the recent batch of 100.
With that, we hope you'll read through the profiles of the UWIRE 100 and learn more about those who are shaping the profession. View the UWIRE 100
