In the late 70's the world was introduced to the VCR. Incredible. You could go out on Friday night and not miss an episode of "Dallas." At the time local news was a cash cow, anchors were high paid celebrities. At the time, who would ever think the golden goose would fly the coop.
Now you can shoot video on a telephone you can keep in your pocket, and send it around the world in an instant.
I'm sure you young people have been reading lots of depressing articles about the state of the business, what with networks laying off people and those of us on the back nine of our careers being replaced by those who are younger and cheaper. When I talk with friends of my generation, we consider ourselves lucky to have lived through "the good old days" of television news. When I talk to young people just getting into the business, I can often hear the worry in their voices, wondering if the industry they so passionately want to be a part of will exist in ten or twenty years.
Who knows? Cell phones that shoot video are miles ahead of the first Betamax, and in ten years they'll be considered dinosaurs, replaced by something we can't even comprehend. News may be delivered by virtual reality into viewer's living rooms. Or we may all have a Star Trek holodeck in our homes and be able to put ourselves in the location of a news event.
How do you prepare for all this? Well, as one of my first News Directors told me, "be versatile." Learn a little about a lot.
But beyond that, it is important to make sure your skills are marketable regardless of what direction the business takes.
Number one on your to-do list? Improve your writing skills. The Internet is a constantly hungry monster that devours copy at an alarming rate. The world will always need reporters, but we don't know what form that reporting will take. Regardless, the ability to write well and fast will be a marketable commodity.
Go back to school. Years ago I was offered a teaching job at a local University, only to find out the state in which it was located required a Masters Degree, something I didn't have. Despite years of experience, I could not be hired. My advice to you is to get the advanced degree. These days you can do it via the Internet. Doesn't matter if it takes you five years, just bear in mind there will always be people who want to be reporters, and there will always be a need for people to teach them. (Though personally, I don't think a Masters Degree makes anyone a better reporter.)
If you don't know how to edit, learn. Editing doesn't just apply to television news. If the industry crashes, people will still need producers, directors, writers and editors in other fields.
Build your nest egg. I know the concept of retirement is ridiculous to someone out of college, but even if you sock away one percent of your income into an IRA or 401k it will leave you with a cushion.
Stay out of the sun. High def is unforgiving, and since the trend is toward younger on camera people, you'll want to look young as long as possible. Sunbathing will only turn your face into a HDTV catchers mitt.
Start a Rolodex if you don't have one. Start networking now, with people both in and out of the business. It's a small world.
Learn about politics. Lots of former news people work for politicians, and despite the claims of hookers it truly is the world's oldest profession. And it gets bigger every year.
Those are just a few ideas. The point is to be prepared for what may come so that you'll always have marketable skills.
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