Who will pay for journalism?

Well, the simple answer is the public.

Human beings have a thirst for knowledge, (including celebrity gossip) and if the current 'free news' environment ceases to exist, which it will, we will willingly hand over our hard earned cash to receive it.

It is perhaps naive to think that in this capitalist society we would continue to receive free, unlimited news services via the Internet, it is after all a business.

As ABC news (Internet, yes, it was free) stated last week Rupert Murdoch announced that in the future access to News Corp material on the web will come at a price.

"Quality journalism is not cheap and an industry that gives away its content is simply cannibalising its ability to produce good reporting."

Did radio kill print? Did television kill radio? Did the Internet kill TV? No, no and no.

Journalism is not dead. Just walk into a newsagent and glance at all the hundreds of magazine covers, all shiny and colourful, being sold everyday.

The face of journalism may have changed, as everything inevitably does, but it still exists and will continue to do so.

Students need to be filled with hope and belief by the institutions that teach. Being told you will fail, that there are no jobs, and that only the best will survive is not endeavouring to produce confident, capable journalists. Would you send a child into the world with those words?