In the first half of this year, 106 newspapers stopped their presses, 556 magazines closed their doors and more than 12,000 journalists were laid off, according to Mother Jones magazine. As a result, the outlook for journalism schools seems uncertain at best.

Applications to graduate journalism programs, however, have surged. Columbia, Stanford, the University of Colorado, the University of North Carolina and the University of Maryland have all seen double-digit percent rises in applications. Other schools, like the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, have expanded their graduate enrollment to accommodate increased interest.

Though more students may be interested in attending graduate journalism programs, these students will find themselves entering a rapidly changing media industry.

There are more than 70 million blogs worldwide, with roughly 1.4 blogs being created per second, according to 2007 data from Technocrati, the Internet’s first “blog search engine.” The use of social networking websites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to share news and information worldwide has also increased.

These alternative media platforms along with failing traditional media business models have posed a challenge to journalism programs, which try to keep their students educated in a variety of media studies. In response to this challenge, the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism instructs its graduates in print, broadcast and online venues. Their students can now take courses like Ethics, Internet, and Society and Advanced Online Journalism.

“We’re looking at our curriculum in terms of where the industry is right now and what we think students need,” said Joseph Bernt, associate director for graduate studies at Scripps.

At Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, students can specialize in online-specific fields like digital media to gain a competitive advantage in the industry. Graduates learn computer programs like Flash, Final Cut Pro and Photoshop to present information in interactive, non-traditional ways.

“The key is to recognize which [digital media] have lasting value for journalists, and which are just passing fads,” Sree Sreenivasan, dean of students at Columbia and founder of the digital media program, stated in an e-mail. “We believe [digital media] can help journalists in three ways: find new story ideas, trends and sources; connect with readers and viewers in new ways; and promote their own work to new audiences.”

Columbia will add a social-media skills class this fall as another way for its students to gain knowledge in new media.

“I would suggest students get experience, whether it’s writing for a paper or freelancing for local media,” said Christa Downey, director of career services in the Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences. “It’s not an industry to go into cold.”

While Cornell has no journalism program, students still seek employment in reporting, editing and public relations upon graduation. According to Cornell Career Services’ Class of 2008 Postgraduate Report, 3.6 percent of graduates surveyed found work in the communications and media field. Preliminary results from the Class of 2009 Report show a drop to less than one percent.

Nonetheless, the University participates in the Central New York Communications Consortium, a program held annually at Syracuse University to connect students from Cornell, Colgate, Syracuse, Ithaca College and LeMoyne College with potential employers. This year, however, fewer companies and organizations attended the consortium. Downey said that she believes the rough economy caused a poorer showing. Budget cuts and mass layoffs have also made the struggle of finding jobs in the newsroom increasingly difficult.

“Changes in any industry are something you need to consider when applying for a job,” Downey said.

Downey cited Tim Minton ’79, an investigative reporter for NBC, who told students on campus last spring that journalists need an interesting angle to be successful. This applies not only to writing, but also to convincing an editor why you should be hired and what you can contribute, Minton said.

According to Downey, Cornell Career Services offers resume reviews, mock interviews and opportunities to network with alumni in order to help students navigate the diversifying industry and find that necessary angle.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last spring that employment in new media such as online magazines and newspapers will continue to expand, though competition will also grow in this trying job market. The report predicted that small communications companies would provide the best opportunities for employment in journalism through 2016.

Additionally, the Bureau said that reporters and correspondents make a median annual salary of $33,470. According to Forbes, however, the average price for graduate school with living expenses is now $31,000 per year. This makes choosing whether to attend journalism school all the more difficult.

“The field will be there whether it’s the same as it is now or not,” Downey said. “Students have to figure out what sets them apart and really what they want and can do.”