On the year-end episode of my Talking Communications with Farrell Kramer podcast, we offered some advice to young people coming into the PR industry -- and, more important, discussed just what we could learn from them.

But what to tell young people coming into journalism? There's so much uncertainty and change in the air that I'm not entirely sure what I'd say.

In a cute story, CourierPost senior writer Jim Walsh shares his thoughts with his daughter, who is about to graduate from college and wants to be a journalist:

Now, traditional publications are giving way to online alternatives and new story forms that may or may not succeed. The impact hit me the other day when I heard an editor's reaction to a crime story.

"Why do bank robbers still use hold-up notes?" she wondered. "Research shows fewer people are reading print material. He should text-message the teller, who could transfer the stolen money electronically and build traffic at the robber's Web site.

"Hmm," she went on. "I wonder if he has a burglary blog."

OK, so that didn't happen -- yet.

All I can say, Tracy, is to trust in yourself. Be true to your talent and follow your dream.

But have a backup vision ready.

Like, perhaps, a burglary blog.

Enough said.

Best of luck to Tracy and everyone else looking to pick up a reporter's pad and do the hard work of newsgathering.

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