Throughout college, I was told that the media was moving away from print and television and onto the Internet. We reviewed the decline in newspaper circulation over the past 20 years. We saw staffs cut in half and reporters forced to retire early. In my four years as a journalism major, we were urged to "Get out now." I thought they were being overly cynical. I've had a handful of professors reassure us that the Internet was where our generation was going for information and it would only a few years before every media converted to the Internet. I never bought into their theories and I still don't now. I'll tell you why.
I believe that we are a generation that relies heavily on the Internet. I believe it's how we communicate and get information quickly. I do not believe that we are an "Internet Generation" when it comes to traditional media. My top reasons for believing this are:
1) Advertising is inversely proportionate to custom practices.
In traditional media, if one million people watch Rachel Ray, an advertisement during her show would cost roughly $200 per 1000 viewers, but if one million people visit the New York Times home page a day the same ad would cost $10-$20 dollars per 1000 viewers. See the difference..
2) Internet authors receive no credibility and sometimes no credit.
If you read a story on CNN.com and you look to the end for an author, you more than likely won't find one. I know a man who works for CNN.com in hopes of one day becoming a writer for the New York Times. He has hundreds of stories in his portfolio but if you Google his name, only 2-3 stories will show up. He receives no credit for his work.
As for bloggers like myself and even Matt Drudge. Big Media give regard us as simplistic everyday people, as though my B.A. in journalism and his breaking of the Lewinsky scandal means nothing.
3) We love the Internet, but it's not as convenient as they say.
I understand going to the internet for the weather and quick news, but let's be honest, we don't always have access to the internet. My favorite example of how traditional media will continue to flourish is the bathroom. I don't know how many people will read an article on CNN.com while they are on the toilet, but I guess only a few. There are still many places for magazines and newspaper to remain in our lives.

So then I wonder, why would my professors urge us to concentrate on the Internet, especially if we make less money, have no credibility, and reach less people than Anderson Cooper. Are we really an Internet Generation?