Social Media is our future

   I have seen the future of journalism, and it is both terrifying and exciting.

    The days of having to wait for the 11 'clock news broadcast or the delivery of top headlines at your doorstep are over.

    With a single click, you can read instant, up-to-date stories on wars in Iraq, natural disasters in Haiti, political revolutions in Egypt, fashion statements in New York and the local price of gas. Actually, the mouse click might soon be a thing of the past, too, as they are replaced by iPads and mobile devices.

    The exciting part isn't that anyone with a wifi connection has access to these stories. That's almost become an expectation. These stories are coming out of countries that were once places of total secrecy and isolation, where residents are still ruled by dictatorship and media are banned from reporting the truth about the government.

    What's incredible is that these stories are not generated by the traditional, mainstream press. Because of social media, average citizens are blogging and tweeting their plight into living rooms thousands of miles away.

    This is our new reality as journalism educators.

    We have to see all of our youth, and older citizens, too, as potential storytellers. That's the terrifying part. Our network of communicators has expanded beyond my comprehension, which is probably why we have to rely on our students to spread the word, as well. Right, John?