The graphic to the left features (from left): John Ryan, advisor of Student Publications at my alma mater, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Ill.; Jim Tidwell, chairman of the Journalism Department at EIU; and Rick Popely, reporter at the Chicago Tribune and an EIU journalism alum.

The latest CommaKazi Speek podcast features interviews of these two former and one current journalists (the two former journalists teach journalism at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Il). We discuss the current state of journalism and what the next wave of journalism graduates may face.

I conducted the interviews on July 18, after a charity golf outing at EIU, my alma mater, to benefit the Gene Seymour Journalism Scholarship. (No thanks to me, my foursome managed to win third place.)

Today, I’m enjoying a round of golf at Eastern Illinois University. Early Sunday morning, I leave with a busload of middle-school youth and other adult leaders of my church for a week of fun and spiritual renewal at a Christian camp near Bemidji, MN.

No PCs at camp, so this blog will be quiet for at least one week.

As I drive south tomorrow to my alma mater in Charleston, Ill., I’ll no doubt enjoy memories of my years spent there as a journalism major.

But 2008 isn’t 1980 (the year I graduated), and I expect to have some frank discussions with former journalism instructors and colleagues (and perhaps, some current students) about the current state of the profession. I haven’t walked into a newsroom in about a decade, but I suspect that many are subdued, because of the decline in print advertising and economic forces that are behind continuing staff reductions in many newspapers across the country. Some long-time professionals have had enough—as evidenced by this July 14 article regarding a resignation at the Chicago Tribune.

The workforce and business environment continue to change, not always for the better. Although my B.A. degree from Eastern Illinois University may not be as high as it once was, it remains indispensable to me. I’ve been committed for many years to the concept of being a “life-long learner.” That led me to earn accreditation through the International Association of Business Communicators, and to hone skills in newer communication methods and technologies, including blogging and podcasting.

My professional and personal life today doesn’t look anything like I would have imagined it turning out when I graduated from EIU. Challenges, disappointments, minor successes and major “growth opportunities” continue to be part of my work and life.

Tomorrow, however, will not be a day to dwell on what life isn’t…it will be a day to enjoy life as it is.

The weeks have gone by without a new post, even though every day I conceive of two or more potential ideas for posts. Creativity has not meshed with opportunity and energy. Same excuse that a lot of nonwriting writers could use.

I’m very busy, however, currently involved in separate program planning and activities through my church youth group and the International Association of Business Communicators’ social responsibility initiative. This Friday, I will drive down to Charleston, Ill. to participate in a charity golf outing organized by the Journalism Department of my alma mater, Eastern Illinois University. I’m looking forward to seeing some former colleagues–even though I’m embarrassed that the slim, dark-haired journalism major they remember has morphed into a Lou Grant look-alike.

Thanks for stopping by.